19 August 2020
19
www.thevillagenews.co.za
MY ENVIRONMENT
Losing nature is a big deal By Dr Anina Lee
T
he value of biodiversity is widely recognised in South Africa – both politically and legislatively. There is also growing recognition of the importance of biodiversity to the tourism industry. Research has established that destroying even a small natural area has a large knockon effect. If the Hermanus bypass is built according to the present plans, Fernkloof Nature Reserve will lose just over 5 hectares of its 1 800 hectares. Is this a big deal? Supporters of the bypass say, “No”. But they are wrong. The bypass will have many negative impacts, even if it is only 5 hectares (remember, this is the finished area – the area of destruction caused by the roadworks will make this much larger). These 5 hectares are also in the most vulnerable part of the reserve – its long, thin tail, situated on a steep slope. The first impact will be a violation of the principle of protected areas. Fernkloof is a formally proclaimed nature reserve and is governed by the Protected Areas Act (NEM:PAA). This is a wide-ranging piece of enlightened legislation. The SA Government understands the importance of protected areas and the biodiversity they contain. That is why there is excellent legislation in place to protect South Africa’s natural capital. Why is biodiversity important? In addition to NEM:PAA, the SA Government supports a broader view of biodiversity. On its website the Government states: While environmental and economic concerns may appear to be very different issues, and in fact at odds with each other, they are actually deeply intertwined. Government and businesses are realising that the economic and social development of the country is dependent on healthy ecosystems
and biodiversity. The South African National Development Plan: Vision 2030 confirms that national economic growth is dependent on the environmental sustainability of our proposed development path… the political importance of biodiversity needs to be understood at the highest levels. Government policies and business practices need to adopt more innovative approaches that recognise the value of biodiversity for economic and social prosperity. In addition to its own intrinsic value, South Africa’s biodiversity provides an important basis for economic growth and development. Equally important is the need to keep biodiversity and ecosystem functions intact to ensure the ongoing provision of ecosystem services on which socio-economic development is based. A recent estimate of the value of ecosystem goods and services to South Africa’s economy places this at R73 billion per annum, equivalent to 7% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems provide us with essential services – pollination of crops, a regular supply of clean water, and prevention of flooding and soil erosion. (My emphasis is bold). Biodiversity and nature-based tourism The document is more specific as regards tourism: The role played by biodiversity and nature in the South African tourism value chain is of strategic importance to the sector. Nature-based tourism relies on biodiversity and diverse ecosystems to attract visitors. Opportunities to view biodiversity and ecosystems are a major asset for the tourism sector and visits to natural areas are estimated to account for about 50% of all global leisure travel.
Two of the last remaining endangered plants in Fernkloof – right in the path of the bulldozers – are (left) Gladiolus grandiflorus (PHOTO: Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust) and (below) Rafnia elliptica (PHOTO: Hermanus Botanical Society). to national legislation? Or do they believe that national legislation and policies do not apply to them and Fernkloof? Or does 5 hectares seem entirely dispensable from this tiny reserve? We need to remember that despite our magnificent natural environment, only a paltry 8% of the country is legally protected, whereas the world average is 15%. Shamefully, South Africa ranks a very low 144 out of 192 countries. We must resist all and any attempts to reduce that too small percentage further, such as taking part of FNR for the totally unnecessary bypass proposal. Every square metre of our protected areas must be defended against exploitation. Why is a mere 5 hectares important? A recent study published in the journal Nature has shown that when habitats are lost, the destruction of plants and animals is not proportional to the loss of habitat. In fact, the impact on biodiversity of the remaining area is far greater. So losing 5 hectares from Fernkloof represents a far greater loss in species and services than we would expect from the lost area.
Fernkloof Nature Reserve is one of Hermanus’s most popular tourist attractions – and we all understand that tourism is the basis of the town’s economy. Does a provincial road with noisy traffic, fumes and light pollution add to the tourism value of a peaceful natural area? Certainly not.
The loss of species from a protected area is also exacerbated if the area is adjacent to an urban area. Imagine the loss of wildlife – tortoises, chameleons, snakes, bokkies and birds – when the reserve is bordered by a provincial road.
Does the Provincial Roads Department (and our Municipality) understand this but still act in contradiction
Equally concerning is the loss of rare and endangered fynbos plants from the proposed road reserve area.
The special plants of Fernkloof The area above Northcliff, site of the proposed bypass, has always been known as the most botanically diverse part of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve. The Hermanus Botanical Society found a surprising number of new plants there after the fire of January 2008. A five year follow-up survey of re-emerging plants listed more than 380 species of plants for this area alone. Hermanus Botanical Society’s regular surveys have shown that a small area at the westernmost end of Mountain Drive is particularly rich floristically. They found a record 74 species in just one area measuring 20m x 10m – compared to half the number elsewhere. This area contains species which occur nowhere else in Fernkloof. This biological richness is a result of a mixture of two different types of
fynbos in this small area of Fernkloof. There are at least 10 species that will be entirely lost to Fernkloof and another 16 threatened or vulnerable species in the proposed road reserve. If you think that there should never be a road through Fernkloof – now or any time in the future – please fill in a very simple electronic form at https:// forms.gle/1rR9WB8mESPoQ2NB8 Or scan the QR code below:
