POSITION AND ORGANIZATION Reserve Manager: LRNR, Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET)

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2 AUTHORIZATION This Strategic Plan (SP) for the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (LRNR) was drafted and recommended by the Reserve Planning Team (RPT), a multi-disciplinary team consisting of: NAME D.R. Mabasa S.W. Kruger G.M. Moyo M.C. Vorster POSITION AND ORGANIZATION : LRNR, Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) Manager: Biodiversity, LEDET Senior Field Ranger: LRNR, LEDET Majeje Tribal Authority, Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Co- Committee (LRNRCMC) The drafting of this SP was supported by the following Protected Area Planning Specialist, Core Planning Team, Project Team, and Scientific Support Services Team: P.J. Binney Private Consultant D. Ferreira - NCC Group J. Jackelman Envirocentric M. Norval - NCC A. Purnell NCC R. Dyer (Project Manager) - NCC K. Potgieter (Technical Scribe & Editor) - NCC F. Domingo (Technical Support) NCC F. Ally (Technical Support) NCC T. Esack (Technical Support) NCC S. Atmore (Technical Support) NCC PROTECTED AREA PLANNING SPECIALIST CORE PLANNING TEAM PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM & TECHNICIANS SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT SERVICES G. Benn (GIS) - GeoCline Consulting R. Colyn (Climatological Data and Vegetation) NCC R. Jangle (Vegetation) NCC M. Burger (Amphibians) Consulting Herpetologist B. Havemann (Mammals, Reptiles & Fish) - Consultant R. Colyn (Avifauna) NCC J. du Plessis (Avifauna) NCC This SP is recommended for approval by: NAME AND TITLE Mr Solly Kgopong Acting Head of Department LEDET SIGNATURE AND DATE Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 1

3 This SP is approved by: NAME AND TITLE Honourable Pinky Kekana Member of the Executive Council LEDET SIGNATURE AND DATE Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 2

4 NOTE At the time of writing, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) is fulfilling the role of Authority of the provincial nature reserves of Limpopo Province. It is, however, anticipated that this responsibility will be taken over by a different agency during the course of The details of this takeover were unfortunately not available during the compilation of this Strategic Plan and, as a result, the term Authority is used to replace the name of the existing Authority LEDET - where relevant. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 3

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHORIZATION... 1 FOREWORD... 7 ABBREVIATIONS AND PLANNING TERMS... 8 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i) Purpose of the plan ii) Reserve context iii) Reserve values iv) issues and challenges v) Desired condition of the reserve vi) Key management activities and targets vii) Institutional arrangements and budget requirements INTRODUCTION The Reserve Plan Purpose and structure of the Strategic Plan The steps in preparing the Strategic Plan Stakeholder Consultation CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK Location Legal status Institutional arrangements General Limpopo Tourism Agency Department of Water Affairs Department of Public Works Department of Environmental Affairs Limpopo Department of Agriculture and the Expanded Public Works Programme Institutional Arrangements Specifically Relevant to the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Reserve description History Climate Topography Geology and Soils Geology Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 4

6 Soils Soil Erosion Drainage and Hydrology Vegetation Vegetation Types Species of Conservation Concern Invasive Alien Plants Fauna Mammals Mammal Species of Conservation Concern Avifauna Reptiles and Amphibians Fish Heritage Resources Reserve Infrastructure Social Context Local and Regional Planning Reserve Expansion Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FRAMEWORK Purpose Reserve Values The Reserve Vision Key Performance Areas and Objectives Zonation STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK KPA 1: BIODIVERSITY AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION Guiding principles for reserve management actions and targets KPA 2: SUSTAINABLE USE Guiding principles for reserve management actions and targets KPA 3: ENFORCEMENT, SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL Guiding principles for reserve management actions and targets Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 5

7 KPA 4: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT (OPERATIONS) Guiding principles for reserve management actions and targets KPA 5: STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT Guiding principles for reserve management actions and targets KPA 6: ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING Guiding principles for reserve management actions and targets RESOURCING AND GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK Staffing Requirements Funding Requirements Roles and Responsibilities Reserve Reserve Planning Team Advisory Committee Reserve Co- Committee BIBLIOGRAPHY ANNEXURE 1: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REPORT ANNEXURE 2: ZONATION CATEGORIES (CHARACTERISTICS) Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 6

8 FOREWORD Nature reserves have numerous benefits to both humans and natural ecosystems. They contribute directly to local, regional and national economies through tourism, employment and expenditure on reserve management. Nature reserves also facilitate complementary private sector investments, such as infrastructure and commercial services, which includes enabled industries such as the hospitality industry. Important social benefits to the public include the provision of an educational resource; indigenous and heritage values; and in increased quality of life, health and wellbeing. Nature reserves are established in Limpopo Province as a strategy to protect biodiversity and enhance ecotourism through Wildlife Resorts which are managed by the Limpopo Tourism Agency. In many instances it has, however, been determined that biodiversity continues to decline despite the resources that are invested in nature reserve management. The current president of South Africa, Mr J.Z. Zuma, has also expressed concern over the threat of extinction of wildlife species in the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Park, especially Rhino. The presence of this species is known to attract criminal syndicates from other countries, where Rhino horn is used for medicinal purposes (Sapa, 2010). The poaching of Rhino causes a disturbance in ecological systems and contributes to environmental degradation and, as a result, strong conservation measures in the nature reserves of Limpopo Province are required in this regard. In 2004, the 7 th Conference of Parties decided that all member states of the Convention on Biological Diversity should develop and apply methodologies and criteria that would enable them to measure the effectiveness of nature reserve (protected area) management in the conservation and protection of biodiversity. South Africa has endorsed the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT-SA) in this regard, which is being used in Limpopo Province to measure management effectiveness in nature reserves. effectiveness evaluations of nature reserves are vital for the measurement and improvement of the performance of each provincial nature reserve against set management objectives. The management plans that have been developed for Limpopo Province include: Conservation and tourism objectives for the effective management of the nature reserves that fall under the jurisdiction of Limpopo Province; Tourism marketing and the facilitation of investment opportunities; Capacity building and tourism transformation; METT indicators to ensure the continuous improvement of the management of these nature reserves; and Provision of mechanisms for collaboration with communities and neighbours for harmonious co-existence and beneficiation to the province and the country. By developing these management plans, the Department has ensured: That Limpopo Province meets its obligatory implementation of international agreements; the Convention on Biological Biodiversity; the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1998 (Act No. 108 of 1998); the National Environmental : Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003); and the Limpopo Environmental Act, 2003 (Act No. 7 of 2003), through which natural resources are managed. The provision of ecosystem services for everyone in order to facilitate employment, exports, economic growth and a good quality of life. That the sourcing of funds for the management of nature reserves beyond the scope of formal Treasury allocations is enhanced. HONOURABLE P. KEKANA MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: LEDET MARCH 2013 Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 7

9 ABBREVIATIONS AND PLANNING TERMS ABBREVIATIONS: APO Annual Plan of Operations BCEA Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997) CAPEX Capital Expenditures CARA Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 (Act No. 43 of 1983) DEA Department of Environmental Affairs DPW Department of Public Works DWA Department of Water Affairs ECParks Eastern Cape Parks EEA Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998) EPWP Extended Public Works Programme FEPA Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area FFA FFA Holdings (Pty) Ltd. FPA Fire Protection Association [in terms of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998)] HDI Historically Disadvantaged Individual HO Head Office HOD Head of Department HR Human Resources HRD Human Resources Development IDP (municipal) Integrated Development Plan IT Information Technology IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature KNP Kruger National Park KPA Key Performance Area LDA Limpopo Department of Agriculture LEDET Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism LTA Limpopo Tourism Agency LRA Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995) LRNR Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve LRNRCMC Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Co- Committee MEC Member of the Executive Council METT Effectiveness Tracking Tool METT-SA Effectiveness Tracking Tool for South Africa NBRBSA National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977) NCC NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd. NEMBA National Environmental : Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) NEMPAA National Environmental : Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) NEMWA National Environmental : Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 58 of 2008) NHRA National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) NPAES National Protected Area Expansion Strategy NVFFA National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998) OHSA Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) OPEX Operating Expenditures Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 8

10 PAM Protected Area PFMA Public Finance Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) PSA Public Service Act, 1994 (Act No. 103 of 1994) RMP Reserve Plan RPT Reserve Planning Team SANF South African Nature Foundation SANParks South African National Parks SANS South African National Standard SDA Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998) SIS Security and Investigation Services SOKDR State of Knowledge Data Repository SONR State-owned Nature Reserves SP Strategic Plan TOR Terms of Reference UZM Use Zone Map VCA Veld Condition Assessment WfW Working for Water WOF Working on Fire WSA Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997) DEFINITION OF KEY PLANNING TERMS: Activities Guiding principles Monitoring Objectives Outcomes Outputs Performance assessment Performance indicator Resources Target Use zone map Value Vision Activities are management tasks required to collectively realise the objectives. Guiding principles provide overall direction to the implementation of activities. Monitoring is the collection of data and information in a consistent manner over time for the purpose of evaluation. Objectives are derived from the vision. They represent key areas in which achievements must be obtained in total, or in some combination, to give direction to the management aspiration (the vision). Ideally outcomes are benefits produced from objectives and activities. Outputs are tangible results produced by activities. Performance assessment is a measurement of accomplishment against a set of pre-determined criteria (e.g. efficiency or effectiveness). A performance indicator is a measurement used to evaluate the success in achieving targets and realising objectives. Resources include the people, materials, technologies, money, etc. required to implement the activities. Targets are set for particular aspects of performance financial returns, efficiency, quality of services, etc. against which performance is monitored and measured. A use zone map is a spatial framework that guides and co-ordinates conservation and development activities in a protected area. A value is a specific attribute or feature (cultural, ecological or recreational) within a reserve that may require additional/special consideration during the planning process and subsequent management. Vision indicates the direction of management aspiration. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 9

11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The following Executive Summary provides an overview of the 5-Year Strategic Plan. i) Purpose of the plan The Strategic Plan sets out the ambitions for the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (LRNR), as articulated through the vision and objectives for the nature reserve for the next 5 years. The plan sets out how these ambitions will be achieved and delivered through a range of management guidelines and actions. The Strategic Plan strives to: Identify the defining qualities and characteristics of the reserve (i.e. what makes it special and unique); Describe the reserve s management issues and challenges; Set out medium- and long-term ambitions for the desired state of the reserve; Provide a five-year implementation framework for delivering this desired state; Describe the specific activities to be implemented on an annual basis; Identify the measures required to evaluate if the management actions are collectively contributing to achieve the desired state; and Describe the institutional, human resource and budget requirements for implementing the management plan. ii) Reserve context The LRNR, covers a total of ha, making it the largest of all the provincial reserves currently managed by LEDET. It is located in the Mopani Region of Limpopo Province. The LRNR was proclaimed as a game reserve and native flora reserve, known as the Rondalia-Letaba Private Nature Reserve, through Notice No. 392 of the Transvaal Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 195 (3186) of 15 December 1965 in terms of Section 11 of the Transvaal Game Ordinance, 1949 (Ordinance No. 23 of 1949), and Section 2 of the Transvaal Native Flora Protection Ordinance, 1940 (Ordinance No. 9 of 1940). The area was subsequently de-proclaimed as a reserve, effective from 1 September 1975, through Notice No of 1 October 1975 in terms of Section 3 of the Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1967 (Ordinance No. 17 of 1967). The reserve therefore does not currently fall under the legal protection of the National Environmental : Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) (NEMPAA), in terms of Section 12 thereof. The LRNR is strategically placed in the sense that it is situated along the western boundary of the Kruger National Park (KNP), to the north of the Phalaborwa Gate, and forms part of the Greater Kruger Park Conservation Area. The LRNR also forms part of the African Ivory Route. The Mthimkhulu Nature Reserve, which covers an area of ha and is situated to the north of the Groot Letaba River, is incorporated into the LRNR. The LRNR is located within the Ba-Phalaborwa and Greater Giyani Local Municipalities, both of which form part of the Mopani District Municipality of Limpopo Province. Different portions of the LRNR are owned by the State, the Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) Tribal Authority and the Majeje Tribal Authority. The largest portion of the land is currently owned by the State. Currently, LEDET and the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) are responsible for the conservation and tourism management, respectively, of the LRNR. LEDET is currently in the process of drafting a co-management agreement to be entered into with the Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and Majeje Tribal Authorities re. the Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 10

12 management of those sections of land owned by these authorities. In the interim these portions of land are being managed by LEDET, with tourism aspects of these sections being managed by the LTA through the African Ivory Route. Land claims in terms of Section 10 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994) have been submitted over different sections of the LRNR by the following claimants: Makhushane; Selwane; and the Makhuva-Mathebula Royal council. All of these claims have been referred to the Land Claims Court for adjudication and are currently still in process. The current staff complement of the LRNR comprises 36 staff members, which is 52 staff members short of the full staff complement required to manage the reserve effectively. The LRNR is situated in a summer rainfall region, with a moderately high summer rainfall and frost rarely occurring during the winter months. The LRNR forms part of the Letaba River System. The Groot Letaba River (classified as an endangered Class C river) runs through the reserve from west to east (and into the KNP), dividing the reserve into two sections, namely the Mthimkhulu (formerly Mbaula Ranch) section in the north and the Letaba Ranch section in the south. The Klein Letaba River (classified as an endangered Class B river) forms the north- eastern boundary of the LRNR and drains the northern section of the reserve. Both of these rivers have their sources far away and therefore drain relatively large areas. The confluence of these two rivers is located along the eastern boundary of the LRNR. Here the rivers join to become the Letaba River that flows through the KNP. The Nondweni Dam is located approximately 15 km upstream of the Groot Letaba River, to the west of the reserve. A well-defined watershed, consisting of a series of koppies known as Sable Mountain, divides the southern (Letaba Ranch) section of the LRNR into two. The Baderoukwe and Nhlarhweni Rivers form the two main seasonal drainage lines of the area located to the south of the watershed. Four main seasonal drainage lines can be identified to the north of the watershed. The majority of drainage lines within the LRNR are seasonal, sandy watercourses, the largest of which is the Klein Letaba River. Most of these sandy watercourses flow only after heavy rainfall events, or a series of such events. The vegetation of the LRNR comprises Mopane and Lowveld Bushveld vegetation units of the Savanna Biome, and includes two potential plant species of Conservation Concern. There is currently a good diversity of bird, reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate species associated with Mopani Bushveld of the Savanna Biome. In terms of its overwhelming biodiversity, the LRNR must rank as one of the most important nature reserves of Limpopo Province; playing an integral part in acting not only as a buffer to the surrounding communities and mining operations, but also as an overflow for all wildlife from the KNP. A historical mammal list has been compiled for LRNR based on the results of aerial game counts conducted between During this period, a total of 36 larger mammal species were recorded. The most recent game count (2012) revealed a total of head of game at the reserve, including five mammal species of conservation concern. The LEDET Biodiversity Unit is currently in the process of compiling an Elephant Plan for the LRNR. The greatest challenge in the compilation of this plan is the fact that the LRNR is not completely fenced, i.e. it shares an open border with the KNP. The presence of the perennial Letaba River, as well as associated tributaries and drainage lines; and the heterogeneous landscape, with multiple vegetation units offer various breeding and/or foraging habitats to a wide range of waterfowl and other wetland/riparian/floodplain associated avian species. There are currently 101 verified avian species occurring at the reserve, of which five occur on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The level of endemism reflected within the current verified species Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 11

13 inventory includes seven near-endemic species. The potential species richness within the LRNR is potentially much higher than the current species inventory, but is yet to be determined and/or recorded. Thirty-one different amphibian species, thirty-one fish species and a number of reptile species have been recorded in the LRNR, including the Nile Crocodile. Reserve Infrastructure includes seven entrance gates, three of which are used by tourists and reserve management staff; two of which are used only by reserve management staff; and two of which are no longer in use. A building divided into four offices is used for administrative purposes. The LRNR has one storeroom building with three separate store rooms and a slaughtering facility. Reserve staff accommodation facilities consist of three park homes; a number of old brick buildings, one communal ablution block and five patrol pickets consisting of old farmsteads. The road network in LRNR consists of gravel roads. The water supply within the reserve, for both human and animal consumption is provided via boreholes. In some areas with no water pumping facilities, water for human consumption is delivered by way of mobile water tanks and/or drums. Overnight facilities for tourists consist of the Mtomeni Tented Bush Camp, which is operated by The African Ivory Route. This facility comprises 5 permanent safari tents, each with its own ablution facilities and a communal kitchen and lapa area. The LRNR is not included in one of the focus areas identified for protected area expansion by the National Protected Area Expansion Strategy. An expansion project has nonetheless been identified for the LRNR by the Authority and is currently being implemented. This project involves the linking of the LRNR to the KNP and Mthimkhulu, as well as possible further expansion to the north. iii) Reserve values The following key values were identified for the LRNR: The reserve has the potential to demonstrate the efficacy, and benefits, of functional partnerships between the State and communal land owners in the collaborative administration and management of provincial nature reserves. The reserve is committed to management in accordance with best practice and rationally driven by current knowledge. The reserve is committed to good administration and the efficient use and good maintenance of resources. The reserve is committed to be a good employer and socially affirmative neighbour in the local communities. The reserve boasts approximately 24 km of Groot Letaba River frontage and approximately 20 km of Klein Letaba River frontage. The confluence of these rivers occurs along the eastern boundary of the reserve. The reserve creates a sense of wilderness as a result of its size, wildness and inaccessibility. The reserve boasts varied and healthy habitat types with naturally occurring wildlife; east/west migration routes for game; high species diversity, including the Big Five and African Wild Dog; and excellent bird viewing opportunities, including healthy Ground Hornbill populations. The reserve forms an integral part of the Greater Kruger Conservation Area. iv) issues and challenges The LRNR is faced with a number of management issues and challenges in light of serving its function as a nature reserve. These include: Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 12

14 The reserve is not officially proclaimed as a nature reserve and therefore does not fall under the legal protection of NEMPAA. The reserve experiences extremely hot temperatures during mid-summer and is susceptible to drought in varying degrees. Located far from Gauteng. Located in a malaria area and therefore precautions should be taken when visiting the reserve. Access to the northern section of the reserve is limited. Some of the artificial water sources within the reserve are not ideally located; with no permanent water at outlying pickets. Poor road conditions and insufficient, poor signage. Existing developments within the reserve are located in the most sensitive areas of highest conservation importance. Ageing staff component and shortage of staff. Centralised budget, and de-capacitated reserve management. Lack of resources. Insufficient information re. the heritage resources of the reserve. Lack of communication/co-operation between management and stakeholders. Very little scientific data available as a result of a lack of research and monitoring. Ineffective management. Present hunting quota is not sustainable as it is not backed by good scientific data. Present hunting zone is not well positioned. Large distances between infrastructure/management tools and the main complex could lead to the neglect of infrastructure and management tools. Some areas within the reserve are prone to erosion. Tourist safety within big game areas. Poor road conditions make vehicle access difficult for management purposes. Alien vegetation, especially aquatic species. v) Desired condition of the reserve The vision of the LRNR can be summarised as follows: A collaborative partnership between the State and the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other affected communities in the ongoing conservation and sustainable use of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve. From this partnership, it is envisaged that the following will be secured: Meaningful and sustained benefits derived for the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other affected communities; Protection of the reserve s outstanding scenic qualities; Conservation of the diverse habitats and associated fauna and flora of the reserve; Conservation of the biodiversity of the Groot and Klein Letaba Rivers; Equitable access to, and responsible use of, the reserve and its natural resources; and Positioning the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve as one of the ultimate eco-tourism destinations amidst all of the eco-tourism products offered by Limpopo and the Great Limpopo TFCA. vi) Key management activities and targets Twenty-five objectives, anticipated to contribute to realising the vision of the LRNR, were identified by the RPT and can be grouped according to the following six key performance areas: Biodiversity and heritage conservation; sustainable use; enforcement, security and access control; infrastructure and equipment (operations); stakeholder involvement; and administration and planning. These objectives are: Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 13

15 1. Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation 1.1 Re-establish, manage and maintain viable populations of locally indigenous fauna and flora in the LRNR. 1.2 Maintain a natural fire regime within the LRNR. 1.3 Contain the spread, and impacts, of invasive alien plants and bush encroachment in the LRNR. 1.4 Protect the heritage resources of the LRNR. 1.5 Update key baseline information, and develop and maintain a targeted research and monitoring programme to guide biodiversity management in the LRNR. 1.6 Establish a basic soil erosion control programme for the LRNR. 2. Sustainable Use 2.1 Construct, upgrade and maintain day visitor and overnight visitor buildings and infrastructure in the LRNR. 2.2 Develop, deliver and maintain a diverse range of tourism and recreational services for visitors to the LRNR. 2.3 Develop and implement a focused and cost-effective marketing, awareness-raising and educational programme for the LRNR. 2.4 Facilitate the sustainable use of natural resources by the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other communities in the LRNR. 2.5 Manage and mitigate the environmental impacts of conservation management, tourism, recreation and natural resource use in the LRNR. 3. Enforcement, Security and Access Control 3.1 Secure the boundaries of, and maintain controlled access to, the LRNR. 3.2 Sustain an effective law enforcement and compliance capacity in the LRNR. 4. Infrastructure and Equipment(Operations) 4.1 Develop and maintain the road, track and footpath network in the LRNR. 4.2 Construct, maintain and upgrade the bulk services infrastructure in the LRNR. 4.3 Construct, upgrade and maintain administrative, staff and operational buildings and infrastructure in the LRNR. 4.4 Acquire and maintain operational equipment and vehicles for the LRNR. 5. Stakeholder Involvement 5.1 Ensure the ongoing involvement of a representative and functional Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Co- Committee (LRNRCMC) in the planning, development and management of the LRNR. 5.2 Develop, implement and maintain effective mechanisms for ongoing communications with comanagement partners, private stakeholders and neighbouring land owners. 5.3 Actively participate in local and regional conservation and socio-economic development initiatives that may affect or benefit the LRNR. 5.4 Identify, and enable access to employment, empowerment and capacity building opportunities for the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other communities. 6. Administration and Planning 6.1 Secure the legal tenure of, and management authority for, the LRNR. 6.2 Maintain an adequately equipped, resourced and trained staff complement for the LRNR. 6.3 Institute and maintain an effective administrative and planning capability in the LRNR. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 14

16 6.4 Establish, maintain and host a reliable inventory of key information on the LRNR and its ongoing management. For each one of the aforementioned twenty-five objectives, a number of guiding management principles (i.e. norms and standards by which operational decisions re. the LRNR will be made); management actions (i.e. key strategic activities to be implemented in order to achieve the reserve s objectives); and management targets were set by the RPT. Each management action was defined and prioritised as being of a high, medium or low priority for the five year horizon covered by this Strategic Plan. Time frames, targets, key performance indicators and responsibilities were also allocated to each management action, or to a group of linked management actions. The aforementioned principles, actions and targets will be used to inform the annual plans of operation of the LRNR, as well as the resources required to implement it. A Use Zone Map (UZM) was compiled for the LRNR as a broad overarching medium-term spatial planning framework. vii) Institutional arrangements and budget requirements The following recommendations regarding the minimum staffing complement and funding required for the successful implementation of the Reserve Plan (i.e. the SP and APO) was made by the RPT: It was proposed that a total of 88 staff members (consisting of a reserve manager, chief nature conservator, two nature conservators, eight senior field rangers, forty-five field rangers, fifteen gate guards, two administrative officers, an artisan, ten general workers and two cleaners) would be required for the successful implementation of this Strategic Plan. The following capital and operational budgets are proposed for the successful implementation of this SP: 2013/2014: A total capital budget of R and an operational budget of R /2015: A total capital budget of R and an operational budget of R /2016: A total capital budget of R and an operational budget of R /2017: A total capital budget of R and an operational budget of R /2018: A total capital budget of R and an operational budget of R The key responsibilities of the Reserve Planning Team, as well as the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Advisory Committee are defined and recorded and are regarded as crucial in the development, implementation, monitoring and review of the RMP. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 15

17 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Reserve Plan The Reserve Plan (RMP) is the overarching management planning document for the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (LRNR). The accompanying guideline document Guidelines for the development of management plans for Limpopo s Provincial Nature Reserves details the purpose, scope, approach to, and elements of all RMPs for State-managed conservation areas in Limpopo Province. The Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Plan comprises two complementary documents 1 : A Strategic Plan (SP) covering a period of five years (this document); and An Annual Plan of Operation (APO) covering the current financial year. The relationship between these two documents is shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: The relationship between the five-year Strategic Plan (SP) and the consecutive Annual Plans of Operation (APO) that guide the year-on-year reserve budget and activity planning. All the information necessary to guide the management of the LRNR is included in these two documents. No major decisions potentially affecting the future of the reserve will be taken without reference to the RMP. This document constitutes the SP for the LRNR and covers the period Purpose and structure of the Strategic Plan The purpose of the SP for the LRNR is to set out the medium-term ambitions for the reserve. These ambitions are expressed through the vision and objectives. The SP then describes how these ambitions will be delivered through a range of management guidelines and management actions. 1 These two planning documents may, in turn, be supported by a Reserve Database and program-specific, more detailed Subsidiary Plans. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 16

18 This SP has the following structure: SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 4 SECTION 5 INTRODUCTION This section briefly describes the: (i) planning context for the SP; (ii) purpose of the SP; (iii) structure of the SP; and (iv) approach to developing the SP. CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK This section provides a succinct summary of contextual information about the reserve. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FRAMEWORK This section defines the ambitions for the reserve, through the formulation of a vision and a set of objectives. This section also spatially represents the desired state of the reserve in the form of a use zone map for the reserve. STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK This section defines how the vision and the objectives will be delivered. It details the key management guidelines and management actions for six thematic areas (Key Performance Areas): biodiversity and heritage conservation; sustainable use; enforcement, security and access control; infrastructure and equipment (operations); stakeholder involvement; and administration and planning. RESOURCING AND GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK This section describes the: (i) governance arrangements for decision-making; (ii) roles and responsibilities of affected institutions and stakeholders; (iii) the projected staffing requirements; and (iv) the projected funding requirements for the implementation of the SP. 1.3 The steps in preparing the Strategic Plan Eight basic steps were taken in preparing this SP. These steps are outlined in the Table 1 below. Table 1: The eight basic steps taken in preparing the Strategic Plan of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve STEP STEP 1: Data collection, background research and site visit. STEP 2: Establishment of a Reserve Planning Team (RPT). STEP 3: Identification of the reserve values. STEP 4: Deciding on the desired state for the reserve. STEP 5: Development of an action plan for the reserve. STEP 6: Preparation of the first draft of the SP for the reserve. PURPOSE OF STEP To collect, collate and review the contextual reserve information that informs the reserve management planning process. To establish an inter-disciplinary team to guide and advise on the preparation, and ongoing review and evaluation, of the RMP. To describe why the reserve was designated, and its associated values and benefits. To develop and articulate a desired condition, state or appearance of the reserve (vision, objectives and use zone plan). To identify and develop the key management actions needed to achieve the desired state for the reserve. To integrate all the information from Step 1 and Steps 3 to 5 into a first draft of the SP. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 17

19 Table 1 (contd.): The eight basic steps taken in preparing the Strategic Plan of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve STEP STEP 7: Stakeholder consultation (refer to Section below). STEP 8: Revision of the SP to include comments and recommendations from the RPT and other stakeholders. PURPOSE OF STEP To create an opportunity for the RPT, and later the general public and other stakeholders/interested parties, to review and comment on iterative drafts of the SP. To revise the draft SP, taking into account the comments received from the RPT and other stakeholders/interested parties and the public Stakeholder Consultation Stakeholder consultation and support is an important aspect of effective protected area management. It is also a requirement in terms of Sections 39(3) and 41(2)(e) of the National Environmental : Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003). Accordingly, the development of this 5- year SP has been undertaken through a collaborative process involving local communities and other key stakeholders. Public consultation has been undertaken through a series of workshops and discussions with key stakeholders culminating in a key stakeholder workshop, held on 30 November Furthermore, the draft SP has been made available for public review and comment through a 30 day public review and comment process prior to its finalisation. This process has ensured a great deal of valuable input into the development of the SP, the outcomes of which have been incorporated into the plan where applicable. A detailed public participation report is available as Annexure 1. Stakeholder engagement has furthermore also been set as a Key Performance Area in this 5-Year SP: Strategic Implementation Framework: KPA 5 - Stakeholder Involvement. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 18

20 2. CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK DISCLAIMER A reserve-by-reserve data gathering exercise (which excluded the ground truthing of the data collected) was undertaken by NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd. (NCC) during the initial phases of this project with the aim of collecting, collating and reviewing contextual reserve information that would inform the reserve management planning process. The outcome of this exercise was, however, not ideal: Very little information in the form of scientific reports and/or data was made available to NCC during this process. A second attempt was made by NCC to source useful information via a Gap Analysis prepared for LEDET and LTA Directorates to feedback on. Limited feedback was received by NCC in this regard. A Third and final attempt via the appointment of a local specialist to source, and assess the suitability of a number of old, archived reports - held at the Authority s head office - for inclusion in the reserve management planning process. Most of the reports in question were, however, found to be outdated and stored in a state of disarray, resulting in a decision not to include this information in the relevant reserve management plans. The following additional step was taken by NCC to counteract the lack of information received from the Authority: A thorough stakeholder engagement process, with a strong reliance on the Authority for assistance with the identification of potential interested and/or affected parties, was conducted with the aim of providing an opportunity to stakeholders to give input into the reserve management planning process and provide NCC with suitable scientifically based information and/or reports. 2.1 Location The Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (LRNR) is located in the Mopani District of Limpopo Province, South Africa and is situated approximately 170 km to the east of Polokwane and 10 km to the north of Phalaborwa (Figure 2). The reserve can be accessed via three different routes: Along the Giyani- Lulekani road (R351) to the northern entrance gate of the reserve; along the Letsitele-Letaba Ranch road, off the R71, to the western entrance gate; and from Phalaborwa, off the R71, through Lulekani to the southern entrance gate of the reserve. The LRNR is situated along the western boundary of the Kruger National Park (KNP), to the north of the Phalaborwa Gate, and forms part of the Greater Kruger Park Conservation Area. The LRNR also forms part of the African Ivory Route. The Mthimkhulu Nature Reserve, which covers an area of ha and is situated to the north of the Groot Letaba River, is incorporated into the LRNR. The north-western boundary of the reserve borders the settlement areas of the Makhuba region of the Mopani District and the western and south-western reserve boundaries border the Lulekani and Majeje regions of the Mopani District. The LRNR covers a total area of ha, making it the largest of all the provincial nature reserves currently managed by LEDET. The LRNR is located on portions of the following properties: Machet No. 4 LU, Mbaula Ranch No. 6 LU, Belasting No. 7 LU, Leeukop No. 10 LU, Baderoukwe 11 LU, Ndole No. 12 LU, Sable No. 13 LU, Genoeg No. 15 LU and Letaba Ranch No. 17 LU (Figure 3). 2.2 Legal status The LRNR was proclaimed as a game reserve and native flora reserve, known as the Rondalia-Letaba Private Nature Reserve, through Notice No. 392 of the Transvaal Official Gazette Extraordinary No. 195 (3186) of 15 December 1965 in terms of Section 11 of the Transvaal Game Ordinance, 1949 (Ordinance No. 23 of 1949), and Section 2 of the Transvaal Native Flora Protection Ordinance, 1940 (Ordinance No. 9 of 1940). The area was subsequently de-proclaimed as a reserve, effective from 1 September 1975, through Notice No of 1 October 1975 in terms of Section 3 of the Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1967 (Ordinance No. 17 of 1967). Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 19

21 Figure 2: Regional location of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 20

22 Figure 3: Locality map of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 21

23 In light of the above, the LRNR is currently not legally defined as a provincial nature reserve in terms of the National Environmental : Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) (NEMPAA) and as such does not fall under the legal protection of NEMPAA in terms of Section 12 thereof. Table 2 lists key national, provincial and local legislation that has a direct influence on all reserve management activities. Table 2: Key national, provincial and local legislation with a direct influence on all reserve management activities 2 NATIONAL LEGISLATION National Environmental Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) (NEMA); National Environmental : Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA); National Environmental : Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) (NEMPAA); National Environmental : Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 58 of 2008) (NEMWA); National Forest Act, 1998 (Act No. 84 of 1998); Agriculture Laws Extension Act, 1996 (Act No. 87 of 1996); Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 (Act No. 43 of 1983) (CARA); Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989); National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998); Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997) (WSA); National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 (Act No. 101 of 1998) (NVFFA); National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999) (NHRA); Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984); Animal Health Act, 2002 (Act No. 7 of 2002); Disaster Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002); Fencing Act, 1963 (Act No. 31 of 1963); Tourism Act, 1993 (Act No. 72 of 1993); Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993) (OHSA); National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977) (NBRBSA); Public Finance Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) (PFMA); Public Service Act, 1994, (Act No. 103 of 1994), as amended (PSA); Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995) (LRA); Basic Condition of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997) (BCEA); Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998) (EEA); Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No. 97 of 1998) (SDA); and Game Theft Act, 1991 (Act No. 105 of 1991). PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL LEGISLATION Limpopo Environmental Act, 2003 (Act No. 7 of 2003); Limpopo Tourism Act, 2009 (Act No. 2 of 2009); and Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality By- Laws, 2009 (Local Authority Notice No. 277). 2 Including all regulations promulgated in terms of the legislation listed. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 22

24 2.3 Institutional arrangements General In implementing the RMP, it is essential that Reserve understand the mandates of various role-players and the institutional framework in which decision making; implementation and monitoring will be carried out. In light of this, a brief outline of the mandates and responsibilities of the Authority and key supporting government departments is provided below: LEDET, as the current designated management authority of the LRNR, has a strategic mandate to develop the provincial economy, as well as to promote and manage tourism and the sustainable use of the natural environment in Limpopo Province. LEDET is currently in the process of compiling its Strategic and Annual Performance Plan that will aim at achieving key strategic objectives through the first draft of the plan for the phase , which is already completed. Some of the key strategic objectives that the plan aims to achieve include: Job creation within a sustainable environment; Ensuring healthy and fair trade; Establishing the province as a preferred eco-tourism destination; Sustainable environmental management; An increase in productive investment; and Thriving enterprises in all sectors. The Strategic Plan for Limpopo Province also includes an Environmental Affairs Programme that aims to ensure the development, promotion, management and regulation of environmental activities in the Province. The programme is comprised of three sub-programmes, namely Environmental Trade and Protection; Biodiversity and Natural Resource ; and Environmental Empowerment Services. The programme is headed by a Senior General Manager with two Chief Directorates, each with a General Manager and one Directorate with a Senior Manager. Some of the strategic objectives of the programme include: To manage the impacts of developments on the environment; To enforce compliance with environmental legislation; To regulate the use of natural resources; The sound management of air quality and waste; To provide scientific support towards biodiversity management; To establish and monitor a representative network of 43 of protected areas; To manage State-owned nature reserves; and To provide environmental research and planning services. LEDET currently directly manages 43 nature reserves covering a total area of over ha. LEDET is also responsible for the biodiversity management of the entire Limpopo Province. In addition, a range of other core government departments have important roles to play in ensuring that the LRNR is appropriately conserved and managed, including the following: Limpopo Tourism Agency The LTA is currently responsible for managing tourism-related infrastructure in the LRNR. In this regard a draft service-level agreement has been developed between the LTA and LEDET in order to formalise the responsibilities between these two agencies. Once finalised, this is anticipated to clarify specific roles of the LTA in terms of management. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 23

25 The mandate of LTA is to promote, foster and develop tourism to and within Limpopo Province. Its role is therefore not only to grow the tourism sector of the LRNR, but also to grow it in the broader region, as reflected in their mission: To encourage and facilitate the holistic development and promotion of the tourism industry in Limpopo Province; To encourage the participation of all people in the tourism industry; To ensure that all people have equal access to the social, economic and environmental opportunities and benefits created by the tourism industry; To facilitate community empowerment as an essential part of tourism development; To ensure that nature reserves and protected areas are developed, promoted, managed and conserved effectively; and To facilitate hospitality management in the province Department of Water Affairs The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has the responsibility of developing tools and legislation related to water resource management; establishing appropriate institutional arrangements (CMA, other forums & advisory committees); and creating awareness and building capacity. Water resource planning, both quantity and quality, at catchment level, as well as the issuing of water use licences and the enforcement and compliance of the provisions of the NWA also fall within the responsibilities of DWA. Given the importance of catchment management in maintaining the integrity of the LRNR, the DWA also has a very important role to play in ensuring the long-term protection and maintenance of the reserve. It is also the responsibility of the DWA to develop legislation and policies related to water resource management, namely: Developing approaches, systems, tools, standards, objectives and strategies that support and promote the sustainable utilisation of water resources; Facilitating the implementation of catchment management and other related strategies; Monitoring resource quality (this includes hydrological, water quality and bio monitoring); Auditing the state of South Africa s water resources against set objectives; Constructing & maintaining water-related infrastructure; and Setting water quality standards ( Department of Public Works The national Department of Public Works (DPW) directly undertakes functions that relate to national functions in the province, such as the construction and maintenance of facilities and properties that are of national importance. The DPW is guided by national policies aimed at transforming the public service, such as Batho Pele and the White Paper on Transformation of the Public Service. In Addition, the DPW is bound to work within the prevailing regulatory framework, including: The PSA; Regulations promulgated in terms of the PSA; The PFMA; Regulations promulgated in terms of the PFMA; and The Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 (Act No. 5 of 2000). Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 24

26 The provincial Limpopo DPW, in accordance with the Constitution, is responsible for Public Works functions, which relate to provincial functions and provincial state property (including State-owned Nature Reserves). The core functions of the provincial DPW include: The maintenance of government-owned buildings, including gardens and residential accommodation used by members of provincial legislature grounds. (This is relevant to premises that accommodate more than one government department. Where a department occupies a building on its own, it is responsible for all maintenance. Refer to the State of Knowledge Data Repository (SOKDR) for relevant documentation, i.e. the EXCO Decision 59/2001). The provision and management of immovable properties that serve as a platform for the efficient delivery of various government services. Rendering an expert built environment function that involves technical planning, design and construction management. Coordination of the expanded Public Works Programme Department of Environmental Affairs The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is responsible for the overall coordination of environmental activities in South Africa. It also coordinates environmental research, undertakes environmental education and ensures the implementation of environmental impact assessments, amongst other duties Limpopo Department of Agriculture and the Expanded Public Works Programme The main focus of the Limpopo Department of Agriculture (LDA) is to promote economic growth and food security through sustainable agricultural and entrepreneurship development. Apart from its core agricultural focus, the LDA is also responsible for promoting sustainable natural resource utilization and agricultural land use management. The LDA is also the lead sector coordinating body for the Environment and Culture Sector within the following programme: the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP): Limpopo. The EPWP involves creating temporary work opportunities for the unemployed, using public sector expenditure. The environmental sector s contribution to the EPWP involves employing people to work on projects to improve their local environments through programmes such as the Department of Agriculture s Land Care programme; the DEA s People and Parks programme, Sustainable Land-based Livelihoods, and Growing a Tourism Economy programmes; as well as the DWA s Working for Water, Working for Wetlands, and Working on Fire programmes Institutional Arrangements Specifically Relevant to the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Different portions of the LRNR are owned by the State, the Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) Tribal Authority and the Majeje Tribal Authority. The State currently owns the largest portion of the reserve. LEDET and the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) are currently responsible for the conservation and tourism management, respectively, of the LRNR. LEDET is currently in the process of drafting a comanagement agreement to be entered into with the Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and Majeje Tribal Authorities re. the management of those sections of land owned by these authorities. In the interim these portions of land are being managed by LEDET, with tourism aspects of these sections being managed by the LTA through the African Ivory Route. The Majeje Tribal Authority is an actively involved shareholder of the LRNR and there is a good understanding and system in place regarding the utilisation and distribution of resources to the south of the Groot Letaba River by this community. The Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) Tribal Authority is actively Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 25

27 involved in the area to the north of the Groot Letaba River, however, the relationship and communication between this tribal authority and LEDET is less effective than that of the Majeje Tribal Authority. Land claims in terms of Section 10 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994) have been submitted over different sections of the LRNR by the following claimants: Makhushane; Selwane; and the Makhuva-Mathebula Royal council. All of these claims have been referred to the Land Claims Court for adjudication and are currently still in process. A hunting protocol between LEDET and SANParks is currently in place. Table 3 details the current staff complement of the LRNR. 2.4 Reserve description History Table 3: The current staff complement of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve POST NUMBER 1 Senior Field Ranger 1 Field Ranger 32 General Assistant (Cleaner) 2 Total 36 Prior to its proclamation as the Rondalia-Letaba Nature Reserve in 1965 (Section 2.2), the LRNR consisted of nine privately owned farms, as well as portions of tribal land. Most of these properties were used for cattle farming purposes. After the de-proclamation of the reserve on 1 October 1975 (effective from 1 September 1975) (Section 2.2), the reserve was formally included under the judicial control of the former Gazankulu on 21March Gazankulu was a Bantustan (homeland) that was reintegrated into South Africa in 1994 and now forms part of Limpopo Province. The LRNR functions as a trophy hunting reserve and was hunted extensively between 1980 and Climate The LRNR receives an average annual rainfall of 500 mm per year, most of which falls during the summer months. The area receives the least amount of rainfall in August (with an average monthly rainfall of 1 mm per month) and the most in December (with an average monthly rainfall of 117 mm per month) (Figure 4). The monthly average for maximum temperatures at the reserve ranges from 25 C in July to 33 C in February. The region is coldest in July, when temperatures can drop to 7 C at night (Figure 4). Frost rarely occurs in this area. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 26

28 Figure 4: Graph illustrating the average monthly rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures for the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Masalale Pack House Weather Station: Latitude: S; E; 375 m above sea level) Topography The topography of the LRNR consists of gently undulating landscapes located at altitudes of between 340 and 400 m above sea level, with the occasional hill located at altitudes of up to 450 m above sea level (Figure 3). The most distinct topographical feature of the LRNR is a number of koppies located in the central zone of the southern section of the reserve, collectively known as Sable Mountain. The highest koppie, Middelkop, is located at an altitude of 446 m above sea level (Figure 3). Undulating landscapes comprise approximately 88% of the surface area of the reserve, with 2% of the area characterised by granite koppies. The remaining 10 % of the surface area of the reserve consists of dry drainage lines that drain towards the perennial Letaba River Geology and Soils Geology A variety of geological formations occurs in the LRNR and can generally be grouped according to the vegetation unit it supports. The geology on which Granite Lowveld occurs, ranges from Archaean granite and gneiss, Swazian Goudplaats Gneiss, Makhutswi Gneiss and Nelspruit Suite to the younger Mpuluzi Granite. Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld geology is mostly underlain by Goudplaats Gneiss and Makhutswi Gneiss, with some ultramafic metavolcanics (rocks rich in chlorite, amphibole, talc and serpentine) and metasediments of the Giyani Greenstone Belt (all Swazian Erathem). Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld geology consists of quartz-feldspar rocks of the Makhutswi Gneiss (Swazian) dominate, intruded by the Lekkersmaak Granite (Randian). Tsende Mopaneveld geology includes quartz-feldspar rocks (Goudplaats Gneiss Basement), which are low in potassium. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 27

29 Soils A variety of soil forms occur in the LRNR and can generally be grouped according to the vegetation unit it supports. In the lowlands Granite Lowveld occurs on clayey soils with a high content of sodium, while soils in the uplands are sandy. Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld soils are red-yellow apedal, shallow, stony, freely drained soils. Soil forms are mainly Hutton, Mispah and Glenrosa. Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld occurs on sandy soils, usually with less than 10% clay in the A- horizon on the uplands (such as the Clovelly soil form) and clay soils in the bottomlands (such as the Valsrivier and Sterkspruit soil forms). Tsende Mopaneveld soils are shallower and clayey on the uplands, while the plains have deeper clayey soils Soil Erosion Areas of soil erosion are known to be present within the reserve. A thorough assessment of all factors affecting the soils of the reserve, on which management decisions regarding soil erosion can be based, has, however, not been conducted to date Drainage and Hydrology The LRNR forms part of the Letaba River System. The Groot Letaba River (classified as an endangered Class C river) runs through the reserve from west to east (and into the KNP), dividing the reserve into two sections, namely the Mthimkhulu (formerly Mbaula Ranch) section in the north and the Letaba Ranch section in the south. The Klein Letaba River (classified as an endangered Class B river) forms the north- eastern boundary of the LRNR and drains the northern section of the reserve. Both of these rivers have their sources far away and therefore drain relatively large areas: The Klein Letaba River drains an area measuring approximately ha and the Groot Letaba River drains an area measuring approximately ha. The confluence of these two rivers is located along the eastern boundary of the LRNR. Here the rivers join to become the Letaba River that flows through the KNP. The Nondweni Dam is located approximately 15 km upstream of the Groot Letaba River, to the west of the reserve. This dam, in addition to all the upstream agricultural activities (including citrus farming) has obvious negative effects on the quality of the Groot Letaba River once it enters the LRNR. It is of vital importance to conserve the Letaba fresh water system and its fish populations for both present and future generations. A well-defined watershed, consisting of a series of koppies known as Sable Mountain, divides the southern (Letaba Ranch) section of the LRNR into two. The Baderoukwe and Nhlarhweni Rivers form the two main seasonal drainage lines of the area located to the south of the watershed. Both of these rivers drain into the Letaba River, within the boundaries of the KNP. Four main seasonal drainage lines can be identified to the north of the watershed, namely the Xikararavura and the Makhwarheni Rivers that drain into the Letaba River within the LRNR, and the Tsugama and the Nhlaveni Rivers that drain into the Letaba River within the KNP. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 28

30 The majority of drainage lines within the LRNR are seasonal, sandy watercourses, the largest of which is the Klein Letaba River. Most of these sandy watercourses flow only after heavy rainfall events, or a series of such events. A number of seasonal dams and pans are also located within the LRNR, all of which are located to the south of the Groot Letaba River. A total of six boreholes are located within the LRNR - of which only five are currently in a working order. These boreholes provide water for human consumption within the reserve, as well as to a number of artificial waterholes utilised by game Vegetation Vegetation Types The vegetation of the LRNR comprises Mopane and Lowveld Bushveld vegetation units of the Savanna Biome (Figure 5). Savanna is characterized by a herbaceous layer (usually dominated by grasses) with a woody component most typically an overstorey of trees. In southern Africa, bushveld is an apt description of the vegetation structure, as the vegetation most often does not comprise distinct shrub and tree layers. Instead, shrubs and trees occur in a matrix with a grass-dominated herb layer. Savannas are fire prone ecosystems and therefore fire is essential to maintaining both its structure and floristic composition. The exclusion of fire results in bush encroachment and a diminishing grass and herbaceous layer. Mid-dry season burns favour scrubby and coppiced savannah (i.e. an increase in browsing capacity at the expense of grazing), while early wet season burns favour grass production. Patch mosaic burning favours a higher diversity of vegetation structure and floristic composition. High intensity fire can kill the shrub and tree component, resulting in a reduced browsing capacity. The vegetation description for the LRNR follows Mucina & Rutherford (2006) (Figure 5) Granite Lowveld (Vulnerable) Granite Lowveld (Figure 5) occurring on the uplands comprises tall shrubland with few trees to moderately dense low woodland dominated by Terminalia sericea, Combretum zeyheri and C. apiculatum and a ground layer consisting of Pogonarthria squarrosa, Tricholaena monachne and Eragrostis rigidior. In the lowland areas dense thicket to open savanna with Acacia nigrescens, Dichrostachys cinerea and Grewia bicolor dominate the woody layer. The dense herbaceous layer is mainly comprised of Digitaria eriantha, Panicum maximum and Aristida congesta on fine-textured soils, while brackish bottomland soils support Sporobolus mitens. A dense fringe of T. sericea and Eragrostis gummiflua occurs in areas where the topography changes from convex to concave. Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld (Figure 5) is characterised by dense shrubs with occasional trees and a sparse ground layer. Woody plants can become particularly dense on very rocky terrain where fire is excluded. Tree and shrub species include A. nigrescens and Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (tall trees); Colophospermum mopane, C. apiculatum, Terminalia prunoides and Acacia exuvialis (small trees); Combretum hereroense, Dichrostachys cinerea, G. bicolor and G. villosa (tall shrubs); and Commiphora africana, Melhania forbesii, M. rehmannii and Solanum panduriforme (low shrubs). The field layer is comprised of Aristida congesta, Enneapogon cenchroides, Melinis repens and Sporobolus panicoides (grasses); and Crabbea velutina, Helitropium steudneri and Hemizygia elliottii (herbs). Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 29

31 Figure 5: Vegetation map of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 30

32 Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld (Figure 5) is an open tree savanna which occurs on undulating plains, with the sandy uplands dominated by C. apiculatum, T. sericea and C. mopane trees. On the clayey bottomlands the dominant species changes as T. sericea and C. apiculatum are less common, while trees such as A. nigrescens and C. mopane increase in dominance. The field layer is usually welldeveloped and species include Digitaria eriantha subsp. pentzii, Eragrostis rigidior, P. squarrosa, Andropogon gayanus and Aristida congesta (grasses); and Evolvulus alsinoides, Heliotropium steudneri, Hemizygia elliottii and Ipomoea magnusiana (herbs). A feature of the northern sections of this unit is the large number of termite mounds on the uplands. Tsende Mopaneveld Tsende Mopaneveld occurring at the LRNR (Figure 5) is characterised by medium to high shrub dominated savannah, with scattered trees and a dense field layer. Tree and shrub species include A. nigrescens and Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra (tall trees); C. mopane and C. apiculatum (small trees); and C. hereroense, D. cinerea, Euclea divinorum and Grewia bicolor (tall shrubs), amongst others. The field layer comprises Clerodendrum ternatum and Indigofera schimperi (low shrubs); Bothriochloa radicans, Digitaria eriantha subsp. pentzii, Heteropogon contortus and Panicum maximum (grasses); and Blepharis integrifolia, Ceratotheca triloba and Chamaecrista absus (herbs), amongst others Species of Conservation Concern Table 4 lists the plant species of conservation concern known to occur in the LRNR area 3. Table 4: Plant species of conservation concern known to occur in the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve area PLANT SCIENTIFIC NAME Nemesia zimbabwensis Brachystelma villosum IUCN STATUS Endangered Rare Invasive Alien Plants Detailed information on the extent and density of infestation by invasive alien plants within the LRNR is currently unknown. Alien plant control does, however, take place on an ad hoc basis Fauna The LRNR borders on the Kruger National Park (KNP) and the game fence that separated the properties in the past has been removed. The LRNR therefore plays a critical part in acting not only as a buffer to the surrounding communities and mining operations, but also as an overflow for all wildlife from the KNP. Just in terms of the overwhelming biodiversity, the LRNR must rank as one of the most important nature reserves of Limpopo Province. A historical mammal list for the LRNR can be compiled based on the results of aerial game counts conducted in the area in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010 and A total of 26 larger mammal species were recorded in the reserve during this period, namely Blue Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Burchell s Zebra, Hippopotamus, Sable Antelope, Warthog, Waterbuck, White Rhino, Bushpig, Common Duiker, Eland, African Elephant, Impala, Nyala, Sharpe's Grysbok, Steenbok, Bushbuck, Giraffe, Klipspringer, 3 The species of conservation concern indicated in this section have a strong probability of occurrence at this reserve, based on the Plants of South Africa (POSA) database. The POSA includes a database of all plants recorded by means of voucher specimens lodged with one of the recognised herbaria in South Africa. The actual occurrence of these species will, however, need to be ground-truthed as part of KPA 1: Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation (Objective 1.5). Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 31

33 Greater Kudu, African Wild Dog, Chacma Baboon, Black-backed Jackal, Leopard, Lion and Spotted Hyena. The Majeje and Mthimkhulu tribes have been awarded quotas for hunting in the LRNR during culling season. Fishing and the harvesting of Mopani worms are also done in the reserve by locals according to a permit system. The reserve has a good representation of all bushveld bird species and has good populations of raptors. Nests of White Back Vultures, as well as Ground Hornbill sightings, were also recorded during the aerial census of There is currently a good diversity of bird, reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate species associated with Mopani Bushveld of the Savanna Biome, which is found within the LRNR. An ongoing research and monitoring programme is needed to update species lists and help inform the management of this crucial reserve Mammals A total of head of game was recorded in the LRNR in This included, amongst others: Cape Buffalo (1 467), Common Duiker (117), African Elephant (451), Giraffe (190), Hippopotamus (157), Impala (2 841), Greater Kudu (233), Leopard (2), White Rhino (5), Steenbok (118), Warthog (122) and Wild Dog (4). During the 2012 aerial census, a total of head of game was counted, including Blue Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Burchell s Zebra, Hippopotamus, Warthog, Waterbuck and White Rhino (grazers); Common Duiker, Eland, African Elephant, Impala, Nyala, Sharpe's Grysbok and Steenbok (mixed feeders); Bushbuck, Giraffe, Klipspringer and Greater Kudu (browsers); and Chacma Baboon, Spotted Hyena and Leopard (other feeders). A number of smaller mammal species have also been recorded in the reserve, including Striped Polecat, African Porcupine, Pangolin, Honey Badger, Aardvark and a number of mongoose, bat, shrew, rat, hare, bush baby and genet species. Cheetah and Side-striped Jackal are also present in the reserve, but are not common and have not been recorded during any of the aerial censuses conducted in the reserve to date. A provisional Elephant Plan was compiled by independent consultant Petri Viljoen and submitted in June The LEDET Biodiversity Unit, lead by Ecologist Johan Kruger, is, however, currently in the process of compiling an Elephant Plan that will be submitted for acceptance by the KNP and other affected bodies. The greatest challenge in the compilation of this plan, is the fact that the LRNR is not completely fenced, i.e. it shares an open border with the KNP. As a result, a number of elephant management options (including culling and contraception) are not viable for use in the LRNR. Currently an average of five elephant bulls is made available for trophy hunting purposes annually the only off-take that takes place at the reserve. Having no baseline information available to inform the Elephant Plan, its format will comprise generating information to guide the plan going forward. Firstly, reserve management need to manage the existing infrastructure on the LRNR, e.g. the boundary fence, water provision, roads, buildings, signage, etc. Secondly, a comprehensive monitoring programme needs to be initiated in order to determine the African Elephant s impacts on the veld and various habitat types, which will enable the making of good management decisions that are motivated by scientific evidence/data. Thirdly, the numbers and movement of African Elephant must be properly monitored. This will require ongoing groundwork and annual aerial game counts. Present population records of African Elephant in the reserve are as follows: 148 individuals counted in 2003; 121 individuals counted in 2004; 330 individuals counted in 2005; 278 individuals counted in 2006; 481 individuals counted in 2012; and 451 individuals counted in Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 32

34 Anthrax has been a problem in the LRNR in the past. In 1994, 84% of all Greater Kudu mortalities within the reserve were anthrax related. The poaching of wildlife is another serious problem in the reserve. White Rhino are particularly vulnerable based on the current Rhino poaching onslaught in South Africa Mammal Species of Conservation Concern The mammal species of conservation concern listed in Table 5 are known to occur at the LRNR. Table 5: Mammal species of conservation concern known to occur at the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME IUCN STATUS Panthera pardus Leopard Near-threatened. Panthera leo Lion Threatened. Ceratotherium simum White Rhino Near-threatened. Lycaon pictus Wild Dog Endangered. Acinonyx jubatus Cheetah Vulnerable Avifauna The LRNR is comprised of a relatively heterogeneous landscape, with multiple vegetation units, resulting in a wide range of habitat types and a potentially high level of avian species diversity. Additionally, the presence of the perennial Letaba River, as well as associated tributaries and drainage lines, offer various breeding and/or foraging habitats to a wide range of waterfowl and other wetland/riparian/floodplain associated avian species. There are currently 101 verified avian species, of which five occur on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, occurring at the reserve, namely Bateleur (Vulnerable), Martial Eagle (Vulnerable), Tawny Eagle (Vulnerable), Southern Ground Hornbill (Vulnerable) and White-backed Vulture (Vulnerable). The level of endemism reflected within the current verified species inventory includes seven near-endemic species. The potential species richness within the LRNR is potentially much higher than the current species inventory, but is yet to be determined and/or recorded. The presence and conservation of (particularly existing breeding pairs of) two species listed under IUCN classification, namely Martial Eagle (Vulnerable) and Tawny Eagle (Vulnerable), have both an ecological and conservation significance as they are apex predators within the given ecosystem and overall densities in South Africa have decreased as a result of direct persecution. The majority of the South African Southern Ground Hornbill population is restricted to large protected areas including and surrounding the Kruger National Park. This species has experienced a major range contraction, mainly as a result of habitat alteration and persecution. The identification and conservation of existing breeding pairs and/or possibly assisting the establishment of breeding pairs within the LRNR will contribute to the overall conservation of the species within South Africa Reptiles and Amphibians The LRNR provides ideal habitat for a range of reptile species. Snakes such as Black Mamba, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Puff Adder, Boomslang and Southern African Python are known to occur, while individuals of Nile Crocodile were recorded in the reserve during the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2012 aerial censuses. Some of the lizard species occurring in LRNR include Wahlberg s Snake eyed Skink, Yellow-throated Plated Lizard, Cape Dwarf Gecko, Speckled Thick-toed Gecko and Variable Skink. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 33

35 A conservative total of 31 different amphibian species occur at the LRNR, including Brown-backed Tree Frog, Bushveld Rain Frog, Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog, Northern Pigmy Toad, Painted Reed Frog, Water Lily Frog, Ornate Frog, Broad-banded Grass Frog, African Bullfrog and Southern Foam Nest Frog. A complete amphibian species list is available as part of the reserve s State of Knowledge Data Repository (SOKDR) Fish Thirty-one different species of fish have been recorded in the Groot Letaba River in the LRNR, including Giant Mottled Eel, Beira Barb, River Goby, Longfin Eel, Common Mountain Catfish, Orange-fin Barb, Large-scaled Yellowfish, Side Spot Barb, Three Spot Barb, Common Catfish, Barred Minnow and Mozambique Tilapia, amongst others. A complete fish species list for the LRNR is available as part of the SOKDR Heritage Resources No known sites of historic significance or other heritage resources are known to occur within the LRNR. This has, however, not been confirmed by an official heritage survey to date Reserve Infrastructure There is a total of seven entrance gates into the LRNR, three of which are used by tourists and reserve management staff; two of which are used only by reserve management staff; and two of which are no longer in use. The main entrance gate of the LRNR is situated along the western reserve boundary, at the Seloane village crossing. All three gravel roads that provide access to the LRNR (Section 2.1) are currently in a fair to poor condition. The road network within the LRNR also consists of gravel roads only, all of which are currently in a fair to poor condition. A number of roads within the reserve are not suitable for use by normal sedan vehicle and require high clearance and 4x4 capabilities. Signage both to and within the reserve is insufficient and in a poor condition. The LRNR is fenced-in on the northern, southern and western sides. These boundary fences are currently in a good to fair condition, except for the northern boundary fence, which is in a fair condition and has not been electrified to date. Some sections of the boundary fence in the Mthimkhulu area are currently in a poor condition. The eastern reserve boundary, which the LRNR shares with the KNP, is not fenced-in in order to allow for the free movement of fauna between the KNP and the LRNR. The administrative hub of the LRNR consists of a brick building with a thatched roof, which is divided into four offices. This structure is currently in a good condition. Staff accommodation within the reserve consists of three park homes; a number of old brick buildings with thatched roofs; and a number of old brick buildings with corrugated iron roofs. Although sufficient, these structures are all currently in a poor condition. Staff share one communal ablution block. Five patrol pickets, all in a very poor condition, are located within the LRNR. These structures mainly consist of old farmsteads inherited from previous private land owners and are used to accommodate reserve staff. The only operational tourist facility within the LRNR is the Mtomeni Tented Bush Camp, which is operated by The African Ivory Route. This camp was named after the Jackal Berry trees which are found Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 34

36 in the camp s lapa area and is situated on the banks of the Groot Letaba River. The Mtomeni Tented Bush Camp consists of 5 permanent safari tents, each with its own ablution facilities. The camp furthermore shares a communal kitchen and lapa area. The LRNR is not equipped with any picnic spots or other facilities for day visitors. The reserve has one storeroom building with three separate store rooms, one of which is in a good condition. The remaining two store rooms are in a bad condition. The slaughtering facilities of the reserve are currently in a very poor condition. No cold room facilities are furthermore available for carcasses after slaughtering. The LRNR is equipped with electricity and telephone lines. The water supply within the reserve, for both human and animal consumption, is provided via boreholes. There are six boreholes located within the reserve, of which five are currently in a working order. Water is pumped from these five boreholes once a week in order to provide water for wildlife. The engines and pumps used for water provision purposes are not currently adequately protected from wildlife and are therefore costly to maintain. In some areas with no water pumping facilities, water for human consumption is delivered by way of mobile water tanks and/or drums. A network of hiking trails has been developed in the LRNR, but is currently overgrown with vegetation and not well-maintained. No servitudes are located within the boundaries of the LRNR Social Context The LRNR is surrounded by a population of approximately individuals Local and Regional Planning The LRNR is located in the Ba-Phalaborwa and Greater Giyani Local Municipalities, both of which form part of the Mopani District Municipality of Limpopo Province. The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the period 2012 to 2017 lists the Letaba Ranch Conservation Area as one of the protected areas/conservancies located within the municipal boundaries. The IDP furthermore lists the development of facilities at the LRNR as one of its development potential projects, which aims at stimulating development within the tourism sector of the municipality. In addition, the IDP also lists the tarring of the road between the Eiland and Letaba Ranch as an identified community need. No mention is made of the LRNR in the IDP of the Greater Giyani Local Municipality for the period 2012 to 2013 The Mopani District IDP for the period 2011 to 2016 acknowledges the value of the LRNR as an environmental conservation area within the district. 4 The social context of the LRNR was determined by identifying the municipal wards within which the reserve is located, as well as those immediately bordering the reserve. Using the results of the South African National Census of 2011, the total number of people within these wards was then calculated to give a representation of the population in the vicinity of the reserve. It should be kept in mind that ward sizes differ considerably and that the value listed may include individuals residing relatively far from the reserve. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 35

37 2.6 Reserve Expansion A National Protected Area Expansion Strategy (NPAES) was compiled for South Africa in 2008 and approved for implementation in March The aim of the NPAES is to achieve cost-effective protected area expansion that will ensure a) ecological sustainability and b) increased resilience to climate change. The NPAES sets five- and twenty-year protected area expansion targets; identifies focus areas for protected area expansion; and makes recommendations on potential mechanisms through which protected area expansion could be achieved. The LRNR is not included in one of the focus areas identified for protected area expansion by the NPAES. It is, however, important to note that the NPAES does not regard areas that are not formally protected by law, such as the LRNR, as protected areas, but rather as conservation areas. Conservation areas are not included in the NPAES, based on the fact that there is no long-term security associated with these areas. An expansion project has nonetheless been identified for the LRNR by the Authority and is currently being implemented. This project involves the linking of the LRNR to the KNP and Mthimkhulu, as well as possible further expansion to the north. 2.7 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Table 6 lists the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that were identified for the LRNR. Table 6: Key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats identified for the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve KEY STRENGTHS Located next to, and shares an unfenced boundary with, the Kruger National Park. Forms a part of the Greater Kruger Conservation Area. Situated close to the Phalaborwa Airport. Easily accessible. Largest of the provincial Limpopo nature reserves. It is a Big Five reserve with a good gene pool. Mild winter temperatures. There is a diversity of habitats present within the reserve. Reserve management has a good relationship with the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force. Exceptional scenic qualities. The reserve forms part of the African Ivory Route. The reserve belongs to Ba-Phlaborwa Fire Protection Association. There is an existing hunting protocol with the Kruger National Park. Detailed information on all boreholes is available, e.g. depth, flow rate, water quality, etc. KEY WEAKNESSES (ISSUES & CHALLENGES) The reserve is not officially proclaimed as a nature reserve and therefore does not fall under the legal protection of NEMPAA. The reserve experiences extremely hot temperatures during mid-summer. Located far from Gauteng. Located in a malaria area and therefore precautions should be taken when visiting the reserve. Access to the northern section of the reserve is limited. The area in which the reserve is located is susceptible to drought in varying degrees. Some of the artificial water sources within the reserve are not ideally located. Poor road conditions and insufficient, poor signage. Existing developments within the reserve are located in the most sensitive areas of highest Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 36

38 conservation importance. Ageing staff component and shortage of staff. Centralised budget, and de-capacitated reserve management. Lack of resources. Insufficient information re. the heritage resources of the reserve. Lack of communication/co-operation between management and stakeholders. Very little scientific data available as a result of a lack of research and monitoring. Ineffective management. Present hunting quota is not sustainable as it is not backed by good scientific data. Present hunting zone is not well positioned. No permanent water at outlying pickets. Large distances between infrastructure/management tools and the main complex could lead to the neglect of infrastructure and management tools. Some areas within the reserve are prone to erosion. Tourist safety within big game areas. Poor road conditions make vehicle access difficult for management purposes. Alien vegetation, especially aquatic species. OPPORTUNITIES There is huge potential to upgrade the tourism facilities of the reserve and improve the road infrastructure in order to allow better access throughout the reserve. The development of a new major tourism facility. Improved signage to and within the reserve. Good marketing potential as a result of the proximity to, and unfenced boundary with, the KNP. The LRNR also forms part of the Greater Kruger Conservation Area and is therefore marketed by existing structures involved with eco-tourism and hunting. Opportunities for African wilderness experiences. There is an opportunity to introduce activities such as night drives, game walks, the selling of curios and cultural experiences. The koppies within the reserve provide good lookout points that could be developed. There is an opportunity to establish (guided) hiking trails through the different veld types and habitats of the reserve. Environmental education. Research and monitoring opportunities. Job creation. The establishment of the Luvuvhu Wilderness Trail operated by TFPD has been successful and has the potential to become the flagship 4x4 trail in Limpopo Province and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA). THREATS Poaching of wildlife. Theft. Damage to the reserve s boundary fence by neighbouring communities. The spread of diseases. The impact of the African Elephant on the vegetation. Low rainfall game numbers must be managed carefully in order to prevent veld degradation. Mineral deposits in the southern regions of the reserve could lead to the area being mined, if it is found to be viable. Pending land claims. Lack of capacity to ensure law enforcement. Existing legal status of the reserve. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 37

39 3. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FRAMEWORK 3.1 Purpose The properties on which the LRNR are located were initially State land that was leased out for farming purposes. Rondalia Resorts later established a number of camps along the eastern bank of Letaba River and the area was subsequently utilised as a game reserve by the then Department of Agriculture. The South African Nature Foundation (SANF) also used the area for training purposes during this period. When the area was later transferred to the Gazankulu homeland, the area was used exclusively as a game reserve. In present times, the value of the LRNR as a conservation area can also be attributed to the following: It includes a portion of the vulnerable Granite Lowveld vegetation unit. A combined total of 22 threatened reptile, amphibian, bird and/or mammal species occur at the reserve. The reserve falls within a National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area (FEPA) and a Fish Support Area. The reserve is dissected by the endangered Groot Letaba River. The reserve contains areas classified as highly significant in terms of Critical Biodiversity Values. The reserve is regarded as playing an important social support role in local and surrounding communities. The reserve is regarded as having a high income generating potential. 3.2 Reserve Values The following key values of the LRNR were identified by the RPT: KEY RESERVE VALUES The reserve has the potential to demonstrate the efficacy, and benefits, of functional partnerships between the State and communal land owners in the collaborative administration and management of provincial nature reserves. The reserve is committed to management in accordance with best practice and rationally driven by current knowledge. The reserve is committed to good administration and the efficient use and good maintenance of resources. The reserve is committed to be a good employer and socially affirmative neighbour in the local communities. The reserve boasts approximately 24 km of Groot Letaba River frontage and approximately 20 km of Klein Letaba River frontage. The confluence of these rivers occurs along the eastern boundary of the reserve. The reserve creates a sense of wilderness as a result of its size, wildness and inaccessibility. The reserve boasts varied and healthy habitat types with naturally occurring wildlife; east/west migration routes for game; a high species diversity, including the Big Five and African Wild Dog; and excellent bird viewing opportunities, including healthy Ground Hornbill populations. The reserve forms an integral part of the Greater Kruger Conservation Area. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 38

40 3.3 The Reserve Vision The vision of the reserve describes the overall long-term goal for the operation, protection and development of the LRNR. The following vision was developed by the RPT: VISION We see a collaborative partnership between the State and the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other affected communities in the ongoing conservation and sustainable use of the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve. From this partnership, we envisage securing: Meaningful and sustained benefits derived for the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other affected communities; Protection of the reserve s outstanding scenic qualities; Conservation of the diverse habitats and associated fauna and flora of the reserve; Conservation of the biodiversity of the Groot and Klein Letaba Rivers; Equitable access to, and responsible use of, the reserve and its natural resources; and Positioning the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve as one of the ultimate ecotourism destinations amidst all of the eco-tourism products offered by Limpopo and the Great Limpopo TFCA. 3.4 Key Performance Areas and Objectives The RPT identified 24 Objectives for the LRNR. Collectively these objectives are anticipated to contribute to realising the Vision for the reserve. These objectives have, in turn, been grouped into six Key Performance Areas (KPAs), as follows: KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPA) KPA 1: Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation OBJECTIVES 1.7 Re-establish, manage and maintain viable populations of locally indigenous fauna and flora in the LRNR. 1.8 Maintain a natural fire regime within the LRNR. 1.9 Contain the spread, and impacts, of invasive alien plants and bush encroachment in the LRNR Protect the heritage resources of the LRNR Update key baseline information, and develop and maintain a targeted research and monitoring programme to guide biodiversity management in the LRNR Establish a basic soil erosion control programme for the LRNR. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 39

41 KPA 2: Sustainable Use KPA 3: Enforcement, Security and Access Control KPA 4: Infrastructure and Equipment (Operations) KPA 5: Stakeholder Involvement KPA 6: Administration and Planning 2.1 Construct, upgrade and maintain day visitor and overnight visitor buildings and infrastructure in the LRNR. 2.2 Develop, deliver and maintain a diverse range of tourism and recreational services for visitors to the LRNR. 2.3 Develop and implement a focused and cost-effective marketing, awareness-raising and educational programme for the LRNR. 2.4 Facilitate the sustainable use of natural resources by the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other communities in the LRNR. 2.5 Manage and mitigate the environmental impacts of conservation management, tourism, recreation and natural resource use in the LRNR. 3.1 Secure the boundaries of, and maintain controlled access to, the LRNR. 3.2 Sustain an effective law enforcement and compliance capacity in the LRNR. 4.1 Develop and maintain the road, track and footpath network in the LRNR. 4.2 Construct, maintain and upgrade the bulk services infrastructure in the LRNR. 4.3 Construct, upgrade and maintain administrative, staff and operational buildings and infrastructure in the LRNR. 4.4 Acquire and maintain operational equipment and vehicles for the LRNR. 5.1 Ensure the ongoing involvement of a representative and functional Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve Co- Committee (LRNRCMC) in the planning, development and management of the LRNR. 5.2 Develop, implement and maintain effective mechanisms for ongoing communications with co-management partners, private stakeholders and neighbouring land owners. 5.3 Actively participate in local and regional conservation and socio-economic development initiatives that may affect or benefit the LRNR. 5.4 Identify, and enable access to employment, empowerment and capacity building opportunities for the Majeje, Mthimkhulu (Mabunda) and other communities. 6.1 Secure the legal tenure of, and management authority for, the LRNR. 6.2 Maintain an adequately equipped, resourced and trained staff complement for the LRNR. 6.3 Institute and maintain an effective administrative and planning capability in the LRNR. 6.4 Establish, maintain and host a reliable inventory of key information on the LRNR and its ongoing management. 3.5 Zonation Based on available information, and in consultation with the RPT, a Use Zone Map (UZM) is presented as a broad, overarching medium-term spatial planning framework for the LRNR (Figure 6). The UZM indicates the extent and location of suitable visitor use zones for the reserve, with management guidelines and broad conservation and tourism infrastructural requirements designated for each use zone. Annexure 2 describes the objectives, characteristics, uses and management guidelines for each of the use zones shown in Figure 6. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 40

42 Figure 6: Use Zone Map for the Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve. Reserve Documents: Letaba Ranch Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 41