Page 26 - State of Biodiversity 2023-2024

4.2.1. Land acquisition
The eThekwini Municipality through Biodiversity Management Department has acquired over 788.28ha of environmental sensitive land since 2002. The Land acquisition programme is used as a last resort tool, when all other means of protection have been exhausted. Over the years land acquisition has contributed tremendously to the protected area expansion strategy. This is in line with Programme 3 of Plan 1 of the IDP which emphases the long-term sustainability of Durban’s natural resources.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, there has been no budget allocated for the Land acquisition programme, however the Department is at the final stages of securing land donations from the provincial government. The focus continued to be on the consolidation and the expansion of the existing conservation areas to improve their interconnectedness, protection, and management of the conservation areas.
24 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2023/2024