Using the Ecosystem Goods & Services Concept in Durban

• Biodiversity planning• Advocacy• Examples of specific interventions

Introduction to DurbanIntroduction to Durban• Municipal area of ≈ 2300 kmMunicipal area of ≈ 2300 km• Population ≈ 3.5 millionPopulation ≈ 3.5 million• 65% is rural65% is rural• Per capita income was R 5 000 in Per capita income was R 5 000 in

20052005• Unemployment levels 35 – 40%Unemployment levels 35 – 40%• Gini coefficient of 0.60Gini coefficient of 0.60• Backlog of ≈ 200 000 houses & Backlog of ≈ 200 000 houses &

about 16 000 built p.a.about 16 000 built p.a.• Durban is South Africa’s major port Durban is South Africa’s major port

citycity

DMOSS 2009DMOSS 2009Aim: To conserve biodiversity and the ecosystem goods and services it provides for the benefit of present and future generations

Durban’s open space planning history• Open space planning started in the

1970s• DMOSS is spatial plan which

focuses our work & we aim to “secure” the entire footprint

• Conservation of fauna & flora was central to the first 20 years of planning

• After the 1994 elections political priorities shifted to redressing imbalances

• Housing provision and basic service delivery main focus

DMOSS to DEMONDMOSS to DEMON

Ecosystem goods Ecosystem goods and servicesand services

• Introduced as a concept in our Introduced as a concept in our open space planning in 1999open space planning in 1999

• Now DMOSS sites were selected Now DMOSS sites were selected for biodiversity attributes for biodiversity attributes && their their ability to supply EGSability to supply EGS

• Emphasised upper catchment, Emphasised upper catchment, riverine, coastal, wetlands, riverine, coastal, wetlands, forests, etc..forests, etc..

Calculating the value of EGS - 1Calculating the value of EGS - 1

ForestForest Dune Scrub and ForestDune Scrub and Forest

   Coastal Scarp ForestCoastal Scarp Forest

   Coastal Lowland ForestCoastal Lowland Forest

   Riverine ForestRiverine Forest

   Transitional ForestTransitional Forest

Matched DMOSS landcover types to Costanza Matched DMOSS landcover types to Costanza et alet al.1997.1997

Calculating the value of EGS - 2

DMOSS Specific Description

Allocation of open space

types to Costanza et al.

1997 categories

Area (ha)

$/ha/yr 1994

Total $ 1994

Total $ 2003

Total R 2003(R8/$)

Artificial Waterbody

Lakes\rivers 1950.4 8498 16,574,453 21,546,789 172,374,310

Bays and Estuaries

Estuaries 1071.3 22832 24,458,846 31,796,500 254,371,996

Canals0.2 X Lakes\rivers

60.6 1700 103,018 133,923 1,071,386

Natural Waterbody

Lakes\rivers 11.0 8498 93,367 121,377 971,020

ResultsResults• EGS were conservatively

valued at R 3.1 billion per annum in 2003

• Excluded contribution of Durban’s ecosystems to tourism sector which was worth R 3.3 billion in 2001

• EM’s 2001/2 operating budget = R 6.5 billion & capital budget = R 2.78 billion

• The value is widely used and accepted, e.g. in the IDP

Some costs of sand mining in rivers - 1Some costs of sand mining in rivers - 1

• Municipal officials sense that mining Municipal officials sense that mining of river sand for construction is of river sand for construction is unsustainableunsustainable

• DME grants permits across the cityDME grants permits across the city• CSIR investigated value of sand as CSIR investigated value of sand as

a resource in estuaries & on a resource in estuaries & on beachesbeaches

• Found on many rivers extraction Found on many rivers extraction rates and dams exceed supply rates and dams exceed supply

• Total sediment shortfall compared Total sediment shortfall compared to “natural rates” to “natural rates” c. c. 300 000 m300 000 m33/yr/yr

• May result in mean coastal erosion May result in mean coastal erosion of > 1 m/yrof > 1 m/yr

Some costs of sand mining in rivers - 2Some costs of sand mining in rivers - 2

• Sand sold for Sand sold for c.c. R 35/m R 35/m33, but , but opportunity costs of up to R opportunity costs of up to R 385/m385/m33 on the Mngeni R on the Mngeni R

• In all but one river costs are In all but one river costs are externalizedexternalized

• Value of sand on Durban’s Value of sand on Durban’s beaches estimated at R 4.2 billionbeaches estimated at R 4.2 billion

• Costs of infrastructural damage in Costs of infrastructural damage in recent storm events have been recent storm events have been significantsignificant

• Recommend ban mining in rivers, Recommend ban mining in rivers, find alternative sources of sand, find alternative sources of sand, dam construction methods, dam construction methods, mining dams, etc..mining dams, etc..

• Presented to DME & senior EM Presented to DME & senior EM officials – limited progressofficials – limited progress

Project example: ‘Dezoning’ motivated on biodiversity & EGS grounds

Current situation & way forward• Something of a turnabout - DMOSS has more support• Integrated with hierarchy of spatial plans• In the past 10 yrs the EMD has been able to focus on

biodiversity and CC• Continue to use biodiversity and EGS considerations

in planning & implementation projects, e.g. SEA of SDF