1. Integrated Strategic Development Framework KNYSNA | STATUS QUO | OCTOBER 2013 ENVIRONMENT KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013 1

2. Introduction The natural environment is the basis of all life and activities. Time has arrived to integrate conservation thinking and engineering principles with human needs 2 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

3. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 01 BACKGROUND Is the Knysna Sand Fynbos on its way? DUTY OF CARE: Section 28 Of National Environment Management Act,(Act 107 of 1998) places a duty of care on every person who cause, has caused or may cause significant pollution or degradation of the environment. The principle has been cemented in case law already. Beware of the sleeping dog Sphinx Garden 3 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

4. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 02 POLLUTION LITTER & DUMPING OF GARBAGE 4 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

5. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 03 EUTROPHICATION OF WATER BODIES 5 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

6. WATER POLLOTION SO WHAT? From Agricultural fertilisers And Animal manure Also Erosion products Result: Water becomes anoxic when algae starts decomposing Some algae produce liver toxins Fish and invertebrates die off Cost of filtering drinking water go up FYNBOS MANAGEMENT Sensitive to soil composition and chemistry Sensitive to moisture regimes Diversity composition of a fynbos type is reduced by senescence Fire burns away overburden and creates heat Chemical by products given off during fires Many fynbos seeds need fire to germinate Housing in Fynbos reduces chances of successful burns.Thus reduction in species RIVERS & STREAMS Increase in runoff due to hardened surfaces More frequent flood events Enriched inflows lower water quality Over-utilisation due to human demands for potable water Reduced estuarine flushing as a result of high abstraction rates and siltation Sphinx Garden 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 04 WATER POLLUTION / FYNBOS MANAGEMENT / RIVERS & STREAMS 6 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

7. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 05 BIO-DIVERSITY PROTECTION Maintain buffer areas and biological corridors. Retain landscape wide connectivity Encourage landowners with incentives Mimic nature: Innovate, reduce waste Sphinx Garden 7 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

8. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 06 FORESTS & THEIR MAINTENANCE Municipal forests in trouble National forests coping Attractive for adventure sport and bird watchers Quiet places for meditation Protected under the National Forest Act Forests on private land. No conservation information about management except for Parkes forests Sphinx Garden 8 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

9. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 07 CBA MAPPING Critical Biodiversity areas and Biodiversity support areas are linkages in the landscape Creates refuges for insects and animals Allows for seed and pollen dispersal Retains rainwater in sponge areas Sphinx Garden 9 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

10. GLOBAL WARMING More frequent storms More violent storms Heavier precipitation Erosion of coast damaging infrastructure and buildings in the coastal zone Low lying areas more prone to flooding Municipal infrastructure on edge of lagoon and river crossings more vulnerable Time for “Retreat” policy GEOLOGY Cover sands around Knysna vulnerable to disturbance. Enon conglomerates have a tendency to slip Geological creep on hillsides cause disruption in infrastructure such as sewage reticulation Underground pipe leaks on steep slopes create conditions conducive to large slope failures Sphinx Garden 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 08 GLOBAL WARMING / GEOLOGY 10 KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013

11. 01 STATUS QUO 01 – 09 SUMMARY Biodiversity conservation is vital for Knysna. Concern about disappearing vegetation types. Quality and quantity of fresh water resources important. Alien invasive vegetation have huge impacts but is also a resource. Excellent guidance documentation exists. Connectivity in the landscape is important for biodiversity Global warming might make you too wet or dry. Knysna has a lot of biological and human “Kapitaal”. Everyone has a DUTY of CARE towards the environment We only have 1 take good care of it! Sphinx Garden 11 GROENVLEI FRESHWATER LAKE KNYSNA | INTEGRATED STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK | OCTOBER 2013