1.0

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is a tool that comprises the Biodiversity Spatial Plan Map of biodiversity priority

areas (this product), accompanied by contextual information and land use guidelines (the WCBSP Handbook) that make the most recent and best quality biodiversity information available for informing all aspects of sustainable development in the Western Cape; from land use and development planning, to environmental assessment and regulation, and natural resource protection and management more broadly.

The key informant in the spatial product is the Category field which speaks to broad categories defined in the Biodiversity Act and in the

Guidelines regarding Bioregional Plans. These categories provide a link to the Handbook’s comprehensive set of recommendations about how to use the maps and land- and resource-use guidelines in a range planning processes. The broad categories are: Protected Areas (PAs), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs), Ecological Support Areas (ESAs), and Other Natural Areas (ONAs). Fields containing the definition and Desired Management Objective for each broad category are also included.

In the spatial datasets a further distinction is made between CBAs that are likely to be in a natural condition (CBA 1) and those that are

potentially degraded or represent secondary vegetation (CBA 2). This distinction is based on best available land cover data, and therefore may not be an entirely accurate or current reflection of condition. Site visits are recommended to verify habitat condition. Similarly, a distinction is made between ESAs that are likely to be functional (i.e., in a natural, near-natural or moderately degraded condition; ESA 1), and Ecological Support Areas that are likely severely degraded or have no natural cover remaining and therefore require restoration where feasible (ESA 2).

Importantly, both CBAs and ESAs are further divided into sub-categories which recognise important inherent attributes of the site, allowing for greater specificity in applying land-use guidelines. The sub-categories should be used in conjunction with the WCBSP Handbook and its proposed land use guidelines (see Chapter 4). Category 1 indicates whether the CBA or ESA sites require (where feasible) restoration from plantation or high density invasive alien plant cover, versus restoration from some other form of land use or land cover.

Finally, a “reasons” layer is also provided, based on planning units used in the spatial analysis. This layer provides both a summary and a detailed list of biodiversity and ecological infrastructure features found in each unit selected as CBA or ESA, and to which the unit makes a quantifiable contribution to the target.

These BSP maps should serve as the primary source of information on biodiversity and ecological infrastructure for all land- and resource use decision-making and forward planning processes, such as Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), Environmental

Management Frameworks (EMFs), Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

All data are supplied with no expressed or implied warranty as to their suitability for purpose, planimetric accuracy or completeness. The WCNCB cannot be held responsible for any errors, which may occur in provided data sets. DEADP will not incur any legal liability pertaining to this data or use thereof.

TODO: please supply information about the events or source data used in constructing the data specified by the scope or lack of knowledge about lineage

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998