Bergrivier Municipality Biodiversity Report (2010)
The Municipality is a member of Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Programme, which is run by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability’s Global Biodiversity Centre, in partnership with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The key objective of the LAB programme is to support municipalities to integrate biodiversity into all aspects of their local governance. The report provides a detailed assessment of the status quo of our biodiversity and biodiversity management in the Bergrivier Municipal Area. This document forms the basis for the LBSAP which is a practical plan to give effect to the Bergrivier Municipality Biodiversity Report. The objectives of the LBSAP are:
“Full integration of biodiversity conservation into the institutional and planning frameworks, governance and regulatory processes and policies of Bergrivier Municipality.
Management, conservation and sustainable utilisation of Bergrivier Municipality’s aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity assets.
Community appreciation and active participation in the conservation of Bergrivier Municipality’s biodiversity.
Enhanced human well-being and poverty reduction through the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into the local economy.”
The LBSAP identifies projects that will be implemented over a 10-year timeframe. Resource constraints have resulted in a re-prioritisation of projects with specific focus on the revision of the SDF, recycling, composting, awareness and the development of a botanical garden which will be on-going. The LBSAP projects are indicated in the table below:
Full integration of biodiversity conservation into the institutional and planning frameworks, governance and regulatory processes and policies of Bergrivier Municipality
Develop the capacity of Bergrivier Municipality to effectively manage its biodiversity and broader environmental issues
Integrate biodiversity considerations into municipal planning, policies and by-laws
Create a position for an environmental manager /officer in the office of the municipal manager and fill the position with a suitable incumbent.
Biodiversity training and induction programme for Councillors, officials and ward committee members
Develop and implement a policy to guide development within critical biodiversity, critical ecological support and other natural areas
Rezone municipal critical biodiversity and critical ecological support areas
Develop and implement an urban greening policy /By-law
Develop and implement a green procurement policy
Develop and implement an Air Quality By-law
Revision of the SDF
Repeat Biodiversity training and induction programme for Councillors, officials and ward committee members
Develop a uniform LUMS for the Bergrivier Municipality
Management, conser- vation and sustainable
utilisation of Bergrivier Municipality’s aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity assets
Eradicate alien and invasive species that are impacting negatively on Bergrivier Municipality’s biodiversity
Conserve freshwater aquatic
ecosystems through sustain- nable use and management of
water resources
Reduce the impact of waste and pollution on biodiversity
Engage actively and imple-ment measures to facilitate private conservation of Bergrivier’ s biodiversity
Clean and green urban areas to promote biodiversity
Development and implementation of an Invasive Species Monitoring, Control and Eradication Plan
Revise the rates policy of the Municipality to encourage the conservation of biodiversity by private landowners
Piketberg Botanical Garden
On-going implementation of the Invasive Species Monitoring, Control and Eradication Plan
Urban rainwater harvesting
Develop a water pollution risk
reduction plan
Closure and rehabilitation of all unlicensed solid waste disposal sites
On-going revision of the Municipality’s rates policy to encourage the conservation of biodiversity by private landowners
Facilitate the conclusion of a stewardship agreement with the Moravian Church/Goedverwacht Community to care for the Platkloof River and its surrounds
Adopt a street tree campaign
On-going implementation of the Invasive Species Monitoring, Control and Eradication Plan
Urban rainwater harvesting continued
On-going revision of the Municipality’s rates policy to encourage the conservation of biodiversity by private landowners
On-going adopt a street tree campaign
Garden competition
Community appreciation and active participation in the conservation of Bergrivier Municipality’s biodiversity
Create an awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity through targeted awareness programmes
Develop and implement an annual awareness programme
On-going annual awareness programme
On-going annual awareness programme
Enhanced human well- being and poverty
reduction through the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into the local economy
Facilitate international conservation status for the Berg Estuary through active participation on the BEMF
Link biodiversity conservation to job creation and entrepreneurship
Actively participate in the activities of the BEMF and fulfil the municipality’s role in the management, conservation and sustainable development of the Berg Estuary
On-going
Roll out of urban waste recycling project to all urban areas of the Municipality
Coastal cleaning and beautification
Clean Porterville stream
On-going
On-going roll out of urban waste recycling project to all urban areas of the Municipality
Compost making project
The Municipality also participates in the following:
The Greater Cederberg Fire Protection Association (GCFPA) (Working on Fire): The aim of the GCFPA is to improve integrated fire management on the properties of the more than 400 members of the GCFPA, many of which are situated in critical biodiversity areas.
Working for the Coast Programme
which targets the conservation, upgrading and beautification of the coastal areas whilst creating jobs.
The Municipality participates in the Greenest Municipality Competition and was awarded the Achiever Award for the Biodiversity Management, Coastal Management and Beautification category of the competition in the 2013/14 Competition.
Municipal Coastal Committee (MCC): The Municipality attends the quarterly meetings presented at this platform and arranged by West Coast District Municipality (WCDM).
The Berg Estuary Advisory Forum (BEAF): The Municipality attends the quarterly meetings presented at this platform relating to all matters of the Berg Estuary and surrounds.
The Berg Estuary Advisory Forum and the Municipal Coastal Committee deals with the issues of the coastal management committee.
Joint Municipal Air Quality Working Group: The Municipality attends the quarterly meetings presented at this platform and arranged by WCDM. This is a communication platform where all five local Municipalities under WCDM, communicates their air quality matters.
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