The first component of the Project deals with land-use management, regulation, compliance and enforcement. The Project aims encouraged the uptake of biodiversity considerations into municipal planning and decision-making, with an emphasis on strengthening biodiversity content in Integrated Development Plans and their Spatial Development Frameworks. In addition to land-use regulation, the project worked with relevant government departments to develop and implement other environmental management tools in support of improved biodiversity mainstreaming. The project also increased the capacity of regulatory authorities to carry out their functions more effectively with regard to biodiversity.
Through the project’s Ecological Infrastructure Fund, the project illustrated the possible gains from incorporating ecosystem services into municipal planning, which ultimately promoted increased budget allocation for investments in ecological infrastructure within municipalities.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Some of the key deliverables achieved under the Environmental Management outcomes include:
Outcome 1.1 Regulatory processes for land and natural resource use management incorporate criteria to prevent/minimise and offset impacts on biodiversity.
- Biodiversity incorporated into the National Environmental Screening Tool, protocols and guidelines.
- 22 Strategic Water Source Areas delineated at fine scale, 11 prioritised to be secured by 2024.
- Developed an EIA training course in which was attended by 200+ EIA practitioners.
- 1000+ development applications reviewed and commented on.
- 6 biodiversity guidelines published across sectors and biomes.
- 264 compliance inspections and 148 enforcement notices processed.
- 8 intergovernmental compliance operations.
- 19 environmental awareness initiatives.
- 148 enforcement notices.
- 104 backlog cases cleared.
PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT
Some of the key deliverables achieved under the Planning & Land Use Management outcomes include:
Outcome 1.3 Municipal land use planning, management and decision making integrate biodiversity priorities.
- 2 353 900 ha under Land Use Schemes that incorporate biodiversity.
- 12 municipal SDFs updated, with an overall 29% improvement in biodiversity content.
- Biodiversity incorporated into the National Spatial Development Framework.
Outcome 1.4 Financial mechanisms and incentives are enhanced in order to encourage greater investment in biodiversity and ecosystem services and support job creation and sustainable economic development.
- 915 jobs created through direct and leveraged employment.
- R6 million invested across seven municipal ecological infrastructure projects.