Download The Amathole Freshwater Species Project and Biodiversity

The Amathole Freshwater Species Project and Biodiversity Stewardship
By Christine Coppinger, Field Officer for the EWT’s Source to Sea Programme
The Amathole Freshwater Species Conservation Project (AFSCP) is a relatively new project within the
EWT and has been running for a year now. So far we have made good progress with obtaining
baseline and monitoring data on a number of endangered freshwater species. These include the
charismatic Eastern Cape Rocky which is an endangered fish species with a limited distribution range
in the Eastern Cape and the Amathole Toad which is critically endangered with only six individuals
being found over the past 26 years. Freshwater species, notably amphibians, are experiencing
declines worldwide due to pressure on their habitats, which are generally poorly protected and
highly exploited. These vital freshwater habitats therefore require our protection so that they can
continue to provide South Africa with vital ecosystem services.
In order to preserve the integrity of critical freshwater habitatsfor the benefit of these endangered
species and indeed for the sustainable production of vital water resources, these habitats need to be
protected somehow. The EWT uses the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme (BSP) as a tool to do
this. The BSP is an initiative of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs who partner
with key conservation organisations in order to achieve their goals for conserving biodiversity
outside of state-owned protected areas and for the expansion of protected areas. The BSP is
essentially a voluntary programme that private landowners may enter into if they wish to protect
their land. There are four categories of protection available through the BSP, as shown in Figure 1,
with an increasing commitment by the landowner to conservation from Conservation Area to Nature
Reserve. The process of declaring sites under the programme takes a minimum of three years, with
input needed from regional conservation bodies such as the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency
within the Eastern Cape.
The Amathole mountains are one of the few high water yield areas within South Africa and are
therefore, justifiably largely included in the Eastern Cape Protected Area (see Figures 1 and 2). The
freshwater habitats in these mountains are still largely pristine but are not formally protected. There
are numerous hiking trails and beautiful natural attractions in the area which can be enjoyed by all.
These habitats require urgent attention if we are to benefit from these stunning areas for years to
come and hopefully the BSP programme will help to achieve this.
Figure 1: A map of South Africa showing the Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSA) circled in red.
The green rectangle indicates the Amathole SWSA and the area of focus for the Amathole
Freshwater Species Conservation Project.
Figure 2: A map showing the focus areas for the Amathole Freshwater Species Conservation
Project which fall mostly within the Amathole strategic water source area. The Eastern Cape Rocky
is known to occur within the Keiskamma River and the Amathole Toad distribution is shown.
The Source to Sea Programme's Amathole Species Project is proudly sponsored by the European
Union and Rand Merchant Bank.