Month

At a hand-over ceremony of the Eden District Coastal Management Programme at a recent GRI working session (Garden Route Initiative), the coastal B municipalities received the final draft of the Integrated Coastal Management Programme for the Eden Coast. The document will now undergo Government Gazetting and after the final 60 day commenting period will be signed off by Minister Bredell, making this the first Coastal Management Programme for South Africa under the Integrated Coastal Management Act of 2009.

To date, management of the coastal zone has been undertaken in a fragmented approach by-and-large as a result of the structure of the previous dispensation. Under the previous dispensation no less than six local government administrations were responsible for the management of the coast, and within each administration a multitude of departments and line functions. Little coordination and integration of efforts and approaches between these departments, line functions and administrations took place which has resulted in a fragmented and localised approach to coastal management. These approaches in turn lead to a situation where no clear authority or responsibility for coastal management existed.  The integration of line functions and the recognition that the coastal zone is a distinct management area with specific management needs is central to the effective protection, enhancement and optimisation of the coastal zone. The Eden District Municipal Coastal Management Programme aims to address this.

The Eden District Coastal Management programme offers a unique opportunity to introduce a paradigm shift including:

1.      A coordinated and integrated approach to coastal zone management from a citywide perspective

2.      Recognition of the coastal zone as a distinct and unique management area

3.      Recognition of the coastal asset in terms of economic and social development

4.      The establishment of a multi-disciplinary coordinating coastal management team

5.      Responsibility, accountability and action

6.      Centralised planning and budgeting around coastal issues

7.      Equitable access to our coast and its associated economic and social opportunities

8.      Participative, open and transparent approaches to coastal zone management

9.      Creative, dynamic and new approaches to coastal zone management

According to Eden Environmental Management Officer, Vernon Gibbs-Halls – “The coastal zone of Eden is a unique and valuable asset that if managed effectively and correctly will continue to offer a multitude of social, environmental and economic opportunities to local, national and international communities. The management approach presented here is based on the fundamental principle that the coastal zone is a unique and specific entity that requires specific and holistic management. A successful Programme will ensure that our unique coastal asset is managed in such a way that the economic and social opportunities it presents are optimised while its environmental integrity is maintained. For this strategy to be successful, it requires commitment of capacity and resources by Council and the relevant line functions to the management of the coastal zone. Further, a successful strategy will depend on the establishment of solid partnerships with organisations and communities throughout the Eden Municipal District.”

From Left – Shagon Carelse Hessequa Municipality, Carli Bunding-Venter George Municipality, Warren Manuel Mossel Bay Municipality, Vernon Gibbs-Halls Eden Municipality, Mayor of Hessequa Emor Nel, Jonathan Mabula Knysna Municipality, Councillor L Hart Knysna

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Description

Polistes dominula is aposematically coloured (black & yellow), unlike other native Polistes species, and look very similar to the infamous aggressive wasp Vespula germanica. One can easily distinguish them by the colour of their antennae. The lesser degree of predation experienced by Polistes dominula often attributed to this aposematic coloration

 Distribution

The native range of Polistes dominula comprises predominantly of Mediterranean climates, including Europe, Asia and northern Africa. It was first recorded in North America during the late 1970s from where it rapidly spread southwards replacing native species within a few years. It is considered a highly invasive species especially in South Africa as it is not confined to Mediterranean climatic zones.

The first published observation of its presence in South Africa was made in the Western Cape Province in 2008 in the suburb of Kuilsriver. Its presence has now also been confirmed in Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Jonkershoek and Paarl

 Behaviour & Life History

Polistes and Vespula species are however analogous in terms of their occurrence in temperate areas, formation of annual colonies and that future queens (foundresses) undergo diapause. Evidence do however suggest that Polistes dominula can be multi-seasonal and not undergo diapause.

Nest are established through the process of haplometrosis whereby a nest is founded by one or more fertilized, egg laying foundress (s). (Fig. 4)

Nests are constructed anew each year, but philopatry can occur. The foundress deposits one egg to a cell that hatch in several days. Larva are fed soft bodied insects until mature and emerge as worker females (ca. 40 days) taking over duties of food collection, nest construction and defence (Fig. 3).

Polistinae nests are aerial and commonly attached to manmade structures and in some cases plants, in contrast to other Vespidae nests mostly found below ground. Nest placement explaining why Polistes dominula is much more abundant in urban than natural areas.

Impact, Risks and Concerns

Invasive Polistes dominula compete directly with our native species (eg. Polistes fastidiousus and P. marginalis) for food and shelter to the extent of reducing the numbers of natives and disrupting natural processes and arthropod numbers.

RIVERSDAL NUUSFLITS – Sewe skole in die Hessequa-streek het op 31 Januarie hul Eko-status-toekenning vir omgewingswerk gedurende 2012 ontvang. Die Eko-skole program moedig skole aan om betrokke te raak by omgewingsbewaring en skole bou deur die jare aan hul omgewingsportefeuljes en word elke jaar evalueer op hul aksies en gemeet aan die vereistes vasgestel deur die Eden Distriksmunisipaliteit. Mnr. Vernon Gibbs-Halls (Omgewingsbeampte, Eden Distriksmunisipaliteit) het die oorhandiging van die sertifikate behartig en skole bedank vir hul puik werk en toewyding tot die onderskeie Eko-skole projekte.

The near-impossible task of organising field trips in February was once again brought home to me.  On Friday, we travelled to the Robinson Pass with the accent on Orchids.  En route, we dropped into the Ruitersbos office and collected Koos Maya to come with us.  Our first stop was the picnic table near the gate that leads to the lookout.  Most of the Outramps headed east to fossick on the southern slopes of Ruitersberg.  Spectacular displays of Cyrtanthus elatus proved to be irresistible to the more photographic minded.  The going was very tough with no path and I opted to go west along the Jeep track at the start of the Attakwaskloof Trail with Jenny and Nicky. 

Our first find was Erica intermedia var. albiflora in early bud.  It is going to be a riotous display in a few weeks.  Further along we inspected the Acmadenia rupicola site and the plants are alive and well.  A surprising find was Crassula perforata subsp. kougaensis..  This is popping up all over the place and its Critically Rare status needs to be reassessed.  The plants on the Montagu Pass are not as small and as tight as those on this site.  We are hoping that Derek Tribble will be able to confirm that they are indeed the same.

We walked further down the hiking trail, but only saw Penaea acutifolia (Rare) on this stretch.  For a moment, we thought we’d found Pentameris, but on closer examination it proved not to be.  By this time the sun was truly up.  Even a strong breeze at times was not sufficient to cool us down.  Sweat pouring down, faces an unattractive red, we were not a pleasant sight. 

Reassembling at the Bus, we moved to the top of the Robinson Pass and walked west along the Koumashoek trail.  Koos had told us that Jan and AL Vlok had found some Orchids further along in November.  We knew it was late, but we needed to identify the area for next year.  Evidently they found Acrolophia ustulata (Vulnerable) and Acrolophia lunata (Endangered).  A ustulata was last found in 1983, so they must have been thrilled.  Predictably there was nothing left for us to see.  Some compensation was a stunning Disa graminifolia and a little pink/red Disa, which we think is Disa filicornis.  Other beauties were Dilatris ixioides and a magnificent salmon-coloured George Lily.

By now the party had grown a little silent, as the heat took its toll.  It must have been well over 30 degrees.  We went back to the Ruitersbos office and had lunch under the trees, before heading home in the Bus.  It was a long uncomfortable drive. The air-conditioning has given in on our geriatric vehicle. 

The Wednesday before, WAGS went to Goukamma and did the boat thing.  We walked to the beacon and then on to the Skimmelkrans beach and back to the Goukamma river.  Keith, your paths are still in excellent condition and the signposting is great.  It is a pleasure to walk on this well-managed Reserve.  Every time we come into Goukamma, we present our wildcards or pay.  This way, the Reserve is at least getting some money to be used for maintenance of the trails.  It is not a difficult thing to organise. I would think that it was very necessary, so that the Reserves get some return on the Wildcard system.  Eulophia speciosa )Declining)was our only find with status on the Redlist                                                                                                                                             

The fact that I can’t get into iSpot is driving me mad. Last Tuesday, the lightning struck our telephone line and we lost both power and the Internet.  Despite impassioned pleas to Telkom, nothing has happened.  So if e-mails are answered sporadically, that is the reason why. 

The Garden Route Initiative meeting is scheduled for Friday, so there will be no field trip.  We will still be able to monitor some of the Outeniqua specials, because WAGS is doing Cradock Pass on Wednesday.

Groete en dankie

Di Turner

Outramps CREW Group

Southern Cape