Page 20 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

4.2.2. Nature Reserve Proclamation
EThekwini Municipality collaborated with Ezemvelo KwaZulu- Natal Wildlife (EKZNW) in proclaiming 11 Protected
Areas in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEM: PAA, Act No. 57 of 2003) in 2018. The current focus of the proclamation process is to ensure that the other three sites (Treasure Beach, Monteseel and Georgedale) are also given the same level of biodiversity protection. Biodiversity and ecosystem services assessments of the three sites were conducted in collaboration with the EKZNW. The assessment involved determining biodiversity value of the sites and recommending interventions that can improve management of the sites. The next step is for the sites to be presented to the KwaZulu-Natal Biodiversity Stewardship Programme Working Group, which will recommend the sites’ protection category. Furthermore,
part of the proclamation process requires the adoption of a
management plan that is in line with the NEM: PAA and in this regard a management plan template and guidelines have been drafted for the Municipality. The management template and guidelines still require further refinement in consultation with EKZNW before they can be adopted for implementation by the Municipality.
The municipality is also collaborating with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and EKZNW in the process of proclaiming its Widenham Wetland, by making use of Section 28 of NEM: PAA, as the first Protected Environment within eThekwini Municipal Area. The EWT is leading the process of developing the site’s Management Plan, which is part of the requirements for Protected Environments, and eThekwini Municipality is grateful of the partnership and support
from the EWT. Please see Table 3 for more information on proclamation progress.
18 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2022/2023