On 30th July at the Ward Feedback meeting, Dr. Ian Lewis - Chairperson Rooiels Conservancy (REC) gave a presentation on the importance of getting formal protection for all the areas currently zoned nature reserve.  See the 7 minute presentation on video

See the Blog post below for the Background and Rationale for extending the Reserve.

 The Rooiels Nature Reserve currently comprises Erfs 211, 212 and 343.  It is proposed now that all those areas currently zoned as nature reserve be declared formally protected.  This was an initiative started some years previously and this year has been formally presented to Cape Nature and to the Overstrand.  The proposed areas are those indicated green on the Rooiels map below and includes the shoreline and Erfs 1, 199, 320, 321, 326, 368, 370 and 373.

Below the Map are the key aspects that will be includd in the Management plan for the extended Rooiels Nature Reserve.

The Properties for inclusion into the Protected Rooiels Nature Reserve have been identified as together comprising an area with high conservation value in that:

• they conserves priority areas identified in Rooiels for biodiversity conservation

• the target area is uniquely rich and contains a wide diversity of habitats and nature elements which are not usually found in such a single stretch of the coastal belt.
• the target area is uniquely situated and chosen to create a vital link between the core zone of Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and the buffer zone of the coastal and inland smallholdings (most of the latter have Critical Biodiversity status).
• combined with the naturally vegetated fynbos road verges in Rooiels, the target area will: create a corridor through the village of Rooiels between mountains-and-sea.  It creates a corridor along the coast, between the smallholdings and the Rooiels estuary, and, creates a corridor from the core zone of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve to the coast linking it to the existing Rooiels Nature Reserve.

These obligations, drawn from the Cape Nature Conservancy agreements from other areas, will form the underpinning of the Management of the entire RENR in the future:
​5. OBLIGATIONS OF LANDOWNER AND CONSERVANCY IN RESPECT OF CONSERVED AREA
5.1 Compliance with the Management Plan
The Landowner and Conservancy shall comply with all the terms and conditions set out in the
 Management Plan.
5.2 Development
5.2.1 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not construct, erect or upgrade, or allow the
construction, erection or upgrading, of any buildings, roads or structures in the Conserved Area,
except as expressly provided for in the Management Plan (and subject to any regulations
published by the MEC in terms of section 87) to further the conservation of biodiversity
in the Conserved Area.
5.2.2 The Landowner and Conservancy shall obtain any necessary approval, permission or exemption
required in order to undertake any development contemplated in the Management Plan.
5.3 Biodiversity
5.3.1 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not remove or destroy, or permit the destruction or
removal of, any indigenous species in the Conserved Area, save as expressly required in the
Management Plan.
5.3.2 The Landowner and Conservancy  shall not plant, or permit the planting of, any flora other
than local non-invasive indigenous flora in the Conserved Area.
5.3.3 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not do, or permit, any act that may adversely affect any
indigenous flora and fauna, or their habitats, in the Conserved Area.
5.4 Water
5.4.1 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not do, or permit, any act that may adversely affect the
 natural state, flow, supply, quantity or quality of any water resource located in the Conserved
Area.
5.5 Commercial Activity
5.5.1 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not permit or consent to any prospecting, exploration,
or mining in the Conserved Area.
5.5.2 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not permit or consent to the placement of any
transmission lines, telecommunication lines, cellular towers or public works in the
Conserved Area.
5.5.3 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not subdivide, or permit the subdivision of, the Conserved Area.
5.5.4 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not operate, or permit the operation of, any trade,
 industry or business in the Conserved Area.
5.6 Other Human Activities
5.6.1 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not use, or permit the use of, motorcycles or four-wheel drive vehicles in the Conserved Area unless their use is necessary for the proper management and protection of the Conserved Area.
5.6.2 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not dump, or permit the dumping of, any waste material in the Conserved Area.
5.6.3 The Landowner and Conservancy shall not hunt, or permit hunting, to take place in the
Conserved Area unless it is necessary for the proper management of the fauna located in the
Conserved Area, and the proper permits have been obtained and restrictions adhered to.
5.6.4 The Landowner and Conservancy shall only permit the general public to access the Conserved
 Area as provided for in the Management Plan. 

Background and Rationale
ROOIELS COASTAL NATURE RESERVE –  SUBMISSION OF CONSIDERATIONS TO REVIEW COMMITTEE WITH A VIEW TO APPLYING FOR THE EXPANSION  OF THE EXISTING PROTECTED AREA
 
BACKGROUND SUMMARY

• The RENR was declared a provincial nature reserve by the Western Cape Government in 1984 and registered as a Protected  Area in 2020/1. The RENR is owned by the Overstrand Municipality. 
• The target area for the expansion of the RENR is mainly the coastal strip which runs around Rooiels. The target area  is approximately double the extent of the existing RENR and adjoins with the existing RENR. The target area also includes the Rooiels Koppie (erf 199) which does not adjoin the RENR but is situated only 3 erven away from the Reserve and is linked to it through the naturally vegetated road reserves. 
• Not presently included in the target area is erf 324 Rooiels (privately owned), which would potentially link the target area to the top of Klein Hangklip and add almost 23 ha to the proposed expanded RENR. The owner of erf 324 is open to a CapeNature stewardship agreement, in the event of the expansion of the RENR as proposed herein.
• The whole target area is zoned Open Space Zone 1: Nature Reserve . This is in large part due to efforts by the Rooiels community, the Rooiels Ratepayers’ Association and Rooiels Conservancy to conserve the target area.

 
QUALIFYING CRITERIA AND CONTRIBUTION TO WCPAES OBJECTIVES
 
           Inclusion of a wide range of ecosystems and the creation of various corridors
The target area (as set out as an Annexure to the PAES document), comprises the Koppie at the entrance to Rooiels, the coastal edge all along Rooiels which includes seeps and wetland, the Rooiels River estuary, the riverine area along the Rooiels kloof, the mountain slope above the river and the coastal transition zone which links the terrestrial and marine environments.
The target area is uniquely rich and contains a wide diversity of habitats and nature elements which are not usually found in such a single short stretch of the coastal belt.
That target area is uniquely situated and chosen to create a vital link between the core zone of Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and the buffer zone of the coastal and inland smallholdings (most of the latter have Critical Biodiversity status).
Combined with the naturally vegetated fynbos road verges in Rooiels , the target area will (a) create a corridor through the village of Rooiels between mountains-and-sea, (b) create a corridor along the coast-to-coast along between the smallholdings and the Rooiels estuary and (c) create a corridor from  the core zone of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve to the coast and link it to the existing RENR.

              Mayoral support
As part of her commitment to environmental integrity, Dr Rabie, the new mayor of the Overstrand Municipality, in her inaugural address pledged her support to the Rooiels community in their endeavours to support biodiversity. Expanding the RENR would be a natural part of this initiative.
 
             Community support
The village of Rooiels is a conservation community, situated directly between the core zone of the Kogelberg Biosphere (KBR) and the buffer zone to the Biosphere.
The Rooiels community has for many years adopted the Rooiels Vision (see Rooiels website https://rooiels.weebly.com/) as its community ethos. The Rooiels Vision is a document approved by all the community organisations of Rooiels and it is continuously communicated to property owners. In essence its aim is  to safeguard of the natural ecological-heritage of the area which has been established and maintained over decades.
The Rooiels Vision emphasises that, only through a strong community spirit and by putting the Vision for Rooiels into action, can the natural splendour of Rooiels as the gateway to the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve be maintained and conserved.

         The Rooiels community is committed to conserve its natural character by:

• •          protecting and maintaining local landmark features such as Klein Hangklip Mountain, the Koppie, the Rooiels River estuary and the coastal transition zone.
• •          protecting and maintaining the Rooiels Nature Reserve and natural road verges. These serve as green linkages between the mountains and the coastal open zone and contribute to the rural and natural character of Rooiels.
• •          ensuring that the natural environment remains the dominant element in the village and that the built environment remains subsidiary to the landscape, rather than dominating it.
• •          ensuring that the title deed conditions, most of which aid to preserve the natural character of Rooiels, are complied with.
• •          ensuring that the spatial land use of owners does not detract from the character of Rooiels and is compatible with the surroundings.

 
The majority of property owners in the Rooiels community actively support conservation with some 90% indicating that nature was a factor in their decision to buy or live in Rooiels (Link to Survey). The community will be engaged in a participation process in the present application process for expansion of the RENR.
Members of the Rooiels community have the capabilities to assist the Overstrand Municipality and CapeNature in preparing  the draft the application documentation for expansion of the RENR and to perform the required legal work.
 
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN AND SOME SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
As the target area for inclusion is highly diverse and as such some of the elements of the properties proposed for inclusion in the RENR may require special attention:

• A colony of seals, which occupies part of the proposed area, needs protection from human intrusion.
• It is the only known area where the Cape Rockjumper occur at sea level
• The natural dune system in part of the area needs proactive conservation
• Some parts of the target area adjoin private erven and the expansion of their private living space into the target areais not appropriate.
• Pedestrian access may need to be reviewed with a view to balancing enjoyment and impact.
• Protecting fauna such as otters and small buck, and the observable bird colonies on the rocks and at Rooiels Point from undue human interference.
• Ensuring that the reserve is restored to its pristine nature, with unnecessary  intrusions being removed. 
• Erf 1, which is part of the target area, is owned by central government which may have a different priority.

           Declaration of the target area as a Nature Reserve and as a Protected Area, with a legally enforceable management plan, will greatly support Overstrand Municipality and the Rooiels community in their conservation and biodiversity aims.