Page 29 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

4.4.1.1 Biodiversity targets
To conserve three free-viable sub populations of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon in perpetuity, the following is required:
Table 4. Target and Status of KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon in Chameleon Park and Edwin Swales Business Park D’MOSS Trip
Target
Status
At least three viable sub populations of 7000 adults each conserved across the range of the coastal populations
Not achieved
A viable sub-population conserved at chameleon park and connected D’MOSS areas
Not achieved
A total 100 adults conserved at chameleon park and the D’MOSS area adjacent to Edwin Swales Business Park
Fluctuating below and above target; declining over the last three years
Key management actions
Key management actions for 2023/24 include:
1. Regular, frequent and light alien plant control, and mosaic defoliation of moribund grass, removing the moribund material off the site. The amount of suitable habitat, comprising indigenous species of grass, shrubs and trees preferred by the dwarf chameleons (particularly antelope grass Echinochloa pyramidalis and guinea grass Panicum maximum), needs to be increased. The site needs to be securely fenced or hedged with an impenetrable barrier plant (e.g. Senegalia ataxacatha) except at the entrance, and litter traps need to be fitted to the storm water pipe outflows.
2. Increase alien plant control at adjoining areas to revert those areas to suitable habitat for KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleons. This could result in the suitable habitat for the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleons near Chameleon
Figure 9: Map of KZN Dwarf Chameleon observations across eThekwini
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?geoprivacy=open&place_ id=108107&subview=map&taxon_id=1396835&verifiable=any
Inset photo by Garth Aiston https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/113331552
Park increasing markedly. Figure 10 indicates potentially suitable habitat in the immediate vicinity of the connected potentially suitable habitat in Chameleon Park and the adjoining area. If the areas of potentially suitable habitat near Chameleon Park could be conserved, the total
area of potentially suitable habitat in this region would eventually exceed 582 ha (as at the 2020 landcover class extents). Connectivity between all these areas may not be achievable, but translocations of individuals between habitat areas would maintain genetic variability within this sub-population.
STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2022/2023 27