Identified ‘Critical Biodiversity Areas’(CBAs) and ‘Ecological Support Areas’ (ESAs) from the Western Cape Biodiversity Framework (Kirkwood et al., 2010), updated in 2014 (Pence) to more accurately reflect conditions relevant to land-use decision making. The Western Cape Biodiversity Framework (WCBF) provides an edge-matched, wall-to-wall coverage of all standard CBA categories to inform land-use decision making. Areas have either been formally assessed as part of a recognised Systematic Biodiversity Plan or only have ‘known’ CBA and ESA features indicated.

This layer represents the integrated layer of the detailed vegetation map of the Saldanha Peninsula, North West Sandveld and Bokkeveld planning domain in the Western Cape, the South African Vegetation map (NSBA 2004), Nieuwoudtville Conservation Farming Project Vegetation Map and extracts from Barry Low’s Dune Ecosystem Layer. Vegetation categories were based on the South African vegetation types of Mucina & Rutherford (2006), but it was necessary to describe a several new, previously unrecognised vegetation types in the Fine-Scale Planning Domains. Certain vegetation boundaries were substantially redrawn from those presented in Mucina & Rutherford (2006).

Represents land cover for the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality and adjacent district municipality. Landcover is categorized into 6 land cover types: Natural, Near Natural, Degraded, Cultivated and Transformed.

Sub-quaternary catchments for the Matzikama Municipality.

These data represent terrestrial sites identified as Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) through the systematic assessment conducted by the C.A.P.E. FineScale Biodiversity Planning (FSP) project. Taken as a whole (terrestrial plus aquatic CBAs), these represent the sites required to meet biodiversity pattern targets and ecological process objectives. The loss of a single site would therefore compromise the meeting of targets and objectives. Thus it is recommended that the sites be managed in a manner compatible with biodiversity conservation, and ultimately remain in, or be restored to, a natural state. Ecological composition, structure, and function must be preserved. For more information about how CBAs (Critical Biodiversity Areas), CESAs (Critical Ecological Support Areas), and OESAs (Other Ecological Support Areas) were selected see: • Pence, Genevieve Q.K. 2008 (in prep). C.A.P.E. Fine-Scale Systematic Conservation Planning Assessment: Technical Report. Produced for CapeNature. Cape Town, South Africa.

The Western Cape Biodiversity Spatial Plan (WCBSP) is the product of a systematic biodiversity planning assessment that delineates, on a map (via a Geographic Information System (GIS)), Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) which require safeguarding to ensure the continued existence and functioning of species and ecosystems, including the delivery of ecosystem services, across terrestrial and freshwater realms. These spatial priorities are used to inform sustainable development in the Western Cape Province. This product replaces all previous systematic biodiversity planning products and sector plans with updated layers and features.