Download 4 - SANParks

West Coast National Park
Park Management Plan
Draft 2:
October 2006
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 1
Name: ______________________________
Dr David Mabunda
Chief Executive
Date: _________
Recommended to SANParks Board
Name: _____________________________
Ms Cheryl Carolus
Chairperson – SANParks Board
Date: __________
Recommended to Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Name: _____________________________
Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk
Minister – Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism
Date: ___________
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 2
Name: ______________________________
Sydney Soundy
Chief Operating Office
Date: __________
Name: ______________________________
Paul Daphne
Executive Director Parks
Date: __________
Name: ______________________________
Gary de Kock
Regional Manager – Cape Parks
Date: __________
Name: ______________________________
Xola Mkefe
Park Manager – West Coast National Park
Date: __________
This management plan was compiled by S G Yssel with contributions from Conservation Services at
Rondevlei, notably Dr R M Randall and Dr N Hanekom, and West Coast National Park staff.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
No.
i
ii
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
1.3.4
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.9.1
1.9.2
1.9.3
1.9.4
1.10
1.10.1
1.10.2
1.10.3
1.10.4
1.10.5
1.10.6
1.11
2
2.1.
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.5
Index
Table of contents
List of acronyms / abbreviations
Introduction
Location
Extent
History
Paleontology
Archaeology
History
History of park establishment
Urban/rural relation
Climate
Geology and soils
Topography
Marine and coastal processes
Flora
Phytoplankton
Algae (seaweeds)
Aquatic and semi-aquatic plants
Terrestrial vegetation
Fauna
Marine invertebrates
Fishes
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Socio economic
Protected areas management planning framework
Background to and formulation of the Desired State for the park
Setting the Desired State
Vision
Balanced Scorecard
Desired State
Vital Attributes, Determinants, Threats and Constraints
Objectives Hierarchy
Page
4
6
7
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9
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10
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12
12
12
12
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14
14
14
15
15
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No.
3
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.1.5
3.1.6
3.1.7
3.1.8
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
3.2.5
3.2.6
3.2.7
3.2.8
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.3.4
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
3.4.5
3.4.6
3.4.7
3.4.8
4
Index
Operational plans to achieve objectives
Biodiversity and heritage conservation
Park expansion
Resources use
Rehabilitation
Faunal management and reintroduction
Species of special concern
Fire management
Freshwater wetland management
Cultural heritage resource plan
Sustainable Tourism
Conservation Development Framework (CDF)
Tourism background
Tourism products
Tourism activities
Tourist roads
Access
Financial analysis
Marketing
Building Cooperation
Co-operative governance
Environmental interpretation
Local socio-economic development
Constituency building
Effective Park Management
Environmental management
Security and safety
Infrastructure
Human Resources and Staff Capacity Building
Institutional development and administration
Financial sustainability
HIV/AIDS
Legal compliance/risk management
References
Page
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35
36
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LIST OF ACRONYMS / ABBREVIATIONS
1
BSC
Balanced Scorecard
2
CDF
Conservation Development Framework
3
DEAT
Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism
4
DoE
Department of Education
5
DWAF
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
6
EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment
7
EMS
Environmental Management System
8
EPWP
Expanded Public Works Programme
9
FPA
Fire Protection Agency
10
GIS
Geographic Information System
11
GPS
Global Positioning System
12
IDP
Integrated Development Plan
13
MCM
Marine and Coastal Management
14
MLRA
Marine Living Resources Act
15
MPA
Marine Protected Area
16
NEMA
National Environmental Management Act
17
SANParks
South African National Parks
18
SMME
Small, medium and micro enterprises
19
SDF
Spatial Development Framework
20
SSC
Species of special concern
21
WCNCB
Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
22
WCNP
West Coast National Park
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 6
1.
Introduction
1.1
Location
The West Coast National Park (WCNP) is situated approximately 100 km northwest
of Cape Town on the Atlantic seaboard in the Western Cape Province. The park
extends from Yzerfontein in the south to Langebaan in the north and from the Atlantic
Ocean in the west across the West Coast road (R27) in the east and incorporates a
coastline stretching approximately 30 km. The park includes the Langebaan lagoon
and all but one of the islands in Saldanha Bay (Figure 1).
FIGURE 1: Location of the West Coast National Park
1.2
Extent
The WCNP currently comprises some 35,000 ha of lagoon, saltmarshes, coastal
dunes, strandveld and islands (Figure 2). The terrestrial part of the park extends
along the coast from Yzerfontein in the south to Plankiesbaai (in line with the town
Langebaan) in the north, and from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Elandsfontein in
the east. It flanks the marine component of the park (c. 5,000 ha), the Langebaan
Lagoon which incorporates the lagoon south of Leentjiesklip and excludes the
Donkergat Military Area.
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Three nearshore islands in Saldanha Bay (Marcus, Malgas and Jutten islands) form
part of the park. The Langebaan Lagoon is also designated as a Marine Protected
Area (MPA), while the park adjoins the Sixteen Mile Beach MPA on the Atlantic
coast, the Saldanha Bay MPA north of the lagoon, and three MPAs surrounding
Jutten, Malgas and Marcus islands.
FIGURE 2: Extent of West Coast National Park
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 8
1.3
History
1.3.1
Palaeontology
The area, especially around Elandsfontein, is extremely rich in fossils, and
abundant Late Cenozoic deposits of up to 5 million years in age in the
Varswater formation have been found (Hendey 1985). Fossils can also be
found elsewhere in the park, and several fossils in the calcrete areas in and
near the dunes at Geelbek are accessible to visitors.
The fossilised imprints of human footprints were found at Kraalbaai in 1997.
The substrate was dated through lumenescence dating as 117,000 years old.
The original footprints were removed and are now kept in the S A Museum.
Subsequently a trackway of the same footprints were found on the site
(Roberts & Berger 1997).
1.3.2
Archaeology
The evidence of human occupation of the park date back to the middle
Pleistocene, but most of the records date from the later Holocene some
12,000 years ago. These remains range from fish traps to middens, and
include an important site known as Oudepost I at Kraalbaai relating to contact
between the Dutch VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) officials and
the local Khoekhoe (Shrire 1985).
1.3.3. Historical Aspects
The history of the Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon was described in a
number of accounts, with a book on Saldanha Bay the best known (Burman &
Levin, 1974). The park has two national monuments in the VOC beacon at
Geelbek and the Geelbek homestead itself, while other historical buildings
can also be found in the park at Bottelary and Soutpan.
Human exploitation of the park dates back to prehistory and continued until
the present (Liengme 1987) and included a wide range of activities such as
planting of alien plants to stabilise dunes, farming, sealing, seabird guano
collection penguin egg collection, oyster culture, trout mariculture, fishing,
whaling and mining of oyster shells, phosphate rock and salt (Yssel 2000).
1.3.4
History of park establishment
The first conservation measures for the Langebaan Lagoon were
implemented in 1973 when the lagoon was proclaimed a reserve in terms of
the Sea Fisheries Act. Concern about the state of the Langebaan Lagoon and
Saldanha Bay led the then Department of Planning and Environment in 1974
to appoint a committee to, among other tasks, evaluate and advise on
proposals for development in the area, and in the holding of an international
symposium in 1976 recommending that the Langebaan Lagoon, the
peninsula, adjacent islands and surrounding land be proclaimed a Nature
Reserve as a matter of urgency.
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Years of reports and planning culminated in the lagoon, some adjoining state
land, the marshes near Geelbek, part of Sixteen Mile Beach and the islands
Marcus, Malgas, Schaapen and Jutten being proclaimed as the Langebaan
National Park in 1985. The first further expansion of the park occurred in
1987 when state land previously managed by the Department of Forestry as
De Hoek Forestry station, a dune reclamation scheme, as well as Geelbek,
portions of the farms Bottelary and Schrywershoek as well as Abrahamskraal
was added to the park, while Postberg was included in the national park as
the first contractual national park in South Africa. Some land in Langebaan
was added in 1988, when a name change from Langebaan National Park to
West Coast National Park was gazetted and implemented. The farm
Stofbergsfontein, which included a contractual component with residential
rights, was added in 1991, and since then the park has steadily increased in
size, with properties being added to bring the park to its present size of
around 35,000 ha.
1.4.
Urban/rural park relation
The park falls within the West Coast District Municipality, with the northern part in the
Saldanha Bay Local Municipality and the southern part in the Swartland Municipality.
The park forms the northern core of the West Coast Biosphere Reserve, and is fully
integrated in the various Spatial Development Frameworks of the municipalities. The
town of Langebaan and Yzerfontein adjoin the park to the north and south
respectively, while the towns of Saldanha, Vredenburg and Hopefield are within 20
km of the park boundaries.
1.5
Climate
The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean, mild and without extremes, but with strong
seasonal winds, predominantly southerlies in summer and northerlies in winter. The
monthly maximum and minimum air temperatures recorded for Langebaanweg (15
km northeast of the town of Langebaan) range from 18.4oC – 27.5oC and 7.1oC –
14.9oC respectively. The average annual rainfall is 265 mm, falling mainly in winter
(Weather Bureau 1988 in Heydenrych 1995).
1.6.
Geology and soils
The landscapes of the park are products of a long and complex geological history.
The basement rocks of the Malmesbury formation, laid down as marine sediments
during the Pre-Cambrian (700 million years BP) were uplifted, folded and intruded by
successive phases of igneous activitiy, which now form some exposed granite
outcrops. The land surface so formed was altered by drastic changes in sea level
over millions of years, leading to successive phases of denudation and
submergence, during which sediments were again deposited, redistributed or eroded
by water, wind or wave action. Near the coast most of the ancient bedrock is now
locally between 20-60m below sea level, and is mostly buried in dune sands more
than 90m deep. The loose sandy surface was moulded into flats, dunes and hollows
by strong southerly winds, and while most of these areas were stabilised, some
mobile dunes remained until recent stabilisation in the 1960s by alien vegetation
(Geological Survey, 1972; Visser & Schoch, 1973; Tinley, 1985).
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 10
The sands, being derived from marine deposits, contain a large proportion of
calcareous material, and older dunes have become calcified to sandy limestone. A
thickness of 88m of this material has been recorded in boreholes at Geelbek. The
marine origin of the sand is also reflected in the generally brack groundwater, and
where badly drained pans flood in the winter, salt deposits can be found in the
summer. Such salt pans near Geelbek have been worked intermittently since the
17th century (Visser & Schoch, 1973).
The soils at the coast are highly calcareous and susceptible to wind erosion
(Liengme 1987), while earth mounds or ‘heuweltjies’ are found at Postberg
(Heydenrych 1995). At places such as Massenberg and Vlaeberg the hard granite
bedrock reveals wave-worn former island shores, while in other areas such as
Meeuwklip wave-bevelled former shoals and reefs are evident. Indications, borne
out by phosphate deposits from guano on Postberg, are that the 150m contour
formed the highest sea level. The successive advances and retreats of the sea were
also responsible for the formation of Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon. At times
when the sea retreated, barrier dunes were built up along the coast. During the most
recent advance of the sea about 9 000 years ago, the dune barriers between the
granite headlands to the north and south of the modern Saldanha Bay were
breached and the low-lying land behind the barriers were flooded, thus forming the
modern bay and lagoon. The remaining dune barrier runs south from Postberg to
form the Langebaan peninsula (Fleming 1977, 1980).
The main geological formations are:
 Witzand formation - unconsolidated white sand with comminuted shells,
 Langebaan formation - limestone calcrete and calcified parabolic dune sand,
 Springfontyn formation - light grey to pale red sandy soils,
 Langebaan-Saldanha Pluton formation - stony granite; quartz monzonite and
quartz porphyry.
1.7
Topography
The Langebaan peninsula, which abuts the Atlantic Ocean on the west and
Langebaan Lagoon on the east, is about 2 km wide and 15 km long. In the northern
sector there are elevated granite outcrops, the highest being Vlaeberg (193 m amsl)
and Konstabelkop (189 m amsl), and low ridges of limestone and calcrete. In the
south there are unconsolidated and vegetated dunes, and near Yzerfontein a large
mobile dunefield extends inland towards Van Niekerkspos. The low-lying areas
inland of the lagoon consist mainly of calcrete sheets and unconsolidated sands and
the occasional granite outcrop such as Seeberg (Flemming 1977).
1.8
Marine & coastal processes
Langebaan Lagoon, which is a large marine embayment, has a small freshwater
catchment, and surface fresh-water in the park is generally scarce and of a seasonal
nature. The lagoon is tidal and the subtidal region is generally less than 4 m deep
(Flemming 1977). Current velocities during spring tides can reach speeds up of to
100 cm/sec in the main entrance channels to the lagoon, before decreasing to
approximately 20 – 25 cm/sec in the wider lower reaches. Approximately 12 percent
of the volume of the Saldanha Bay - Langebaan Lagoon system is exchanged during
a spring tide (Shannon & Stander 1977). Upwelling of cold, nutrient rich waters
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 11
occurs seasonally (spring and summer) along the west coast. The upwelled water is
advected into Saldanha Bay, affecting the temperature and nutrient levels of the bay
(Pitcher & Calder 1998) and to lesser extent that of the lagoon (Monteiro &Largier
1999).
1.9
Flora
1.9.1
Phytoplankton
Saldanha Bay is linked to the Benguela upwelling system and is
characterized by inputs of surface nitrate and high chlorophyll levels most of
the year, and a mean water column chlorophyll a concentration of 8.6 µg/l,
and a mean daily rate of production of 3.40 g of C/m²/day have been
recorded (Pitcher and Calder 1998)
1.9.2
Algae (seaweeds)
A total of 200 seaweed species consisting of 33 green seaweeds, 26 brown
seaweeds and 141 red seaweeds have been recorded for the Saldanha Bay /
Langebaan Lagoon system (Schils 1998). Seven seaweed species found in
the lagoon have a warm south coast distribution (Bolton & Stegenga 2002).
1.9.3
Aquatic & semi aquatic plants
The saltmarsh plants Spartina maritima and Sarcocornia perennis reach
maximum abundance in the southern half of the lagoon where nutrients in the
marsh water are highest and current speeds reduced (Christie 1981). Other
common saltmarsh species found are Arthrocnemum pillanssi var. pillanssi,
Salicornia capensis and Disphyma crassifolium, Juncus krausii, Scirpus
nodosus, Nidorella foetida, Senecio haliminfolius, Typha capensis and
Phragmites australis (Boucher & Jarman 1977).
The saltmarshes of Langebaan are unique in that no river feeds them and the
lagoon, and at some 5,700ha, constituting 32% of saltmarsh habitat in the
country, the marshes are the largest in South Africa (O’Callaghan 1990).
1.9.4 Terrestrial vegetation
WCNP mostly contains strandveld vegetation (24,025 ha), which was
previously classified as West Coast Strandveld (Acocks 1988) and
Langebaan Fynbos/Thicket Mosaic (Cowling & Heijnis 2001), and hereafter
referred to as ‘strandveld’. In recent years the park has expanded
incorporating substantial areas (6,382 ha) of an additional vegetation type /
broad habitat unit i.e. Hopefield Sand Plain Fynbos, previously called Coastal
Fynbos, and hereafter referred to as ‘sand plain fynbos’. Both these habitat
units were given a 50 % irreplaceability rating (Cowling et al. 1999), meaning
that half of what remains outside reserves should be conserved. However,
sand plain fynbos is regarded to be of higher conservation value than
strandveld, due to very little being formally conserved and it being more
threatened by alien plant invasion.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 12
The strandveld vegetation of WCNP occurs on the Langebaan peninsula and
east of the Langebaan lagoon on deep calcareous sands of the Langebaan
formation. Sand plain fynbos occurs inland of the strandveld, around
Hopefield, on deep acidic light-grey to pale-red sands of the Springfontyn
formation.
Extensive marshes, dominated by Sarcocornia, Salicornia,
Spartina, Limonium, Phragmites, Typha, Juncus, and/or Scirpus species,
occur on the fringes of the Langebaan lagoon (Boucher & Jarman 1977).
The vegetation of the park, excluding the newly acquired properties such as
Van Niekerks Hoop, Kalkkilpfontein, Langefontein and Elandsfontein, may be
divided into 36 associations (or communities), having some 482 plant species
(including salt marsh species), of which 21 are Red Data Book species
(Heydenrych 1995). A further 14 Red Data species have been recorded, or
are likely to occur, in the newly acquired sections of land (see Operational
plan for species of special concern).
1.10.
Fauna
1.10.1 Marine Invertebrates
Langebaan Lagoon has a rich marine fauna of more than 400 species. In
general the density and diversity of macro-invertebrates in the soft substrata
of the lagoon is higher than in that of Saldanha Bay (Simons 2000). In the
early 1990s approximately 800,000 sand prawns Callianassa kraussi were
removed per annum from the central bank in the lagoon by bait diggers, who
disturbed a further 1,300 kg of associated macrofauna, much of which (c.
80%) was preyed upon by scavenging gulls (Wynberg & Branch1997). Such
bait digging activities had a marked impact on the composition of the macrofauna in the mudflats of the lagoon, with some polychaeta species being
attracted to disturbed sites, while others avoid these sites (Simons 2000). The
lagoon is also the only known habitat for South Africa's most endangered
marine mollusc, Siphonaria compressa (Hebert 1999). Another small mollusc
Assiminea globulus constitutes about 63 percent of the invertebrate biomass
in the surface layers of the intertidal mudflats of the lagoon, and it is the major
prey item of the curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, which is the most
abundant migrant wader at Langebaan Lagoon (Puttick 1978). Three alien
invertebrate species have sizeable populations in the lagoon. They are the
Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, European periwinkle Littorina
saxatilis and an anemone Sagartia ornata (Robinson et al. 2004).
1.10.2 Fishes
The overall abundance of teleosts (bony fish such as bream and mullets)
across the Saldanha Bay-Langebaan Lagoon system increases as wave
exposure decreases, while the highest species richness and diversity occur at
intermediate levels of wave exposure. A total of 29 bony fish species and 5
elasmobranch (sharks) species have been found in the lagoon (Clark 1997)
with the sandshark Rhinobatos annulatus being an important predator due to
its numbers and biomass (Harris et al. 1988).
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 13
1.10.3 Amphibians
Very little is known about the amphibians of the park, with only a preliminary
checklist being available.
1.10.4 Reptiles
Thirty-three reptile species have been recorded in the park (Cordes & Mouton
1996). Detailed studies have been done on the girdled lizards Cordylus niger
and C. polyzonus and angulale tortoise Chersina angulate. The angulate
tortoise Chersina angulate population of the park is genetically (mtDNA)
different from that at Kleinzee (Lesia et al. 2003).
1.10.5 Birds
Langebaan Lagoon: A total of some 255 species have been recorded in the
park. Langebaan Lagoon provides an important feeding area for migrant
waders. The lagoon supports approximately 26 % of all waders noted in the
wetlands of the south-western Cape Province (Ryan et al. 1988), and
between 1975 and 1995 an average of 34 700 birds were recorded during
annual summer counts. Of these approximately 90% were Palaearctic
migrant waders, with the most abundant species Curlew sandpiper Calidris
ferruginea (c. 56%), Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola (11%), Sanderling
Calidris alba (8%) and Knot Calidris canutus (8 %). In winter the numbers of
waterbirds decline to approximately 10,300, which include about 4,500
flamingos (Phoenicipterus ruber and P. minor) (Navarro et al. 1995). The
terrestrial area adjacent to the lagoon supports the highest density of the
Vulnerable black harrier Circus maurus in South Africa.
Nearshore islands: The nearshore islands support large breeding colonies of
Red Data seabirds. Based on a survey done in 2000 (Du Toit et al. 2003),
these include the Vulnerable species:



Cape gannets Morus capensis – 70,000 nest sites/breeding pairs
African penguin Spheniscus demersus - 1,507 nest sites
Bank cormorant Phalocrocorax neglectus - 65 nest sites
and the Near-threatened species:



Cape cormorant Phalocrocorax capensis - 33,000 nest sites (1978)
Crowned cormorant Phalocrocorax coronatus - 224 nest sites
African black oystercatcher Haematopus moquini - 180 breeding pairs
Substantial numbers of non-threatened species also breed on these islands
(e.g. Kelp gull Larus dominicanus – 8,351 breeding pairs; Hartlaub’s Gull
Larus hartlaubii – 1,669 breeding pairs).
The overall breeding success of the Cape gannet and African penguin is
adversely affected by decreases in stocks of anchovy and sardine (Crawford
1998); oil pollution (Crawford et al. 2000a), and predation by seals (Mecenero
et al. 2005).
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 14
1.10.6 Mammals
Terrestrial: Compared with the more tropical regions of southern Africa, the
South West Cape has few species. Nevertheless, 19 rodents, 11 insectivores,
13 carnivores and 10 ungulates have been recorded in the park (Avery et al.
1990). Of these animals five ungulates and one rodent are extralimital (i.e.
they were introduced into the park, which lies outside their normal distribution
range). One such species is the Bontebok Damaliscus dorcas dorcas, which
together Grant’s golden mole Eremitalpa granti and honey badger Mellivora
capensis, comprise the three Red Data mammals found in the park
(Friedmann & Daly 2004). The larger carnivores in the park (Yellow
mongoose Cynictis penicillata, small grey mongoose Galerella pulverulenta,
water mongoose Atilax paludinosus and caracal Felis caracal) show
opportunistic feeding behaviour and an absence of dietary specialisation.
Rodents (Rhabdomys pumilio and Otomys unisulcatus) are the main prey
item of the last three mentioned carnivore species (Avenant & Nel 1997).
Marine: Cape fur seal colonies historically occurred on the nearshore islands
in Saldanha Bay, but no longer occupy this habitat However, seals still forage
in the area, often preying on the seabirds of the islands (Yssel 2000).
1.11
Socio economic
Demography
The area surrounding Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon (Vredenburg, Saldanha,
Velddrif and Langebaan) had an estimated population of 46,427 in 1994, growing to an
estimated 64,300 in 1998. The rapid increase could be ascribed to recent industrial
development of the area. The average population growth, however, could vary
between 3.4% and 5.382% per annum. 98% of this population of the area live in the
towns of the area, with only 2% in the rural areas. The various spatial development
frameworks and structure plans for the area provide information on population
composition, employment and other demographic aspects of the area
Main Economic Activities
Agriculture and fishing currently provide the largest employment, i.e. 24%. The West
Coast is the center of South Africa's commercial fishing industry and produces 22% of
the total South African fish catch. The next largest sector is manufacturing, providing
21% of all jobs, which partly reflects the large number of people involved in fish
processing and industrial manufacturing. The service sector accounts for 20% of jobs,
and trade for 9%. The West Coast's 1994 GDP of R3.7 billion amounted to 7.2 % of
that of the Province as a whole. As many employment opportunities in agriculture,
fishing and, to some extent, tourism, are seasonal or temporary, rates of
unemployment in the West Coast vary. The 1991 census showed that 71% of the
region's labour force was formally employed and unemployment was rated at 10%.
The percentage active in the informal sector had grown from 6% in 1980 to 19% in
1991 (Yssel 2000).
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 15
2.
Protected Areas Management Planning Framework
2.1
Background to and formulation of the Desired State for the park
The SANParks Policy Framework guides the development of park management
plans. The essential feature of the system is the iterative way in which it will enable
continual improvement in the management of the Park though annual and five-year
review cycles. The first step in developing/revising a management plan is to develop
the desired state of the park.
2.1.1
Setting the Desired State
In order that the current, and future, extent of the Park is to be protected and
managed effectively, a Desired State is developed to guide park management
in its daily operations. The Desired State is drafted every five years in
consultation with representative stakeholders.
2.1.2
Vision
We see a West Coast National Park that conserves and enhances the unique
terrestrial and marine ecological and cultural, historical and scenic resources
of the Langebaan lagoon, proximate islands and natural environments of the
West Coast for the appreciation, and use of, present and future generations.
Cultural heritage
To manage and sustain the significance, authenticity and integrity of the
tangible and intangible cultural heritage resources for which SANParks is
responsible, for the enjoyment and benefit of all South Africans and of the
world.
Tourism
To become a fully operational National Park that offers a diversity of tourism
products and enhances the tourist experience in a sustainable manner.
People and Conservation
To enable stakeholders to derive maximum and equitable benefit from
opportunities created through the West Coast National Park thereby
promoting a regional and national conservation ethic.
2.2
Balanced Scorecard
SANParks implemented a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in 2004 as a management tool
to provide a comprehensive management framework and business measurement
translating value positions to achievable objectives, measures and targets. This
framework is used in setting out objectives in the management plan.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 16
2.3
Desired state
Desired state
Priority
1
Nearshore seabird breeding sites adequately protected
High
2
Lagoon habitat for migrant waders adequately protected
High
3
Natural functions of the lagoon maintained
High
4
The extent of underrepresented habitat types increased
(Sand Plain Fynbos, Coastal Renosterveld, sandy beaches
& adjacent subtidal areas)
High
5
Fossil beds (Elandsfontein) incorporated into park
High
6
Development and activities in the park in line with
conservation objectives
High
7
Extralimital species in the park and contractual areas
removed and herbivory decreased.
High
8
Gill net activities reduced
High
9
Alien removal programs continued and expanded
(terrestrial & aquatic), and aligned with fire programme
High
10
Compliance in the multi-use zone of park improved
(boating, bait collecting, fishing)
High
11
Knowledge of rare plant and animal populations improved
(performance & distributions)
High
12
The determination of groundwater reserves by DWAF
encouraged
High
13
Neighbouring land use compatible with park objectives
encouraged.
High
14
Fire management programme implemented
Medium
15
Degraded lands rehabilitated, apart from select lands
maintained for spring flower displays
Medium
16
Re-establishment of functioning mobile dune field
investigated
Low
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 17
2.4
17
Indigenous herbivore complement are re-established within
constraints
Low
18
Old quarries, decommissioned roads, old farm yards and
other disturbed sites rehabilitated.
Low
19
Knowledge of pollination/dispersal processes increased
Low
20
Archaeological, cultural & historical sites inventorised and
well managed.
High
21
Tourism infrastructure that caters for a wide variety of
markets by providing a high quality service and experience
without compromising biodiversity is developed
High
Vital Attributes, Determinants, Threats and Constraints
Biodiversity
Vital attributes
Determinants
Threats
Constraints
GENERIC
CONSTRAINTS:
 Limited
knowledge
 Lack of funds
 Limited staff
capacity
 Changing focus of
funding sources
(land acquisition
for biodiversity vs.
infrastructure)
Representation
a) Patterns
Important
landscape/
habitat
elements (and
associated
biota):
Langebaan
Lagoon



Expanding harbour
and increasing
shipping traffic
Oil pipeline Saldanha
– Milnerton
Developments
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 18



Harbour (incl. oil
terminal)
Langebaan &
park villages
Special Forces
bases

Water quality &
pollution
Extractive use
Invasive alien species
Boating activities
Decreasing freshwater
input
Flow barriers,

Sea level rise
Developments
Oil pollution
Human disturbance
Poaching
Predators (natural &
introduced)
Alien invasive species







Alien invasive species
Developments
Dune stabilization in
adjacent areas


Developments
Entrance road






Alien invasive species
Inappropriate fires
Over-utilisation
Development activities
Erosion
Ground water
abstraction
Groundwater
contamination
Potential species loss

Outside
transformation by
agriculture &
development
Loss of
indigenous
seedbanks
Limited
knowledge &
baseline info
Over-utilisation by
herbivores
Inappropriate fire
regime
Development activities
Climate change
Insufficient knowledge
Alien invasive plants






Nearshore
Islands







Mobile dunes
Vegetation
types (and
associated
fauna):
Sand Plain
Fynbos
Strandveld
Saltmarsh
vegetation
Freshwater
wetland
vegetation


Species of
Special
Concern:
Red-listed
plant species






Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 19







Industrial
developments
Historical fishing
agreements
House boats,
Servitude running
through park
Difficult access
Illegal access
Manpower
Distance from
park centre
Current inability to
ensure proper
management
Existing
infrastructure
Limited Sand
Plain Fynbos
conserved
Red-Data
seabirds
breeding sites:
Migrant waders
over wintering
on lagoon
Red Data bird:
Black Harrier

Predators (natural &
introduced)
Oil pollution
Disease
Collapse of fish stocks
Human disturbance
Developments
Alien invasive species









Human disturbance
Pollution
Disease
Developments
Predators
Alien invasive species
Potential transmitters
of human diseases


Deterioration of
marshlands
Human disturbance
Inappropriate fires

Limited
marshland area
Gill-netting
Illegal fishing and
exceeding bag limits

Existing permits
Existing fishing
activities
Lack of
cooperative
governance wrt
MLRA
Deterioration of
eelgrass beds
Human disturbance
Pollution
Sedimentation.

Recreational bait
digging activities
Diseases
Developments outside
park
Bee-keeping.

Lack of
destinations for
bontebok
Accidental fires
Over-utilisation by
herbivores
Inappropriate fire
regime
Climate change
Alien vegetation
Damage to
infrastructure

Equipment and
manpower to
control burns
Fire Protection
Association
Limited access
Alien vegetation
Existing
infrastructure








Exploited line
fish species
and bycatch
from gill-netting


False limpet
Siphonaria
compressa

Mammals and
Reptiles






b) Processes
Fire






Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 20











Size of island
Commercial
fishing activities
Oil terminal &
harbour
Shipping activities
Large seal
colonies
Breakwater at
Marcus island
Developments
(western shore of
lagoon)
Boating activities
Oil terminal &
harbour
Herbivory


Over-utilisation
Unacceptable change
in vegetation
Inappropriate species
Inappropriate fires
Inappropriate water
provision

Alteration of water
circulation in lagoon
(breakwater, groynes,
extension to oil
terminal & jetties)
Increasing demand for
ground water,




Alien mussel
colonization
Harbour / Oil terminal
extensions
Climate change
Artificial sedimentation


Alien vegetation
Development


Developments
Roads

Potential recruitment
from rocky shores and
mussel farms

Huge populations
in adjacent areas.




Continued invasions
Disturbance
Fires
Sand blowouts





Loss of topsoil
Climate change
Unpredictable weather
Alien reinvasion
(persistent seed
banks)
Herbivory
Persistent alien
seed banks,
Inefficient followup
Fire-sensitive
strandveld
Slow recovery of
vegetation
Insufficient
indigenous seed
bank
Funding.



Hydrological
(lagoon &
aquifers)


Sediment
movement
(lagoon)
Rehabilitation
Sediment
movement
(mobile dunes)
Alien mussel
removal from
sandbanks of
the lagoon
Alien invasive
plant removal
Active
rehabilitation of
disturbed
areas



Landscape
Land use inside park
(zoning)





Conflicting biodiversity
and tourism objectives
Inadequate planning
(CDF not developed)
Inappropriate activities
Poverty relief
development projects
Tourism pressure
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 21














Contractual
arrangements
with Postberg
Tourist
expectations
(flowers, game)
Bontebok
Hydrological
influences are
outside park
Demand for
ground water
No reserve
determination
Harbour &
Langebaan town
developments
Existing flow
barriers
Inappropriate
existing roads &
infrastructure &
roads
Past agreements
(Postberg,
Stofbergsfontein)
Illegal houseboats
Flower season
Land use –
surrounding
park




Wildness
Configuration
of park

Inappropriate land use
Changing land use
Regional development
strategies (IDPs)
conflicting with park
objectives
Extension of towns
and industry

Outside development





Visual
experience



Human impact








High visibility of
structures from lagoon
Wind farm(s)
Structures on outcrops


Littering
Visual, auditory,
olfactory & other
pollution
Military & Air-force
activity
Illegal collection of
biota
Trampling (trails)
Tourism & boating
pressure
Increasing tourism
pressure & road
network
Human dependence
on services /
infrastructure (e.g.
toilets)

Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 22






Proximity to
towns
Donkergat military
base
Limited expansion
options
Prioritisation for
allocation of funds
Lack of
acceptance about
importance of
specific
acquisitions
Development
Flat landscape
Situation of
Langebaan town
Existing visually
intrusive
infrastructure
Need to generate
revenue
Expectation that
protected areas
will provide
benefits to public
Open (accessible)
nature of park,
Resident
communities
within park
Military & Airforce not
respecting park
rules / legislation
No control over
aviation activities
2.5 Objectives Hierarchy for the West Coast National Park
High level
objective
CONSERVATION
OF
REPRESENTATIV
E, FUNCTIONAL
ECOSYSTEMS:
To conserve a
representative
sample of the
regions
ecosystems in a
linked landscape/
seascape, and the
maintenance or
restoration of
environmental
processes to
enable natural
spatial and
temporal variation
in structural,
functional and
compositional
components of
biodiversity.
Objective
Representative
ecosystems:
To incorporate a
spectrum of viable
terrestrial, aquatic,
and marine
ecosystems
characteristic of the
West Coast Region,
and to re-introduce
missing elements
where possible.
Functional
ecosystems:
To ensure the long
term persistence of
biodiversity patterns
and processes.
Sub-objective
Initiative
Operational
plan
Consolidation and
expansion of land/ sea
areas:
Consolidate protected areas
focusing on under represented
ecosystems, functional
linkages and processes. (8)
(1) Identification of under represented
habitats/communities.
(2) Consolidate park boundaries.
(3) Incorporate more Sand Plain Fynbos.
(4) Incorporate Elandsfontein Fossil Fields.
(5) Incorporate MPAs, i.e. 16 Mile Beach
and those surrounding Marcus, Malgas
& Jutten Island.
(6) Investigate incorporation of Meeuw- and
Vondeling islands.
(7) Align park expansion with bioregional
planning.
Park
Expansion
Reintroduction of biota:
Re-establish, where possible,
locally extinct or depleted
biodiversity components and
populations in accordance with
principles & guidelines. (14)
(1) Re-establish indigenous biota within
constraints of park size, location,
infrastructure, etc.
Fauna
Management
&
reintroduction
(1) Pursue appropriate management
arrangements of lagoon with MCM.
(2) Ensure appropriate co-operative
governance with relevant government
Langebaan Lagoon:
departments/agencies (esp. wrt oil spill).
Strive to maintain long term
(3) Meet international obligations with
persistence of biodiversity
respect to Ramsar Convention.
Safety &
patterns and processes in the
(4) Liaise with stakeholders to ensure
Security
lagoon ecosystem, particularly
protection of natural resources
the protection of invertebrates,
(5) Enforce applicable fishing and bait
fishes and migrant waders. (1)
legislation (MLRA).
(6) Encourage research & monitoring (e.g.
of migrant waders, invasive aliens,
harvesting of fish & invertebrates).
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 23
High level
objective
Objective
Sub-objective
Nearshore Islands Strive to
maintain the islands as safe
breeding areas for seabirds.
(2)
Fire:
Apply appropriate fire regime
in Sand Plain Fynbos areas
(frequency, season, intensity,
unit size), while protecting
vegetation types not driven by
fire. (6)
Herbivory:
Maintain composition and
population sizes of mediumlarge herbivores, and
understand the role of
herbivory as a modifier of
biodiversity at different spatial
and temporal scales. ( 5)
Initiative
(1) Maintain appropriate conditions for
successful seabird breeding (limit
human disturbance, eradicate
introduced predators, address rogue
seal predation).
(2) Pursue appropriate management
arrangements of inshore marine areas
with MCM.
(3) Ensure appropriate co-operative
governance with relevant government
agencies (especially with respect to
seabird rescues after oil spills).
(4) Encourage research & monitoring of
breeding seabird colonies, predation &
avian mortalities.
(1) Align fire management plan with alien
plant clearing programme.
(2) Implement a fire plan to conserve
biodiversity.
(3) Protect fire sensitive coastal strandveld
areas and wetlands from fires.
(4) Evaluate impact of fire management.
(1) Undertake monitoring (annual aerial
census of large species, quarterly
ground counts of small species - trends)
of population size, composition, and
distribution of med-large herbivores.
(2) Assess habitat types preferred by
herbivores for signs of over-utilisation
(e.g. trampling, absence of
inflorescences).
(3) Develop TPCs and apply adaptive
management, i.e. results inform
herbivore management practices.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 24
Operational
plan
Environmental
Management
(incl. oil spill
contingency,
SANCCOB
bird rescue),
Species of
Special
Concern
Fire
management
Fauna
management
&
reintroduction
High level
objective
Objective
Sub-objective
Rehabilitation:
Rehabilitate
degraded areas,
including the reestablishment of
biodiversity, and the
restoration of key
processes which
support long term
persistence of
biodiversity.
Initiative
(1) Identify and evaluate the status of
species of special concern.
(2) Minimize threats to populations of
breeding Red Data seabirds & Black
Species of special concern:
Harrier
Maintain viable populations of
(3) Encourage monitoring of selected
species of special concern. (3)
species (abundance, breeding success
& mortalities).
(4) Maintain viable populations of Red Data
plant species by means of appropriate
management of the vegetation.
(1) Improve understanding of freshwater
Freshwater wetlands:
wetlands and their functioning.
marshes & seeps
(2) Remove alien vegetation in freshwater
Maintain physical, chemical
wetland areas.
and biological processes in
(3) Prevent development within freshwater
freshwater wetland areas. (9)
wetlands.
(1) Establish the distribution and density of
invasive species.
Alien plants and other alien
(2) Prioritise areas for alien removal
or extra-limital biota:
focusing on biodiversity restoration.
Control and where possible
(3) Implement removal programs for priority
eliminate alien/extra-limital
species and areas (alien plants, mobile
biota to facilitate redunes, mussels on soft sediments).
establishment of natural
(4) Investigate options for the control of
biodiversity pattern and
alien species (e.g. biological control).
process in invaded areas. (4) (5) Remove extra-limital herbivores.
(6) Encourage/ facilitate natural recovery of
transformed areas
Degraded land:
(1) Rehabilitate quarries, decommissioned
strive towards reroads and unused infrastructure (e.g.
establishment of biodiversity
farmsteads).
patterns and process in
(2) Encourage/facilitate natural recovery of
degraded land. (11)
old lands.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 25
Operational
plan
Species of
special
concern
Freshwater
wetlands -
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation
High level
objective
Objective
Sub-objective
Initiative
Operational
plan
Internal developments and
activities:
Minimise impacts associated
with the development of
tourism and park management
infrastructure, and ensure that
such developments do not
compromise biodiversity
objectives. (12, 16)
(1) Implement existing zonation plan.
(2) Develop and implement CDF.
(3) Developments in accordance with EIA
process (NEMA) and corporate policies.
(4) Determine tourism carrying capacities.
(5) Implement green standards and
environmental best practice to be based
on future corporate policy.
CDF
MITIGATE
INTERNAL and
EXTERNAL
PRESSURES:
To reduce threats
and pressures and
limit environmental
impacts resulting
from nonbiodiversity
management
aspects of
SANParks
operations and
surrounding land
and resource use.
Reconciling other
park activities with
biodiversity
objectives:
To ensure that all
management aspects
of SANParks
operations (revenue
generation including
tourism, resource
use, developments,
management
activities) are
informed and
constrained by
biodiversity
conservation
objectives, and that
the impacts of these
activities on
biodiversity are
minimised.
Reconciling
biodiversity with
external threats:
To reduce external
threats and
pressures, and limit
impacts of
surrounding land &
resource use on
biodiversity
Extractive resource use:
Minimise the impacts of
extractive resource use, and
ensure that such activities are
aligned with corporate
guidelines; are within
management capacity
constraints, and do not
compromise biodiversity
objectives. (13)
(1) Quantify current extractive resource
activities (biological & groundwater).
(2) Define opportunities and constraints in
line with corporate guidelines.
(3) Regulate resource use, according to
adaptive management process (e.g. gill
net activities by local communities)
Resource use
External developments:
Minimise the impacts
associated with inappropriate
developments outside the
park. (17)
(1) Engage with regional land management
authorities, with respect to IDPs and
SDFs at local & regional level.
(2) Provide input into planning and decision
making process (e.g. EIAs) for external
development that may compromise park
biodiversity objectives.
(3) Negotiate to ensure that external
developments are not visually obtrusive
or out of character with the park.
Cooperative
governance
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 26
High level
objective
Objective
Sub-objective
Initiative
conservation within
the park.
(1) Negotiate to mitigate or improve the
External activities:
management of external potentially
Negotiate to ensure that
detrimental impacts.
external resource and land use (2) Encourage eco-friendly resource use
do not detrimentally affect
and land management practices on
ecological processes within
adjacent properties.
the park. (15)
(3) Encourage reserve determination for
ground water systems.
(1) Participate in the Saldanha Forum,
monitoring committee of beach
Hydrological and water
restoration, Saldanha Bay Water
chemistry changes:
Quality Trust and obtain results of water
Encourage responsible
quality monitoring.
authorities to ensure that
(2) Encourage enforcement of legislation
industries in the Saldanha Bay
applicable to the management and
comply with water quality
protection of aquatic resources.
standards, use ground water
(3) Mitigate the impacts of oil and other
responsibly and alert
pollution, through appropriate
SANParks to any effluent
contingency planning.
discharges. (10)
(4) Address the issue of sewage and other
point source pollution into the marine
environment.
Illegal harvesting of
(1) Public education and liaison.
resources:
(2) Law enforcement.
Prevent the illegal collection,
(3) Enhance interagency cooperation in law
removal or destruction of
enforcement, compliance and
physical and biological
prosecution.
resources. (7)
Human-animal conflict:
In consultation with
(1) Implement strategy to control problem
stakeholders, minimize
animals entering the park.
negative outcomes resulting
(2) Develop and implement disease
from human-animal conflicts.
management plan.
(18)
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 27
Operational
plan
Cooperative
governance
Environmental
management
(incl. oil spill
contingency),
Cooperative
governance
Safety and
Security
Safety and
Security
High level
objective
WILDNESS /
REMOTENESS:
To maintain and
restore wildness /
remoteness in
WCNP such that
the spiritual and
experiential
qualities of
wildness are
maintained,
enhanced, or
restored
Objective
Sub-objective
Attain leadership
in cultural
heritage
managment
(1) Develop CDF, including sensitivity-value
analysis.
(2) Investigate opportunities for providing a
greater range of experiences for
visitors.
Range of
experiences:
Provide a range of
visitor experiences.
Sense of place:
Maintain or restore
appropriate sense of
place.
To further develop
and continuously
update an inventory
of cultural resources
in the West Coast
National Park
To formulate and
implement a Cultural
Heritage
Management Plan
(CHMP) for the West
Coast National Park
as soon as
inventorisation is fully
done.
Initiative
Cultural heritage resources
data for the national park
Cultural Heritage Management
plan
(1) Implement & update CDF.
(2) Establish and apply appropriate tourism
carrying capacity.
(3) Negotiate to ensure that internal &
external developments are not visually
obtrusive or out of character with park.
(4) Ensure integration with local & regional
IDPs and SDFs
(1) Documentation of newly discovered
cultural heritage sites and associated
oral histories and indigenous knowledge
(tangible & intangible heritage)
(2) Maps
(3) GPS coordinates; include information
in the Cultural heritage data base
(1) Asses significance of individual sites;
(2) Assess conservation/protection status
for all cultural resources in the park;
(3) Site conservation measures
(4) Assess the potential utilisation of sites
(current & future);
(5) involve stakeholder participation in the
development process
(6) Maintain an appropriate balance
between natural and cultural heritage in
all aspects of park management.
(7) Allocate resources to implement CHMP
(8) Identify cultural heritage research
priorities
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 28
Operational
plan
CDF, Park
expansion,
Tourism,
Rehabilitation
Cultural
Heritage
Cultural
Heritage
High level
objective
Objective
Sub-objective
To formulate and
implement CHMP
Site Plan for heritage
sites that have been
identified for
educational, research
and tourism purposes
To monitor cultural
resources regularly in
order to determine
state of resources
and to enable
decision-making ito
conservation
measures or
management.
Contribute to
local educational
and socioeconomic
development
Custodian of
Choice for
Protected Area
Management
Enhance benefits to
local communities
Increase
environmental
awareness
Good community and
stakeholder relation
Effective cooperate
governance
Cultural heritage site
management plans
Cultural heritage monitoring
system
Initiative
(1) Visitor control measures
(2) Information boards & signage
(3) Conservation measures - restore and
maintain stone walls
(4) Interpretation plan
(5) Maintain the sense of place at
archaeological sites
(1) Design and implement a monitoring
system for cultural resources as
required by the management plan
(2) Compile status files for all sites with
condition reporting forms and photos.
(3) Assess sites as highly sensitive,
sensitive or stable and monitor
accordingly
(4) Annotate files after each visit
(1) Contribute to local community
development by identifying projects that
can be developed in conjunction with
neighbouring communities
(2) Identify SMME opportunities within the
planning domain
(1) Present environmental education and
youth programs
(2) Establish and market an environmental
education centre and programs
(1) Identify and involve all relevant
stakeholders for a park forum
(1) Establish and maintain good
relationships with relevant government
institutions
(2) Schedule formal meetings
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 29
Operational
plan
Cultural
Heritage
Cultural
Heritage
Local socioeconomic
development
Environmental
Education
Stakeholder
relationship
Stakeholder
relationship
High level
objective
Initiative
Operational
plan
To develop, manage
and enhance a range
of sustainable
tourism products
(1) Develop the current and new tourist
nodes to their full potential
(2) Develop and maintain basic visitor and
infrastructure
(3) Increase opportunities for SMMEs and
concessionaires to develop activities
(4) Increase number of overnight visitors
(5) Improve the tourism knowledge and
skills of staff in order to deliver an
excellent service and create loyalty
Tourism,
Infrastructure
Transform the
domestic guest
profile, through
growth, to be
representative of the
regional demography
(1) Promote and manage access to the
park
(2) Market park resources and services
Marketing
Implement Best
Practice in managing
and understanding
HIV, AIDS and
associated diseases
(1) Implement SANParks policies and
guidelines
HIV/AIDS
Advance
Strategic
Resource
Management
Ensure good human
resource
management
(1) Implement staff capacity program
(2) Develop an institutional development
and administration program
(3) Performance management plan in place
Staff Capacity
Building,
Institutional
Development
Improve income
to cost ratio
Improve the income
to cost ratio
continuously
(1) Manage cost to income ratio
Financial
sustainability
Achieve good
corporate
governance
management
Manage risk profile
effectively
(1) Do legal review
(2) Develop compliance plan
(3) Monitor plan
Risk
Management
Become the
nature based
tourism
destination of
choice in the
region
Transform
domestic guest
profile, through
growth, to be
representative of
SA Society
Ensure Best
Practice in
managing and
understanding
HIV and AIDS
(and associated
disease)
Objective
Sub-objective
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 30
3.
Operational plans to achieve objectives
This section deals with the discrete, but often interlinked programs making up the
approach to issues and lead management actions in the park. They represent the efforts
by the park to achieve the Desired State. Each subsection of this management plan is a
summary of a particular program, which are supported by details contained in lower level
plans, referred to but not included here.
The programs are divided into the five activity groupings reflected in the SANParks
Biodiversity Custodianship Framework, namely Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation,
Sustainable Tourism Building Cooperation, Effective Park Management and Corporate
Support. SANParks corporate policies provide the guiding framework for most of these
sections and are not repeated here except by reference.
3.1
Biodiversity and Heritage Conservation
3.1.1
Park expansion
The WCNP is situated in an internationally & nationally identified priority
conservation area by the South African national conservation assessment
(Driver et al. 2005). As such, the conservation and expansion of WCNP
remains important for SANParks in its attempt to further the protection of
the threatened marine environment and the botanically diverse remaining
fragments of the lowland fynbos vegetation types in an otherwise highly
fragmented and transformed landscape.
The objective for the park is to create a park that conserves the landseascape characteristic of the southern Western Cape coastal region. The
expansion programme is in full congruence with SANParks accepted
biodiversity values and follows the SANParks land acquisition framework.
The envisaged expansion options to consolidate this important biodiversity
across the marine, terrestrial and wetland environments are expected to
be affected by the environmental legislation governing these areas. The
desired state of the park, in the context of park expansion, includes:
 The unification of the marine protected seascape incorporating its
diverse marine-island-lagoon-mainland linkages;
 The consolidation of untransformed lowland fynbos including poorly
represented sandveld fynbos and renosterveld vegetation types into a
contiguous marine-terrestrial park unit;
 The minimisation of visual and hard boundary impact of inappropriate
surrounding developments on the parks aesthetic qualities.
 Develop an ecotourism product in synergy with the parks conservation
goals and regional development plans.
The 34,389 ha large park with its Fynbos and Wetland biome
representations, has seven vegetation types, of which four are
endangered (Hopefield Sand Fynbos, Saldanha Flats Strandveld,
Saldanha Granite Strandveld, Cape Inland Salt Pans). Although the park
does not have a fine scale systematic conservation plan as of yet, planned
expansion direction is in line with the regional CAPE initiative that is aimed
at building a comprehensive protected area system in the Cape Floristic
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 31
Region, and conserving poorly protected vegetation types such as the
endangered Hopefield Sandveld Fynbos. In this regard the proposed
terrestrial expansion includes a consolidation component of 501 ha state
land adjoining Posberg, 1,110 ha around Langebaan, and a marine
inclusion of the 13 ha Vondeling Island. Other expansions include a
southern 1,951 ha component, an eastern 32,468 ha and an extension to
the 16 mile beach marine protected area. This would take the park to its
desired state of about 70 000 ha. Acquisition of non state land would cost
a minimum of R70 million.
During the 2006-10 management cycle its expected to acquire about 3502
ha for about R7.0 million.
3.1.2
Resource Use
SANParks is committed to a policy which includes investigating avenues
for communities to benefit through participation in national park
development, while still maintaining effective conservation of resources. At
present, two forms of extractive resource utilization are permitted in
WCNP. These are regulated harvesting of marine biota for bait and food
purposes, and felling alien tree species for firewood. In the former
instance, 11 ‘traditional’ fishers have permits to gill net mullets in
Langebaan Lagoon MPA, while the general public is permitted to collect
bait and line fish in accordance with legislation of the Marine Living
Resources Act of 1998 (MLRA).
Contractors are used to harvest firewood from alien tree species in
allocated sections of the park. Extractive resource use is the biggest
threat to the marine environment in the South-western Cape Bioregion
(Lombard et al. 2004), and staff from WCNP and MCM undertake regular
patrols to encourage compliance with the legislation through summons
and prosecutions. In future the above and other potential natural resource
use activities will be aligned with the SANParks corporate policy on
extractive use, which is still to be developed.
3.1.3
Rehabilitation
Old agricultural land:
Significant tracts (c. 730 ha) of old agricultural land occur in the park,
largely within the strandveld vegetation and concentrated at Postberg,
Mooimaak, Massenberg / Nuwepos and Abrahamskraal. Reestablishment
of indigenous vegetation on these old lands should be attempted but may
be hampered by: (i) high cost of intensive rehabilitation efforts, (ii) lack of
knowledge of effective rehabilitation methods, (iii) potentially irreversible
changes having occurred, i.e. soil enrichment and loss of seedbanks and
underground rootstocks, and (iv) continuous disturbance by herbivores.
The strip-cultivated lands (e.g. at Abrahamskraal) have better potential for
natural recovery due to the proximity of indigenous seed source. In the
absence of sufficient funds and/or clear guidelines for the active
reestablishment of strandveld, management actions should focus on
creating conditions conducive to natural recovery and succession of the
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 32
vegetation. Of importance in this process is the reduction of physical
disturbance by limiting herbivory and trampling through the removal of
high numbers of herbivores, and particularly extra-limital concentrate
grazers, as well as preventing fires. Fixed-point photography and
monitoring of vegetation recovery using herbivore exclosures on the old
lands at Postberg should continue. Additional photographic records should
be kept of areas undergoing natural recovery and/or facilitated
rehabilitation to evaluate progress.
Alien invasive plants:
The terrestrial component of the park is extensive (c. 29,000ha), and
containing large areas (>19,000 ha) of strandveld and smaller ones of
sand plain fynbos. The fynbos, strandveld and ecotones along coastal
and mobile dunes are the most susceptible to invasion by alien invasive
plants (AIPs). Eradication of AIPs in the dune fields will ensure
reinstatement of sand movement. The overall level of AIP infestation in
the park is generally low to moderate. An exception is the south region of
the park, where historically wood harvesting was permitted. Through
inappropriate clearing methods and high levels of disturbance the AIP
problem has worsened. A total of seven AIP species (excluding emergent
and garden weeds) have been recorded in the park. They are Acacia
cyclops (rooikranz), A. saligna (Port Jackson willow), Pinus pinaster
(pines), Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum), Myoporum serratum (manatoka),
Datura ferox (thorn apple) and Nicotiniana glauca (wild tobacco). Acacia
cyclops is most abundant and widespread. Management should correctly
manage the clearing of woodlots to: (i) ensure effective AIP control, (ii)
ensure that follow-up operations are undertaken in previously cleared
areas, as well as (iii) being proactive in areas bordering the park that act
as reservoir for AIP that threaten to invade the park. Regular assessments
of the rate of re-infestation of cleared or burnt areas should be done.
Alien marine invertebrates:
The distribution and abundance of alien invertebrate species in the
Saldanha Bay - Langebaan Lagoon system have recently been evaluated
(Robinson et al. 2004). The alien Mediterranean mussel Mytilus
galloprovincialis occurs as scattered individuals on the rocky shores of the
lagoon, while the European periwinkle Littorina saxatilis and alien
anemone Sagartia ornata had limited distributions, but sizeable
populations (>2 million individuals) within the lagoon. A single carapace of
the European shore crab Carcinus maenas has also been recorded. This
crab species could pose a major threat to the indigenous invertebrates
should it become established in the lagoon (Robinson et al. 2004; 2005).
A further threat is the extensive colonization of the intertidal sandflats by
the Mediterranean mussel, as occurred in the late 1990s, since it
markedly affects the faunal composition of the sandflats (Branch &
Steffani 2004). The dangers posed by the European periwinkle and the
alien anemone are presently unquantified, but appear slight. Park
Management should strive to be proactive and actions should include: (i)
equipping field rangers with a list and full description of invasive species
that could potentially invade the park, (ii) routine inspections of key areas,
(iii) removal of all established mussel beds from on the intertidal sandflats,
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 33
and (iv) setting traps for the European shore crab should this species be
detected in the lagoon. The knowledge on the distribution and abundance
of existing alien species in the park, as well as other potential invader
species in the region should be regularly updated. .
Alien/extra-limital vertebrates:
Large numbers of extra-limital herbivores occur within the Postberg
contractual area, some of which have spread to the remainder of the
WCNP. The 2005 aerial census recorded 25 Blue wildebeest, 32
Gemsbok, 48 Kudu, 79 Bontebok and 100 Springbok within WCNP. The
Conservation Services Division made various requests in the past for the
removal of these species but to no avail. Exotic or extra-limital species
compromise natural biodiversity and ecosystem functioning as a result of
competitive exclusion and associated effects). In the context of WCNP
these species were furthermore found to inhibit natural recovery of the old
lands at Postberg (Heydenrych 1995). Further spread of extra-limitals
from Postberg to remaining areas of the park would be unacceptable, and
removal of these species from the entire park (including Postberg) is a
matter of high priority (see also Faunal Management and Reintroduction).
3.1.4
Faunal Management and Reintroduction
The purpose of the herbivore management and reintroduction plan is to
strive towards a herbivore complement indigenous to the strandveld and
sandplain fynbos vegetation, while ensuring that these herbivores do not
adversely or irreversibly alter the biodiversity of these vegetation types.
The main focus of the plan is cross-linked to the rehabilitation plan, to
remove extralimital herbivore species from the Postberg section of WCNP.
Herbivore management in WCNP will no longer be based on stocking
rates, but rather on the results of monitoring of herbivore impacts on
vegetation. Human and capital budgeting will be required to establish
monitoring to ensure that existing and introduced herbivores do not
unacceptably alter the Desired State of the WCNP. Some of the
monitoring is crosslinked with fire or SSC monitoring already in place.
3.1.5
Species of Special Concern
The WCNP supports populations of several species of special concern
(SSC). These include 35 Red Data plant species; South Africa's most
endangered marine mollusc Siphonaria compressa (Herbert 1999); the
Cape sand snake Psammophis leightoni leightoni and the melanistic Cape
girdled lizard Cordylus niger, both Near Threatened; breeding populations
of six Red Data ‘seabird’ species African penguin Spheniscus demersus,
bank cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus, Cape cormorant Phalacrocorax
capensis, Cape gannet Sula capensis, Leach’s storm petrel Oceanodroma
leucorhoa and African black oystercatcher Haematopus moquini; nine
species of waterbirds where the size of local populations in the park
regularly exceeds one percent of the world population; and the highest
population density of the Vulnerable black harrier Circus maurus in South
Africa.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 34
Plant SSC occur predominantly on limestone and granite outcrops, in
sand plain fynbos and fynbos / strandveld transitional habitats. Unique
plant communities may also occur in seasonal marshes and seeps.
Threats to plant SSC include invasion by aliens, physical disturbance and
overuse by herbivores (particularly on limestone outcrops), inappropriate
fire regimes (particularly in fynbos areas), and groundwater abstraction
from aquifers (affecting wetlands).
The mollusc S. compressa is threatened by habitat destruction through
deterioration of the eelgrass beds and bait collecting activities. Threats to
the Cape sand snake are habitat transformation, pesticides and road kills.
Breeding seabird colonies are vulnerable to human disturbance, predation
and/or displacement by seals, and avian diseases. In the lagoon the birds
would be affected by boating activities and destruction of their food base.
Management actions to conserve SSC should include both internal
activities such as alien plant clearing, institution of an appropriate fire
regime in fynbos areas, park zonation with respect to recreational
activities (particularly boating), as well as external activities such as
negotiations with the Postberg Syndicate and the SANDF.
Two mammal species are potentially SSC in WCNP, as they are nationally
redlisted species. These are the bontebok Damaliscus dorcas and Grant’s
golden mole Eremitalpa granti. The bontebok, however, is extralimital to
WCNP and should be relocated to other SANParks as soon as the genetic
integrity of the WCNP population has been verified. Threats to the
continued existence of Grant’s golden mole appear to be use of the
sanddunes upon which they depend for habitat. However, further
investigation of the autecology of this species is required to verify this and
to identify additional sources of threat.
3.1.6
Fire Management
The management of fire is important for the conservation of both
vegetation types at WCNP i.e. West Coast Strandveld or Langebaan
Fynbos/Thicket Mosaic (called ‘strandveld’) and Hopefield Sand Plain
Fynbos (called ‘sand plain fynbos). Strandveld should be protected from
fire and physical disturbance should be kept to a minimum. Sand plain
fynbos on the other hand is fire-dependent, i.e. fire is required to stimulate
plant recruitment and retain maximum species richness. The frequency,
intensity, season and size of fires are critical determinants of fynbos
composition and structure. Fires at 15-40 year intervals are deemed
suitable for sand plain fynbos. Burning should be done in late
summer/early autumn in weather conditions when fires could be expected
to be sufficiently hot to stimulate plant recruitment.
Fires in the ecotone/transition between sand plain fynbos and strandveld
are essential to maintain the ecotones, and fire should not be artificially
suppressed indefinitely. The marshes around the Langebaan lagoon
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 35
should not be burnt but the reed beds may be left to burn during wild fires,
although active burning is not necessary. In general, fire management
should not be too rigid as variation in all components of the fire regime is
desirable to attain patchiness in the vegetation and maximise diversity.
Herbivory has to be managed so that overuse of recently burnt vegetation
and disproportionate physical disturbance of sensitive habitat types (e.g.
wetlands, limestone outcrops) do not occur. Alien plant control operations
have to be aligned with fire management.
Records should be kept of fires occurring in and around WCNP, preferably
in GIS format. Fire management procedures should at all times comply
with the regulations of the National Veld and Forest Fire Act (101 of 1998).
3.1.7
Freshwater Wetlands
Isolated seeps and marshy areas occur in Strandvled areas surrounding
Langebaan Lagoon. It is probable that these wetlands are maintained by
groundwater. Small shallow temporary pans occur along the coastal shelf,
frequently with Arthrocnemum littoreum around the pan edges. It is
assumed that these pans are maintained by precipitation. Apart from
knowing that these wetlands occur in WCNP there is very little information
on their distribution, extent or functioning. Wetlands in West Coast
Strandveld are, however, known to be very sensitive to lowered water
tables, and hence are vulnerable to overuse of aquifers. Actions required
to conserve known wetlands, and generate information for the
development of a comprehensive wetland management strategy include:
 Mapping of the distribution of freshwater wetlands with subsequent
ground-truthing subject to the availability of sufficiently small-scale,
color, aerial photographic images.
 Assessment of the extent of invasion of known wetlands by
opportunistic weeds and other invasive plant species, and the
prioritization of appropriate control or eradiation actions.
 Encourage the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry to monitor
the maintenance of natural water tables, especially adequate winter
recovery, in vulnerable areas.
 Disallow infrastructure development (roads, buildings etc.) in wetlands.
3.1.8
Cultural Heritage Resources
The park and the West Coast area incorporate various cultural heritage
sites, with a number of archaeological and palaeontological sites and
material described in previous reports. The Park is well known for the
discovery of human footprints, known as ‘Eves Footprints’, next to the
Langebaan lagoon. In 1998 an archaeological scoping study was done on
a number of known sites. This identified the need to locate and assess the
significance of archaeological sites in the park. The known sites detailed
in the scoping report and the new sites located in the survey were all shell
middens. The presence of pottery dates the sites to within the last 2000
year and links the sites to KhoeKhoe herders. The shell middens in the
Park have been the subject of a number of research projects. The 1998
scoping survey has identified Vlaeberg and Kreeftebaai as sites with
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 36
research potential. During the same year, archaeological investigations
were conducted in the Geelbek Dunes. The results of these investigations
indicated the presence of Late and Middle Age artefacts spatially
associated with faunal remains. Excavations were also conducted to
locate buried finds and study site formation processes. More than 2,200
faunal remains and 800 lithic artefacts were documented.
The conservation of these sites and their related oral history are part the
conservation mission of the park. An Oral History Collection Project and a
Cultural Mapping Project, both of which are implemented with the purpose
of identifying and cataloguing all Cultural Heritage assets associated with
the WCNP, are currently being developed in conjunction with local
community members, organisations representing community interests, as
well as relevant academic institutions and researchers. It is envisaged that
a local Cultural Heritage Forum will be established to form working groups
to co-ordinate activities. Local youth will be trained as field researchers
and will work in conjunction with the community working groups. The
project will be managed in line with legislation relating to property rights
and intellectual property rights, and objectives covering research,
recording of oral history, interpreting and mapping cultural heritage and
management plans will be set.
3.2
Sustainable tourism
3.2.1
Conservation Development Framework (CDF)
West Coast National Park Zoning Plan
The primary objective of a park zoning plan is to establish a coherent
spatial framework in and around a park to guide and co-ordinate
conservation, tourism and visitor experience initiatives. A zoning plan
plays an important role in minimizing conflicts between different users of a
park by separating potentially conflicting activities such as game viewing
and day-visitor picnic areas whilst ensuring that activities which do not
conflict with the park’s values and objectives (especially the conservation
of the protected area’s natural systems, its biodiversity and heritage
resources) can continue in appropriate areas. The zoning of West Coast
National Park was undertaken in conjunction with the Peace Parks
Foundation, and went through a public participation process. The zoning
was based on an assessment of the park’s biophysical resources, and an
assessment of the park’s current and planned infrastructure. The zones
used in this initial process have been converted into the standard
SANParks use zones (with some minor modifications to ensure
compatibility) in order to ensure compatible outputs.
Overview of the use zones of West Coast National Park:
The use zoning plan for West Coast National Park is shown in Figure 3.
Full details of the use zones, the zoning process, the Park Interface Zones
(detailing park interaction with adjacent areas) and the underlying
landscape analyses are included in the West Coast National Park Zoning
Document.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 37
FIGURE 3: Zoning of West Coast National Park

Primitive Zone:
The prime characteristic of the zone is the
experience of wilderness qualities with access controlled in terms of
numbers, frequency and size of groups. The zone has wilderness
qualities, but with limited access roads (mostly 4x4) and the potential
for basic small-scale self-catering accommodation facilities or small
concession lodges. Views of human activities and development
outside of the park may be visible from this zone. In WCNP, Primitive
areas were designated to protect most of the sensitive areas from high
levels of tourist activity. The areas designated Primitive include the
park east of the R27, the islands, lowland areas adjacent to the
Langebaan Lagoon, the coastal strip inland of 16 Mile Beach, and
most of the southern sections.

Low Intensity Leisure Zone: The underlying characteristic of this
zone is motorized self-drive access with the possibility of small basic
camps without facilities such as shops and restaurants. Facilities
along roads are limited to basic self catering picnic sites with toilet
facilities. In WCNP, Low intensity leisure areas were designated in the
current game, flower and landscape viewing areas, and along current
access routes from the south.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 38

High Intensity Leisure Zone: The main characteristic is that of a high
density tourist development node with amenities such as shops,
restaurants and interpretive centres. This is the zone where more
concentrated human activities are allowed, and is accessible by
motorized transport on high volume transport routes. In WCNP, High
intensity leisure areas were designated in the existing high usage
areas of Geelbek, Kraalbaai, Preekstoel and Langebaan. The R27
through-road also falls within this zone.
Overview of the Special Management Overlays of WCNP:
Special management overlays which designate specific areas of the park
that require special management interventions were identified. Two areas
were designated:

Special Conservation Areas - Dune Protection: The sensitive
mobile dunefield system requires special protection, and will be
managed to minimize impacts on sediment transport processes.

Special Conservation Areas - Salt Marsh: This sensitive habitat
types was identified for special protection in order to reduce any
potential loss and minimize any ongoing impacts in these areas.
In addition to the above Special Management Overlays, three marine
zones were designated:

Marine A: This area is managed as a Marine Controlled Zone with
enforcement of the Marine Living Resources Act. Fishing and
motorized vessels are allowed.

Marine B: Access to this zone is controlled, and fishing and the use
of any motorized vessel can only take place on the authority of and in
accordance with a permit obtained from the management authority.

Marine C: This is an exclusion zone, with entry, the use of vessels
and the catching or disturbance of fish being strictly prohibited.
Current status and future improvements:
The current park use zonation is based on an underlying biophysical
analysis combined with an assessment of the park’s current and planned
infrastructure. However, the zoning plan is not a full Conservation
Development Framework (CDF) as certain elements underlying the CDF
such as an environmental sensitivity-value analysis and a tourism market
analysis have not been incorporated into the park use zonation. A full CDF
will be developed for West Coast National Park within the current update
cycle. Additional special management overlays which designate specific
areas of a park that require special management interventions (e.g. areas
requiring rehabilitation) will also be identified.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 39
3.2.3
Tourism Background
The tourism potential of this park is underdeveloped. Accommodation
facilities and more structured tourist activities may encourage tourists to
stay longer, which will have an impact on income. Currently it is used for
day visits although the day visitors’ areas need to be upgraded. The roads
are in a good condition, which increases the accessibility of the park. The
lagoon is a unique feature of the park and can be used for boat safaris
and other water recreation activities. A tourism plan was prepared. Fishing
and water sports are very popular in the area. The port of Saldanha, the
West Coast Fossil Park and Club Mykonos – a time share casino and
marina - are some of the attractions around the park.
3.2.4
Tourism Products
Accommodation
WCNP has no traditional rest camps, but has the following
accommodation facilities exists:
 Duinepos. Concessionaire managed 8 x 4-bed units currently being
upgraded with private funding. Conference facilities and a pool are
planned.
 Geelbek. Converted stables with 35 beds, kitchen and ablutions for
school groups.
 Abrahamskraal. A 9-bed self-catering unit which was upgraded
recently. An old building is also used as group accommodation on
occasion.
 Jo-Anne’s Beach Farmhouse. An 8-bed self-catering unit with a
cottage next to it (cottage is being upgraded). The house has no
electricity, and bedding is not provided.
 Bossieskraal. A recently upgraded luxury unit with 8 beds. This unit is
currently not accessible to the general public due to contractual
agreements. It was upgraded recently.
 Kraalbaai. Two privately run houseboats on permanent moorings
providing 24 and 6 beds respectively. The larger houseboat is
privately owned, while the smaller belongs to the park.
Day Visitors, Restaurant, and other Facilities
 Reception and information office. Currently in Langebaan, but will
be relocated to the Langebaan entrance gate currently being
constructed.
 Entrance gates at Langebaan and on the West Coast Road are
currently being upgraded with EPWP funding. A park home serves as
a seasonal n internal entrance gate at Postberg.
 Kleinmooimaak has ablution facilities next to the lagoon.
 Geelbek. A very popular restaurant operated by a concessionaire.
 Kraalbaai. A very popular day visitor’s facility with jetty, small
information office and internal entrance gate structure. Phase one of a
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 40





rest camp development has been approved (5 units). A further 5 units
on stilts in the lagoon are envisaged.
Tsaarsbank is a picnic spot with ablution and braai facilities. The
facilities are in a bad condition.
Plankiesbaai is a seasonal picnic facility with braai places and
ablutions.
Preekstoel is a seasonal picnic facility with braai places and
ablutions. The facilities will be upgraded.
Bird Hides are provided at Seeberg and Geelbek.
Nature trails – a seasonal two-day Postberg hiking trail of 24 km with
an overnight stop at Plankiesbaai (camping only) and a Strandveld
trail of 14 km are provided.
Tourism roads network
A road network of 80 km, ± 50 km of which is tarred and ± 30 km gravel.
These roads are in a good condition, but upgrading is planned in future.
The provisional allocation of Infrastructure Development funds, plus the
next round of EPWP funding, will hopefully provide the funds for
resurfacing roads.
3.2.5
Tourist Activities
Coastal recreation:
 Angling
 Diving
 Island cruises
 Fishing
 Sailing
 Snorkelling
 Boating
 Skiing
 Canoeing
 Windsurfing
These activities take place on the Lagoon, but it are not organised by the
Park; hence it generates no income for SANParks.
Nature trails:
 Postberg Nature Trail is a two-day hiking trail of 24 km with an
overnight stop at Plankiesbaai (Camping Site – not developed).
 Strandveld Trail is a one- or two-day hiking trail of 14 km.
Birdlife:
The park is renowned for its birdlife. Over a quarter of southern Africa’s
bird species are represented in the park.
3.2.6
Tourism Roads
In total the park as a road network of 80 km, ± 50 km of which is tarred
and ± 30 km gravel. These roads are in a good condition, but upgrading is
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 41
planned in future. The park has two main entrances, one at Langebaan
and one on the West Coast road.
3.2.7
Access
Accessibility to this park is excellent. The R27, the main route along the
West Coast, runs through the park. Signage in the park will be improved
to create a tourist friendly environment.
3.2.8
Financial Analysis
The Park showed a significant decrease in income since 2004 to 2005
compared to 2003 (Table 1).
Table 1: Overall operational revenue of the park
Total revenue
2003
R 2,081,705.73
Tourism specific
revenue
R 765,614.75
2004
R 1,955,150.69
R 340,861.39
17%
R 4,222,076.48
2005
R 2,202,972.59
R 316,282.09
15.6%
R 4,049,993.76
3.2.9
% of
total
36.7%
Total
expenditure
R 3,824,472.81
Marketing
The park receives around 30 000 visitors annually, but most of them are
day visitors, partially due to the lack of accommodation - people en route
to other destinations up the West Coast or those owning a holiday home
in Langebaan. Various age groups visit the park but little data exists; once
accommodation is established, marketing research should be conducted
on a regular basis. The Western Cape is the main domestic market, but
quite a number of international visitors and visitors from other provinces
come for bird watching. A local marketing policy will be developed.
3.3.
Building cooperation
3.3.1
Co-operative Governance
The park is committed to implement the policies and achieve the
strategies of SANParks as an organ of state and to ensure the
effectiveness of park management. To be able to do so WCNP will focus
on the SANParks strategic objectives including the following:
 To establish cooperative management the park will establish an ethos
of cooperative governance with national, provincial and local
departments and agencies within government.
 To put in place a risk management plan, an internal audit function and
other mechanisms to ensure financial systems comply with the Public
Finance Management Act and with other applicable regulatory
frameworks and the King 2 requirements.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 42

To ensure effective supply chain management that promotes effective
procurement and black economic empowerment in compliance with
legislation.
Key governmental organisations that will provide support within the ambit
of their administrative functions include parastatals (SANParks and
WCNCB), local authorities (West Coast District Municipality, Saldanha
Bay Municipality and Swartland Municipality), particularly with regard to
Integrated Development Planning and tourism related functions, and
national and provincial government structures.
Non-governmental organizations include the West Coast Biosphere
Reserve, conservancies as well as organized civil society structures such
as civic and residents’ associations. Farmers’ and landowners’
organizations are the most significant groupings in the context of
achieving co-operative governance and hence as a collective they are a
significant partner. Multi-stakeholder forums include the Integrated
Development Planning forums as well as the Fire Protection Agency
(FPA) for the area.
At a strategic level it is essential to influence the Integrated Development
Planning objectives of the local authorities, the focus of farm planning
activities of the Department of Agriculture, planning for catchments by
DWAF, as well as the focus of local tourism bodies.
3.3.2
Environmental Interpretation
The park wishes to build constituencies amongst people in support of
SANParks’ conservation endeavours by playing a significant, targeted and
effective role in promoting a variety of educational opportunities and
initiatives. The park will continue to focus attention on youth outreach and
environmental education to build a conservation constituency for the
future. The main goal of the WCNP is to enhance biodiversity
conservation through the promotion of a conservation ethic and
developing park-community relations. The greatest part of the work
conducted by this department is directly or indirectly related to
environmental interpretation and education and focuses on the various
park user groups and local communities. This involves developing an
understanding of the environment, and developing values and skills that
will help learners to contribute to the protection and improvement of the
environment. The program includes talks, shows and educational
excursions.
Environmental interpretation is provided by a variety of trails at Geelbek
and Postberg, and excursions highlighting marine, botanical, dune
ecology, cultural, bird and saltmarshes and canoeing and camping
experiences. A Kids in Parks programme is run to provide “kids” the
opportunity to visit and experience park supported by four partners
(DEAT, Pick ‘n Pay, the Department of Education (DoE) and Liebertrans).
In addition to increasing access to national parks for kids, the programme
also seeks to give them the opportunity to experience and interact with the
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 43
wonder of our natural and cultural heritage and to explore the importance
of conservation. Other programmes include Morula Kids and calendar day
celebrations, while the park also provides a traditional Open Day annually
when communities are encouraged to visit the park for free. In addition,
visitor programs, teacher support and development, environmental
education networks and youth development programs such as the Junior
Honorary Rangers Program are provided.
3.3.3
Local socio economic development
The aim is to play a significant, targeted and effective role in contributing
to local economic development, economic empowerment and social
development in communities and neighbouring areas adjacent to National
Parks by partnering with Local Government to form part of the Integrated
Development Plans (IDPs), participating in Government Programmes to
contribute to local skills development by supporting learnerships,
implementing training programmes and creating business opportunities.
The park involves people from the surrounding towns as follows:





3.3.4
People and Conservation Department provides support for small
local business – e.g. catering for educational groups.
Conservation Department
provides concession opportunities,
currently for the Houseboat, Geelbek Restaurant and Duinepos.
The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) will remain a
significant focus area of the organisation to effectively contribute to the
creation of temporary jobs in the short term, sustainability by
investigating exit opportunities and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Working for Water Programme - employs 66 people i.e 6 teams of
10 each plus supervisor from local communities are employed through
the Work for Water Programme. Courses were offered to workers
relevant to their work (first aid, HIV/AIDS, chain saw operation,
herbicide application, personal finance).
Coast Care Programme – employs 44 people employed through the
CoastCARE programme. Workers are from communities in Langebaan
and Vredenburg. Courses are presented in first aid, health and safety,
herbicide application, primary health and personal finance,
Constituency Building
The park has the objective to establish and maintain meaningful and
beneficial relationships with a wide range of stakeholders supporting
SANParks’ core business. The aim is to enhance biodiversity conservation
through conservation ethics and developing healthy community
custodianship. Co-operative, collaborative and mutually beneficial
relationships are essential to reach park goals and ultimately to ensure
sustainability. Both formal and informal partnerships are initiated,
maintained and nurtured with Government, conservation entities, business
partners, communities, various NGO’s, CBO’s, the media, customers and
employees. These arrangements are underpinned by Guiding Principles
for SANParks Stakeholder Participation.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 44
Co-operative governance systems are being developed and strengthened
for the Park. These aim to promote inclusively and to ensure compliance
with legislation through improved relationships and collaboration with
government and various governing bodies, including:
Governing Bodies:
 Conservation – Marine and Coastal Management, Cape Nature
 Tourism – SATOUR
 Communities – Ward Committees, Local Council Sub Committees
All spheres of government:
 National government – relations managed through DEAT,
engagement with DWAF, Public Works
 Provincial Government - Departments of Planning, Environment and
Tourism, Agriculture, Education
 Local Government planning e.g. IDP’s and LED’s SDF’s (Spatial
Development Framework)
Conservation entities:
 National and International conservation agencies - Cape Nature,
National Biodiversity Institute, Biosphere Reserve
 Research houses, institutions and universities – University of Cape
Town, University of Western Cape,
Rhodes University, Cape
Technikon, University of Plymouth
 Relevant conservation related Non-governmental Organisations –
WESSA, West Coast Fossil Park
 Bioregional initiatives – Biosphere Reserve
Business partners:
 Concessionaires operating businesses in National Parks – Houseboat,
Geelbek Restaurant and Duinepos
 Contracted commercial operators – Gravity
 Tourism bodies- Local tourism bodies
Communities:
 Property Associations – Langebaan Ratepayers Association
 Local Association and Forums – Langebaan and Saldanha Tourism
Association, Poverty Relief Steering Committee, Saldanha Forum,
Cape Bird Club, West Coast Bird Club, EcoEd, Yacht Club, Water
Sports Association
 Non Government and Community Based Organisations – DOIT
project, Multipurpose Community Centre, Net Fishers committee
Employees:
SANParks regards its employees as a most valuable asset and foundation
for organisational competency. West Coast National Park invests in staff
development, strives towards employment equity and endeavour to
uphold employee rights. To this end transparent liaison is promoted with:
The media:
SANParks fosters good medial relations. Not only is the media regarded
as an ally to market our tourism products, but also as key communication
tool to keep stakeholders informed and to promote a positive image of
SANParks.
Customers:
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 45
Visitors to West Coast National Park are regarded as the number one
financial resource that enables us to fulfil the organisations’ conservation
mandate.
3.4.
Effective park management
3.4.1
Environmental management (includes waste, energy, water, NEMA
compliance):
The basic principles and key result areas of the Corporate Policy are
incorporated into an Environmental Management System (EMS). A
Management Policy, Strategic Management Plan and procedures have
been developed into an EMS for the WCNP based on the ISO 14001
standard.
The EMS sets out strategies, actions, deliverables, indicators and
timeframes. Each Key Result Area is directed by a number of strategies,
while each strategy is implemented through a set of actions and in a
number of deliverables. The implementation of the strategies by the
implementing department(s) is monitored using indicators within a set time
frame. The Park Manager is ultimately responsible for all activities in the
WCNP, and plays a supervisory role for all implementing departments.
The Key Result Areas are introduced by brief statements of SANParks’
corporate approach, the current situation for the Park and the strategic
intent in addressing these. Indicators were established and tracked for all
key result areas. For monitoring the progress and performance of
management the defined strategic objectives, the measurable progress on
actions and the delivery of defined products are all used as indicators in
this SMP.
A brief description of how impacts are currently managed:
 Waste management: The park recognises that health is an important
issue at any working place and in doing this, it collects all refuse,
which is kept together in their refuse bags and taken to the dumpsite
on a regular basis.
 Pollution control: The greatest threat to the park is from marine
pollution and particularly oil pollution. The park is a participant in the
local Oil Spill Contingency Plan for which the Departments of
Transport and Environmental Affairs and Tourism, through the South
African Maritime Safety Association, have overall responsibility.
Seabirds likely to be affected by oil pollution are treated according to
the SANCCOB bird rescue plan.
 Managing impacts from tourist, contractors: Whenever necessary, the
Park uses the relevant staff to monitor, control and guide tourists
and/or contractors to behave in an appropriate/responsible manner
within the Park. The monitoring of tourists and contractors includes but
is not limited to littering and diverging from dedicated paths and roads.
 Building sites: Building sites such as storerooms are kept clean, any
leaks which cannot be fixed are dealt with by using sand or sawdust to
absorb it, which is later collected and disposed of at the municipal
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 46
landfill. The park tries to keep all building sites/areas as clean as
possible to avoid high cleaning costs. Construction sites falling under
the EPWP programme are regulated according to individually tailored
Environmental Management Plans.
An EMS provides a mechanism for environmental management
throughout all areas and departments at park level and focuses on
environmental aspects at an operational level which can be directly
controlled and managed. The outcome of this standard must be integrated
with the national park management framework. The following objectives
are achieved by implementing this plan:
 continual improvement of environmental management;
 compliance to environmental law; and
 showcasing environmental responsibility.
The EMS focuses on the following requirements:
 Environmental aspects: Identification of environmental aspects which
the facility controls and over which it may be expected to have an
influence, and determination of aspects considered significant.
 Legal and other requirements: Identification and communication of
legal and other requirements applicable to the park.
 Environmental Objectives and Targets: Development of objectives and
targets for each significant environmental aspect considering
significant environmental aspects, technological options and financial,
operational and business plans, and the views of interested parties.
 Environmental
Management
Programs:
Establishment
of
environmental management programs (EMPs) as a means for
achieving objectives and targets. These programs define the principal
actions to be taken, those responsible for undertaking those actions
and the scheduled times for their implementation.
 Training, Awareness and Competence: Identification, planning,
monitoring and recording training needs for personnel whose work
may create a significant impact upon the environment.
 Operational Control: Identifying operations and activities associated
with significant environmental aspects that require operational controls
in procedures, practices or environmental management programs.
 Emergency Preparedness and Response: Identification of potential for
and responding to accidents and emergency situations and for
preventing and mitigating the environmental impacts that may be
associated with them.
3.4.2
Safety and Security
Safety Security for the park is included in three different plans:
1. Visitor Safety and Security Plan.
The strategic intent of this safety and security plan is to:
 ensure that effective visitor safety measures are in place,
 ensure the safety and security of SANParks employees and
concessionaires,
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 47

ensure that tourist perceptions are managed in order to protect the
brand and reputation of SANParks and SA Tourism at large.
This document addresses both the strategic and operational aspects of
Visitor Safety and Security within the framework of the SANParks Security
Plan. Its context is personal safety and not all aspects of the Occupational
Health and Safety requirements.
The Plan is informed by analysis of the following aspects:
 The identification of high risk/use areas.
 Associated crime statistics for each identified area.
 The associated risks and criminal behaviour for each area.
The strategic intent of the safety and security plan is to firstly ensure that
effective visitor safety measures are in place, and secondly to ensure that
tourist perceptions are good to protect the brand and reputation of
SANParks and SA Tourism Industry.
Most potential treats are linked to other illegal activities in and around the
park, this includes illegal entry/ trespassing, - fishing, flower picking and
resource use. Daily park activities that are implemented to mitigate these
activities form an important part of this plan. Management measures
include the regular analysis of gathered intelligence, the aim to increase
the number of Conservation staff to the required level, appropriate and
sufficient on-going training of Conservation staff in terms of Law
Enforcement and First Aid, acceptance of responsibility by all staff for
Visitor and Staff Safety and Security, general awareness of potential of
possible criminal activities and the relevant response action to be used in
the case of criminal activity taking place and hiking trails to be more
regularly patrolled/observations carried out, including at night.
2. Protection Plan;
The purpose of the park protection plan is to provide park management
with a dynamic reference document to describe strategies decided upon
to be applied in response to problems identified.
The plan addresses the following aspects:
a. Criminal Information and Intelligence
b. Threat Analysis
c. Operational Security
d. Species Security
e. Physical Security
f. Authority and Jurisdiction
g. Planning for Crisis Management
h. Performance Crisis Management
3. Emergency Plan.
This plan addresses various identified scenarios and actions prescribed
on how to deal with various emergencies.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 48
(For detail see 1/ Visitor Safety and Security Plan; 2/.Protection Plan; 3/.
Emergency Plan.)
Key elements of these plans are:
 Visitor and Staff Safety and Security
 Environmental Crime
 Cash in Storage and Transit
 Access Control and Infrastructure (Including Document) Security
 EMI (Environmental Management Inspector) roll out
 Information / Intelligence
 The Collection of Information
 The Collation of Information
 The Dissemination of Intelligence
 Counter Intelligence Measures
 Determining of Essential Elements of Information (EEI)
3.4.3
Infrastructure Plan
Description of infrastructure
Tourism Infrastructure:
Accommodation, day vsitor facilities, a restaurant, other facilities and the
tourism roads network are described in section 3.2.2.
Management and Support Infrastructure:
Park Administration Offices
A building with some 6 rooms/offices, part of a now demolished hotel in
Langebaan, is currently used as offices. The redevelopment of this site is
envisaged.
Staff Accommodation
In the last two years all resident staff have moved out of the Park. The
park, however, does have some staff houses in the park as well as in
Langebaan. A brief summary:
 Postberg has two buildings, both in poor condition and without any
services, are situated in this contractual area of the park.
 Geelbek has a large house currently rented to a concessionaire and
three smaller cottages used by contractual staff and students.
 Mooimaak has an old farmhouse and six labourers’ houses. The
houses are in a poor condition.
 Langebaan. The park has ten staff houses in Langebaan. One of
these is relatively large unit, while the other 9 units are small.
Other structures
A brief description follows:
 Jutten Island. A jetty, 2 units of living quarters, 3 stores and water
tanks are situated on the island and are in a poor condition.
 Malgas Island also has a jetty, 2 units with living quarters,
outbuildings, stores and water tanks in poor condition.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 49

Marcus island has 2 units of living quarters and a storeroom and a
predator wall between the island and causeway.
 Mooimaak has some storerooms currently used by the technical
section as well as a game boma.
 Generally dilapidated houses and other structures are to be found in
Langebaan, Soutpan, Seeberg, Schryvershoek, Mooimeisiesfontein,
Van Niekerkshoop, Massenberg, Uitkyk and Bottelary. The final use of
these buildings must still be determined. Some of these buildings may
have historical value.
Management roads and tracks
The park has some 20 kms of management roads and tracks in
reasonable condition.
Fences
The section of the park west of the West Coast Road was fenced with
game fencing some two years ago, but the fences east of this road remain
as fairly poor farm fencing.
Bulk Services
Full services are available in Langebaan, while Mooimaak and Geelbek
have Escom power. A project to provide water to Kraalbaai is currently
underway.
Detailed plans have been prepared for:





Infrastructure maintenance
Infrastructure development
Income generating and local economic development projects
Basic infrastructure projects.
Labour intensive rehabilitation/green projects
3.4.4 Human Resources and Staff Capacity Building
Staff Capacity Building Program:
The park has an establishment of 32 staff. No current vacancies exist. The
competency level of the staff component is very important if the
performance level of the park has to be maintained, hence a staff capacity
building programme is necessary.
The corporate balanced score card measure for SANParks measures the
percentage of employees who have achieved set goals in terms of defined
individual development plans. Every employee will have his/her individual
plan to include training needs. The park management will therefore see
that all the training and capacity building programs are implemented. The
use of the SETA’s for funding the training is explored both at head office
and at the park level.
A Work Place skills Development Plan is also produced for the park every
year as required by legislation. This is coordinated at head office level,
with input from the park and the Employment Equity Forum. Most of the
staff is involved and encouraged to make inputs into the plan.
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 50
Equity and Diversity
3.4.5
Grade
PDI
DU
DL
CU
CL
BU
BL
A
TOTAL
1
1
2
4
20
2
Females
Disabilities
White
males
Current
vacancies
TOTAL
2
1
1
1
2
Institutional Development and Administration
Institutional arrangements are important for the functioning of the park as
the park does not and cannot function in isolation. This is critical for both
the protection and management of the park.
The following is a list of key institutions which can be seen as
important for the functioning of the park. This should however not be
seen as the only institutions as there are still many institutions
which the park interact with if and when necessary.
Municipalities: The Park falls within two municipalities, namely the
Saldanha Bay Municipality and the Swartland Municipality. Both of these
municipalities resort under the West Coast District Municipality.
Marine and Coastal Management (MCM): MCM is the branch of the
national Department of Environment affairs and Tourism (DEAT), which is
responsible for the management of marine living resources in terms of
marine living resources (MLRA) Act No. 18 of 1998. The lagoon is
proclaimed as a Marine Protected Area in terms of this Act and therefore a
MCM has a statutory obligation regarding marine living resources in the
lagoon. Other Marine Protected Areas adjoin the park and the islands.
Strong ties are there fore needed between MCM and SANPARKS at both
head office and park level.
Provincial Conservation agencies: The Park is situated in the Western
Cape Province. Cooperation is needed with Department of Environment
Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), as well as Cape Nature,
the statutory organisation responsible for conservation and nature
reserves in the province. These organisations are also involved in the
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 51
1
3
2
4
20
2
32
issuing of Record of decisions for development in the province so strong
ties are important especially in developments which happens in the
periphery of the park.
Department of Environment affairs and Tourism(DEAT): SANParks is
management agency for reporting the minister through DEAT. Although
for the MPA the reporting is through MCM, there is also a need to report
on the terrestrial conservation issues. This in general is the responsibility
of DEAT. DEAT is also involved in the funding of infrastructure projects in
the park through the expanded public works programme (poverty relief
projects). Continuous reporting of this project is thus necessary.
Department of water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF): This also includes
the National Veld and Forest Fire Act which is necessary for the
management of the terrestrial part of the park. DWAF is also involved in
the funding of the Working for Water Programme in the park and therefore
continuous reporting of this project is thus necessary.
3.4.6
Financial Sustainability
Although the park is currently not financially sustainable, it certainly has
the potential to become so. The planned development of tourism facilities
in Kraalbaai and the redevelopment of the hotel site in Langebaan should
go a long way to ensure the future financial sustainability of the WCNP.
3.4.7
HIV/AIDS
HIV & AIDS requires special attention because it is spreading at an
alarmingly fast rate in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region generally,
as well as within SANParks in particular, having reached pandemic
proportions. Whilst it is an integral component of the EAP (Employee
Assistance Program), it is accorded priority within the SANParks
programming. In the most severely affected settings, there is mounting
evidence that HIV/AIDS is eroding human security and capacity,
undermining economic development and threatening social cohesion.
Inevitably, this situation has serious impacts on business. Hospitality
businesses are seen as pivotal players in South Africa’s economy,
especially from a job creation perspective. South Africa’s hospitality and
tourism industry, of which the organization is a key role player, allows for
job creation throughout the country, including rural areas, where HIV
prevalence is often high. It impacts on all businesses, both directly and
indirectly, resulting in increased costs and reduced productivity.
Against this backdrop and because SANParks values its human capital, a
comprehensive HIV & AIDS Program which includes Developing an HIV &
AIDS Policy; Education and Awareness; Anonymous and Unlinked
Prevalence
Surveys;
Know-Your-Status
Campaigns;
Lifestyle
Management; Care, Treatment & Support as well as Scientific Impact
Analyses. The purpose of the HIV & AIDS program is to enable SANParks
maintain a healthy and productive workforce within a viable and
sustainable organization has now been introduced nationally as well as on
park level .
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 52
OBJECTIVES
 To implement an effective workplace HIV/AIDS strategy and
programmes for SANParks.
 To facilitate the prevention of new HIV infections amongst all
SANParks employees.
 To manage the impact of AIDS on services and employees, including
employee morale, performance, leave and other benefits.
 To ensure a safe and supportive working environment for all
employees so that disclosure and openness about HIV status is
promoted.
 To develop capacity to support infected employees.
 To integrate the HIV/AIDS Programme into the all-embracing
Employee Assistance Programme.
 To eradicate the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, and promote
acceptance
 To reduce the impact of AIDS on all infected and affected employees.
3.4.8
Legal compliance/risk management
All possible risks are identified on a continual basis. This can include
Safety and security risks for both the visitors and staff. Most of this is
covered by the Security and Safety programme plan (See Security and
Safety programme plan). The best will always be to eliminate the risks if
possible, however, in case where it is not possible to eliminate them,
strategies on how to manage them will be developed. A check list has
been developed for all the possible risks and is monitored daily by park
management. This includes risks in activities and accommodation offered
by the park. The following is some of the risks identified
Emergency situations
For emergencies, an emergency plan is developed and staff is trained on
how to react to the emergencies as per the emergency plan.
Accommodation
All accommodation has to comply to building legislation. To comply with
legislation, an Occupational, Health and Safety committee is established
and functional in the park.
Natural disasters:
Flooding by rain and high sea waves are possible natural disaster that can
occur in the park. In the last three years two flooding by sea waves have
occurred. This may become even more frequent with the rising sea levels
due to global warming.
Information Technology related risks
With most of some information contained in computers these days it is
necessary to develop the way to deal with the risks of the loss and
exposure of such information. This is dealt with through the corporate
policy for the organisation
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 53
Financial risks
This is dealt with in accordance with corporate policies. Continuous
training is done for staff handling the finance for the park as per the
delegation frame work.
Communicable diseases
This can include both animals and people. Cooperation is therefore
necessary with the relevant authorities in the management of such
incidences. With regard to people, it may be easy to deal with
communicable diseases among park employees in line with corporate
policy, but it remains a challenge on how to address this with the many
visitors visiting the park annually.
Activities
The main activities offered by the park are hiking trails. Proper training is
provided for all staff involved in these activities to try and reduce the risks
associated with this. With regard to trails, proper signage is maintained on
the trails. Trails are well marked. Applicable insurance is also obtained as
per corporate policy and efforts are made to get the activities comply with
the insurance policies, e.g. proper licensing, and registration of some of
the activities as required, e.g. boats, and diving.
Fires
Fire can occur either in the veld or in relation to the facilities and buildings
in the park. Veld fires are addressed through the integrated fire program
while the response to fires from buildings is addressed through the
Occupational Health and Safety as per legislation. An emergency plan is
available on how to deal with these situations
Draft 2 - West Coast National Park Management Plan - Page 54
4.
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