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sustainable construction world
a representative proportion of functional
ecosystems, and the associated goods and
services they provide to the Municipality’s
residents and visitors, and which therefore need
to be kept in their natural state.
“Examples of these features in NMBM
include the lowland fynbos in the southern
part of the metropolitan area,” said Stewart, “as
well as river systems such as the Swartkops
River and estuary, which is SA’s top temperate
estuary for subsistence value and a vital
nursery for fish stocks.”
Having detailed these critical areas, the
plan goes on to provide accompanying land-use
guidelines for avoiding loss or degradation of
natural habitat and good development practice
at appropriate natural sites outside of the
network of critical biodiversity areas.
The NMBM’s bioregional plan will now be
put to work in guiding reactive decisions on
environmental impact assessment, agricultural
land-use and development control. It will
also be used in proactive forward planning
– in integrated development plans, spatial
development frameworks and zoning schemes
– as well as conservation initiatives such
as biodiversity stewardship and expanding
protected areas.
According to Stewart, SA is fortunate to
have been part of a global focus on biodiversity
conservation because the country is home to a
number of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ as identified
by environmental organisation Conservation
International; these include the Succulent
Karoo region, the Cape Floristic region and the
Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany region.
∞
About SRK Consulting
SRK Consulting is a leader in natural
resource and development solutions,
providing independent technical
advice and services through over
50 offices in 22 countries, on six
continents. With an African presence
in Angola and Cameroon, and
practices in the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Ghana, South Africa and
Zimbabwe, the global group employs
more than 1 500 staff in a range of
engineering, scientific, environmental
and social disciplines.
Albany Thicket, Grassland and Lowland Fynbos within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
The Swartkops Estuary is the top temperate estuary in terms of subsistence
value in South Africa.
Peter Shepherd, partner and
principal hydrologist, SRK
Consulting (SA).
Briony Liber, partner and
environmental scientist, SRK
Consulting (SA).
Warrick Stewart, principal
environmental scientist, SRK
Consulting SA.