Managing beyond protected area boundaries: initial findings. Janis Smith Biodiversity Planning Forum 2017 Kruger National Park

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Austen Nichols
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1 Managing beyond protected area boundaries: initial findings Janis Smith Biodiversity Planning Forum 2017 Kruger National Park

2 Background Protected areas the cornerstones of conservation Protected areas are not ecological islands Management moved beyond boundaries Increased pressure to move back inside boundaries Negatively impacts freshwater conservation and polarises people and parks Challenge: freshwater connectivity beyond protected area boundaries. Requires work both inside and outside park boundaries Need to re-contextualise protected areas in a social-ecological landscape that more explicitly connects people and nature.

Research aim The aim is to understand how protected area management can harness the opportunities from ecosystem service science to reconnect

3 Research aim The aim is to understand how protected area management can harness the opportunities from ecosystem service science to reconnect society with nature, while simultaneously achieving the goal of biodiversity conservation. PARKS AS CATALYSTS FOR RESILIENCE IN THE LANDSCAPE

4 Key Questions Overarching question: Can we more effectively indentify the required management footprint for protected areas? With a focus on Freshwater Ecosystem Services - Can we use freshwater ecosystem components to enhance protected area management? - Where in the landscape in relation to the protected area do we find various river condition types? - What is the role of landcover pattern beyond park boundaries for water quality provision?

5 Study Area - Seven national parks within different biomes Kruger National Park Savanna Biome Kalahari Gemsbok National Park Nama Karoo Biome Tankwa Karoo National Park Succulent Karoo Biome Golden Gate National Park - Grassland Biome Table Mountain National Park Fynbos Biome Addo Elephant National Park Savanna Biome Garden Route National Park Forest Biome

Four components covered: - Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs): as defined by the Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas Atlas - Free Flowing Rivers (FFRs): undistrubed flow from source to

6 Four components covered: - Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs): as defined by the Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas Atlas - Free Flowing Rivers (FFRs): undistrubed flow from source to confluence. - Strategic Water Source Areas: areas that supply a disproportionate amount of mean annual runoff to a geographical region of interest - River Condition: combines data on present ecological state of rivers, river health data and expert knowledge

7 Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs) Spatial analysis - ArcGIS Nested hydrological catchments Distanced buffer approach

8 Free Flowing Rivers (FFRs) Catchment vs. buffer approach FFRs present within the boundaries of 3 protected areas

9 Strategic Water Source Areas 3 protected areas with SWSAs within their boundaries Protected areas often located far from SWSAs Tertiary and quaternary catchment scales best capture SWSAs

10 River Condition Overall river condition: Grouped into good, fair and poor river condition River condition above, within and below protected areas

11 River Condition and landcover: Case study 1: Kruger National Park Main drivers of poor condition rivers: Northern Rivers: Cultivated subsistence Southern Rivers: Urban

12 River Condition and landcover Case Study 2: Garden Route Main drivers of poor condition rivers: Wilderness: Cultivated Commercial and Plantation Knysna: Plantation Tsitsikamma: Plantation

13 Conclusion Protected areas should be managed individually ie. Components for each management footprint will be unique. Key drivers of decreased water quality appear to be cultivation and urbanization To protect more of the country s freshwater ecosystems, protected area management should focus beyond protected areas to include neighbouring landscapes. Social connectivity: linking managers, landowners and farmers. Managing protected areas for water ecosystem services should go beyond the boundaries of the protected area Managing in broader landscapes There is a need to move from management IN protected areas to management OF protected areas. Management within a social-ecological landscape.

14 THANK YOU

SANBI PLANNING FORUM

SANBI PLANNING FORUM SPATIAL PLANNING IN PROTECTED AREAS AND THEIR BUFFERS (South Africa) Ms Jayshree Govender, Dr Mike Knight and Mr Russell Smart 22 June 2017 OUTLINE 1) Introduction 2) Protected areas