1.0

To ensure wise use of the marine resources

Capture Source T. Livingstone: GIS Analyst (Marine)

Recommended Citation:

EKZNW (2012) Marine Systematic Conservation Plan: Marxan Layer.

Unpublished GIS coverage (final_mscp_top_features_lo31_2012_dist.zip),

Biodiversity Conservation Planning Division, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, P.O.

Box 13035, Cascades, Pietermaritzburg, 3202

Scale Digitised at 25m from the high water mark to surf zone

200m from the surfzone to the 30 m depth contour

1 km from the 30 m depth contour to 200 m depth contour

10 km from the 200 m depth contour out to 200 nm offshore

Layer displaying the critical biodiversity areas for marine biodiversity conservation, calculated using the spatial optimisation software MARXAN together with totally irreplaceable sites extracted from the marine C-Plan analysis, to select a network of sites that best achieve all conservation targets set for ecological features and processes (N = 299) while minimising threats (N = 39). Selection frequency is the number of time a site is selected within the 100 runs, each depicting an individual network of priority areas (column name contains 'Display_A and Display_B').

Selection frequency was calculated at three resolutions with a unique set of biodiversity features and processes (thus defining three conservation plans): 0.2 km, 1 km and 10 km. The current layer is the synthesis of those three plans. The most efficient solution (extracted from the "Best" solution output) at 0.2 km are forced into the 1 km resolution layer and resulting 1 km best solution is forced into 10km priority areas. For this, the following rules applied: - from 0.2 km > 1km all sea planning units adjacent to best solution at 0.2 km were selected at 1 km resolution. From 1 km > 10 km all 10 km planning units that had more than 50% of their area overlapping with best solution at 1 km were selected. Once this site forcing was done, the selection frequency was calculated for each conservation plan (ie 0.2 > 1 km > 10 km). Each plan contains a selection frequency calculated for A targets (column name contains 'A') and for B targets (column name contains 'AB'). The last option was to take into account the current protected area network (column name contains 'MPA'). MPA A and B zones were hardwired in as "Conserved" areas - for the initial A run only the MPA A zones were hard wired in and the plan run to meet all A targets, thereafter the "best" selected sites, together with the MPA B zones were hard wired in and the plan run to meet B targets.

Available documentation: The draft documentation of the dataset is available along with the dataset. It contains a brief explanation of the definition of the legend categories.

• Focus areas for additional marine biodiversity protection in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 2012_Final

• Focus Areas Executive Summary

• Document of Conservation Planning Terms_V2_02Jun13_BE

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998