Page 12 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

4. INDICATORS
4.1 Total area of D’MOSS
The Durban Metropolitan Open Space
System (D’MOSS) is a system of open spaces incorporating areas of high biodiversity value and environmentally sensitive or important (private- and public-owned) comprising a variety of habitat types linked together in
an ecologically viable network. In 2022/2023 D’MOSS comprised 95 000ha of open spaces, representing one third of the eThekwini Municipal Area (EMA) (Figure 2). This represents the D’MOSS that was originally adopted in December 2010 by the eThekwini Council
and amended in 2017/2018 financial year. D’MOSS is a spatial layer, based on a systematic conservation assessment approach that identifies key areas that are selected to ensure representation and persistence of biodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services.
D’MOSS is incorporated into the City’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP), associated Strategic Development Framework, regional Spatial Development Plans, and into the municipal Land Use Management Schemes as a controlled development layer.
D’MOSS - Durban Metropolitan Open Space System
AREAS OF D’MOSS - 95 000ha (Approved 2017/2018)
THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO 1/3 of the EMA
TOTAL ASSET VALUE OF NATURAL AND SEMI-NATURAL AREAS - R47.8 billion
10 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2022/2023