{ "culture": "en-US", "name": "", "guid": "", "catalogPath": "", "snippet": "The Gauteng Conservation Plan was first developed in 2001 (C-Plan version 1). This plan was revised in 2005 with the production of C-Plan version 2 and later refined in 2007 with C-Plan version 2.1. From late 2010 work began on C-Plan version 3 with version 3.1 produced in July 2011, version 3.2 in September 2011 and finally C-Plan version 3.3 in September 2011. \n\nThis Conservation Plan version 4 of 2024 is the latest iteration in this process. \n\nThe Gauteng C-Plan provides a blue-print for the conservation of biodiversity in the province, the areas earmarked in the conservation plan are also important ecological infrastructure that deliver a range of ecosystem services to society. These have significant benefits to the residents of the province and underpin sustainable development in the province. The benefits of these ecosystems are numerous including climate change mitigation, cultural value, sense of place, quality of life, job creation, and more. \n\nThe purpose of the Gauteng C-Plan is to identify and map areas that are of importance to biodiversity protection in Gauteng through a systematic and empirical conservation-planning programme, and to provide recommendations and policy strategies for the conservation and management of these areas. The Gauteng C-Plan Map is a spatial plan for ecological sustainability. It is a form of strategic planning for the natural environment, providing a coherent and systematically identified set of geographic priorities to inform planning, action and decision-making in support of sustainable development. \n\nThe main aims of Gauteng Conservation Plan Version 4.0 are to:\n- Guide protected area expansion and biodiversity stewardship programmes in the province. \n- Ensure the conservation of natural habitats and biodiversity to maintain ecological processes and combating climate change. \n- Serve as the basis for biodiversity inputs into land use planning processes in the province for sustainable land use management. \n- Serve as the basis for biodiversity inputs into bioregional...", "description": "

The conservation plan was produced through an analysis of Biodiversity data, Protected Areas, Landcover, and Existing Spatial Plans such as SDFs and EMF collected for the Gauteng province from various data custodians<\/SPAN>. <\/SPAN><\/P>

The Gauteng C-Plan spatial layer contains the final C-Plan Map category classification for each planning unit. The CBA map category indicates the desired ecosystem state of a planning unit in terms of achieving the province\u2019s conservation goals. The final map is made up of six categories, namely: <\/SPAN><\/P>

1 - PA: Protected areas<\/SPAN>2 - CBA1: Critical Biodiversity Areas \u2013 irreplaceable sites<\/SPAN>3 - CBA2: Critical Biodiversity Areas \u2013 optimal sites<\/SPAN>4 - ESA1: Ecological Support Areas \u2013 natural/near-natural condition<\/SPAN>5 - ESA2: Ecological Support Areas \u2013 not-natural condition<\/SPAN>6 - ONA: Other Natural Areas <\/SPAN><\/P>

Description of the categories that appear in the C-Plan are explained and further expanded on below: <\/SPAN><\/P>

Protected Areas (PAs)<\/SPAN><\/P>

Includes protected areas and conservation areas:<\/SPAN><\/P>

A protected area is an area of land that is formally protected in terms of the NEM: Protected Areas Act and managed mainly for biodiversity conservation. It includes state-owned protected areas and contract protected areas (SANBI 2023).<\/SPAN><\/P>

A conservation area is an area of land that is not formally protected in terms of the NEM: Protected Areas Act but is nevertheless managed at least partly for biodiversity conservation. Because there is no long-term security associated with conservation areas, they are not considered a strong form of protection. Conservation areas contribute towards the conservation estate but not the protected area estate (SANBI 2023). <\/SPAN><\/P>

Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA): <\/SPAN><\/P>

CBAs are areas included in the C-Plan Map because of their biodiversity importance and contribution to achieving conservation targets. They should be maintained in a natural state, with no further loss of habitat and no deterioration in ecological condition.<\/SPAN><\/P>

CBA1:<\/SPAN>Irreplaceable Sites: Mandatory sites required to meet conservation targets where there are no other options to meet these targets (i.e., the remaining extent of the biodiversity feature is at or less than the conservation target). Typically, CBA1 sites include Critically Endangered and Endangered Ecosystems and known populations of threatened species.<\/SPAN><\/P>

CBA2:<\/SPAN>Optimal Sites: Best sites selected to meet conservation targets where there are spatial options to meet these targets (i.e., the remaining extent of the biodiversity feature is more than the conservation target). <\/SPAN><\/P>

Some CBAs are degraded or irreversibly modified but are still required for achieving specific targets, such as cultivated lands for threatened species foraging area or maintaining ecological connectivity in the landscape. <\/SPAN><\/P>

Ecological Support Areas (ESA): <\/SPAN><\/P>

ESAs are included in the C-Plan Map because of their role in supporting various ecological processes. They should be maintained in their current condition and land use, and intensification of land use or reduction of ecological condition is discouraged. ESA sites are excellent targets for restoration programmes.<\/SPAN><\/P>

ESA1:<\/SPAN>Natural and near-natural sites: These are sites in a natural or near natural condition important for supporting ecological processes.<\/SPAN><\/P>

ESA2:<\/SPAN>Sites with no natural habitat remaining: These are sites that are intensively modified and are non-natural including cultivated land and small-holdings, but are important for supporting ecological processes. These areas are included as they provide critical linkages in the ecological corridor network or provide buffers to CBA areas. <\/SPAN><\/P>

Other Natural Areas (ONA): <\/SPAN><\/P>

Other areas with natural or near natural habitat that were not selected as one of the above categories. With habitat loss these sites may be designated as a CBA or ESA category in the future, or site assessments associated with development applications may indicate that ONA sites should be designated as a CBA based on ground verification of biodiversity present and condition of a site. <\/SPAN><\/P>

For detailed methodology, kindly refer to the REVISION OF THE GAUTENG C-PLAN (v4.0 2023) TECHNICAL REPORT. <\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "summary": "The Gauteng Conservation Plan was first developed in 2001 (C-Plan version 1). This plan was revised in 2005 with the production of C-Plan version 2 and later refined in 2007 with C-Plan version 2.1. From late 2010 work began on C-Plan version 3 with version 3.1 produced in July 2011, version 3.2 in September 2011 and finally C-Plan version 3.3 in September 2011. \n\nThis Conservation Plan version 4 of 2024 is the latest iteration in this process. \n\nThe Gauteng C-Plan provides a blue-print for the conservation of biodiversity in the province, the areas earmarked in the conservation plan are also important ecological infrastructure that deliver a range of ecosystem services to society. These have significant benefits to the residents of the province and underpin sustainable development in the province. The benefits of these ecosystems are numerous including climate change mitigation, cultural value, sense of place, quality of life, job creation, and more. \n\nThe purpose of the Gauteng C-Plan is to identify and map areas that are of importance to biodiversity protection in Gauteng through a systematic and empirical conservation-planning programme, and to provide recommendations and policy strategies for the conservation and management of these areas. The Gauteng C-Plan Map is a spatial plan for ecological sustainability. It is a form of strategic planning for the natural environment, providing a coherent and systematically identified set of geographic priorities to inform planning, action and decision-making in support of sustainable development. \n\nThe main aims of Gauteng Conservation Plan Version 4.0 are to:\n- Guide protected area expansion and biodiversity stewardship programmes in the province. \n- Ensure the conservation of natural habitats and biodiversity to maintain ecological processes and combating climate change. \n- Serve as the basis for biodiversity inputs into land use planning processes in the province for sustainable land use management. \n- Serve as the basis for biodiversity inputs into bioregional...", "title": "Gauteng_C-Plan_v4_wgs84", "tags": [ "Conservation Plan (C-Plan)", "Critical Biodiversity Area (CBA)", "Ecological Support Area (ESA)", "Protected Areas (PA)", "and Other Natural Areas (ONA)" ], "type": "", "typeKeywords": [], "thumbnail": "", "url": "", "minScale": 150000000, "maxScale": 5000, "spatialReference": "", "accessInformation": "Gauteng Department of Environment (GDEnv) and Ecosol GIS", "licenseInfo": "

Use of the Gauteng Conservation Plan (referred to as C-Plan v4) is restricted exclusively to the purpose for which it was requested and may not be used for any other purpose. The data may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, given to, lent to or sold to any individual or organisation in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, nor may it be hired out or disposed of by way of trade in or be used by any individual or organisation to generate any form of income or profit. <\/SPAN><\/P>

All rights are reserved. GDEnv retains the copyright in and to the data as well as the right to recall the data in the event of any contravention of the conditions of use, or after completion of the project or use of the data for the purposes for which it was requested. <\/SPAN><\/P>

Every effort is made to provide accurate, up to date and complete information. However, GDEnv does not guarantee that the data will be accurate and correct at all times. Additionally, GDEnv assumes no liability for the inaccuracy, incompleteness, or non-usefulness of any information contained in the data. Neither does GDEnv accept any responsibility for any loss, liabilities, claims, actions, proceedings, demands, costs, charges, fines, expenses injuries or penalties or other damage that may arise from reliance upon, recommendations or decisions made on the basis of any information obtained from the data. <\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "portalUrl": "" }