THE THE WORKING FOR WATERWORKING FOR WATERPROGRAMMEPROGRAMME

Christo MaraisChristo Marais

A multi-departmental initiative led by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

Managing Fynbos Catchments for Water

30 November 1993

“Two initiatives were identified for the future.

•Firstly, a promotional presentation or “roadshow” should be compiled and presented to local decision-makers, based on data, models and results presented at the workshop. The emphasis of the roadshow should be on water runoff and not so much on biodiversity.

•Secondly, an international initiative should , on the other hand concentrate on the biodiversity side of the problem.”

Prof Kader Asmal

23 February 2000

“Reinforced by the cogent arguments put forward by the WWF-SA, I approached my dear colleague, Jay Naidoo, for funding. .......

....., so it is safe to confess that I approached Jay Naidoo for initial funding of R25million, without a business plan. Jay is a wise person, and he saw the value of what was being proposed.

I cannot say that the rest is history, for we are still coming to grips with our strategies to deal with the threats posed by invading alien plants, let alone other invasive species.”

Working for Water Mission Statement

The Programme will sustainably control invading alien species, to optimise the potential use of natural resources, through a process of economic empowerment and transformation. In doing this the programme will leave a legacy of social equity and legislative, institutional and technical capacity.

To Achieve its Mission, the Programme has the Following Objectives:

HYDROLOGICAL 

•To enhance water security through regaining control over invading alien plants in South Africa and to promote the quest for equity, efficiency and sustainability in the supply and use of water.

ECOLOGICAL

•To improve the ecological integrity of our natural systems through the removal of alien plants thereby countering abnormal fires, soil erosion, flooding, scouring of rivers, siltation of rivers, dams and estuaries; and protect and restore biodiversity.

SOCIAL

•To optimise the social benefits that are possible as a community-based public works programme by investing in the most marginalised sectors in South African society and enhancing their quality of life.

Working for Water Mission and Objectives cont….

NATURAL RESOURCES

•To restore the productive potential of land, in partnership with the Land Care and Desertification initiatives, and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources.

ECONOMIC

•To develop the economic benefits (from land, water, wood and people) from clearing these plants, by facilitating economic empowerment and the development of secondary industries, and to play its part in protecting the economic integrity of the productive potential of the country.

The Invasion Process

Alien plants were introduced from

continents such as Australasia and South

America.

The possible extent and rate of spread of IAP over 20 years in a fire prone Fynbos

mountain catchment.

Present 10 yrs

20 yrs

Management & Its Costs

Clearing invading alien plants.

The average clearing costs per ha for initial and follow up operations for Acacia species based on data from Water Works

R 0.00

R 500.00

R 1,000.00

R 1,500.00

R 2,000.00

R 2,500.00

0-1% 1-5% 5-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-100%

Density Classes

Cos

t per

ha

(R) Follow

Up

Initial

The average clearing costs per ha for initial and follow up operations for Lantana

species based on data from Water Works

R 0.00

R 200.00

R 400.00

R 600.00

R 800.00

R 1,000.00

R 1,200.00

R 1,400.00

0-1% 1-5% 5-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-100%

Density Classes

Cost

per

hec

tare

(r)

FollowUp

Initial

Time to clear

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

800000Au

stra

lian

wattle

s(A

cacia

Que

en o

f the

night

cac

tus

(Cer

eus

Lant

ana

(Lan

tana

cam

ara)

Gum

tree

s(E

ucaly

ptus

spec

ies)

Pine

tree

s(P

inus

spec

ies)

Triffi

d we

ed(C

hrom

olaen

aod

orat

a)Bu

gwee

d(S

olanu

mm

autiti

anum

)M

esqu

ite(P

roso

pissp

ecies

)Po

plar t

rees

(Pop

ulus

spec

ies)

Hake

as(H

akea

spec

ies)

Syrin

gas

(Meli

aaz

edar

ach)

Bram

bles

(Rub

ussp

ecies

)

Genera

Area

ha

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Tim

e to

Clea

r (yr

s)

Estimated area inSouth Africa (haof equivalent100% cover)*

Estimated areatreated in 2002/3(ha of equivalent100% cover)+

Projected timeneeded to treatnationalinfestation(years)#

Bio Control

Savings of 20-30% could be achieved if biocontrol methods are

used for woody

species.

Integrated Strategy

Species

Areas

Incentives or Disincentives

Hydrology

RIPARIAN CLEARING EXPERIMENTSFlow measurement

RIPARIAN CLEARING EXPERIMENTSFlow measurement

TODAY 10-20 YEARS 20- 40 YEARS

R 100/ha R 1000/ha R 4000/ha

-1% -12%

-55%

Invading Alien Plant Clearing Costs vs Other Augmentation Options @ 6% Discount Rate

R 0.00

R 0.20

R 0.40

R 0.60

R 0.80

R 1.00

R 1.20

R 1.40

R 1.60

Raising of Wall of Garden Route Dam Malgas Dam Kaaimans Dam

Augmentation Option

UR

V (R

/m3) URV Clearing

URV No Interference

URV Clearing & Dam

-1%-12%

-55%

Biodiversity or Natural Diversity

Hakea infestations in the Western Cape have smothered natural

vegetation in many mountainous areas

Loss of BiodiversityUp to a 1/4 of RSA’s plant species.

Ecosystem Functioning &

Services

Port Jackson has spread throughout the Cape.

Hakea infestations in the Western Cape have smothered natural vegetation in many mountainous areas

Rehabilitated Riverine ForestRehabilitated Riverine Forest

The Higher the Plant Biomass the Higher the Cost of Fire Protection & Control - Controlled fire cycles

An opportunity for economic development!!

Loss of life, damage to land and property through high intensity

fires.

Impacts of High Intensity Fires Under Invading Alien Plant Stands

Chapmans Peak drive above Noordhoek on 31 May 2000. Alien and cleared vegetation occurred on the slopes above this site.

Impacts of Invading Alien Plants on Catchment Stability After Fires

The use/(development??) of Natural Landscapes for Nature Based Tourism

Human Resource Development

It offers opportunities for women, the youth and the

disabled

Day Work

Piece Work

Production Incentive

Closed Contract

Managment & Production Incentive

Open Contract

Open Market

Task Work

Time Incentive

Value Adding

High Value Added Low Volume

Products

Furniture & Craft

Low Value Added - High

Volume Products

Charcoal, Mulch & Pulp

High Value Products Including Laminated Wood Products

Garden Screens and Crafts Made out of Black Wattle Material

Economic Empowerment

Working for

Water

Working for

Wetlands

Working on Fire

Ukuvuka

Working on

Woodlands

Value Added Industries

Lessons Learnt Conservation is more often about

humans and the way they use natural resources rather than the preservation of natural resources.

Improved co-ordination between departments responsible for natural resource management is needed (Soil, Water & Biodiversity).

Conclusions• Environmentally the benefits

outweighs the costs.• Socially & Economically the

programme performs better than most other development programmes in SA.

• There are negative impacts, these have to be minimized.

• There are more opportunities that haven’t been explored or developed yet.

• It Works!!!!

Thank You!!