Page 50 - State of Biodiversity 2023-2024

4.4.1.1 Biodiversity targets
To conserve three free-viable sub populations of the KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon in perpetuity, the following is required:
Target
Status
Trend (last 5 years)
At least three viable sub-populations of 7 000 adults each conserved across the range of the coastal population
Not Achieved
Declining
A viable sub-population conserved at Chameleon Park and connected D’MOSS areas
Not Achieved
Stable
A total of 100 adults conserved at Chameleon Park and the D’MOSS area adjacent to Edwin Swales Business Park
Not Achieved
Fluctuating below target; relatively stable over the last three years
Key management actions
Key management actions for 2024/25 include:
• 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 ataxacantha) except at the entrance, and litter traps need to be fitted to the storm water pipe outflows.
• 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 Park increasing markedly. Figure 7 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 (Figure 7), 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.
48 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2023/2024