This report details a hike in the Upper Mhlwazini Area of Monk’s Cowl, by five Vertical Endeavour members and the EKZNW Monk’s Cowl OIC, during the weekend of 27 – 29 June 2015. The aim of the hike was focussed on cutting and ring barking invader pine trees in the area, with secondary goals of monitoring previous work done in the area and evaluating new work areas for inclusion in the VE project area.

This report details a hike in the Tseketseke Area of Didima, by seven Vertical Endeavour members, during the weekend of 28 – 30 August 2015. The aim of the hike was focussed on cutting and ring barking invader pine trees in the area, and the painting of the roof and outside of Tseketseke Hut.

This report details a hike in the Tseketseke Area of Didima, by three Vertical Endeavour members, during the weekend of 9 – 11 August 2014. The aim of the hike was focussed on cutting and ring barking invader pine trees in the area, with secondary goals of clearing some of the bush along the Contour Path and investigating the possibility of painting the roof of Tseketseke Hut.

Within South Africa, the Maloti Drakensberg mountains are the most strategic water source in the region, supplying much of the sub-continent through rivers, and national and international inter- basin transfers. The Maloti Drakensberg mountains fall within the country’s most important water supply area. River catchments within the bioregion form the source or contribute to a number of major rivers, including the Umzimvubu, Umzimkulu, Umkomazi and Thukela on the South African side, and the Vaal and Orange / Senqu Rivers on the Lesotho side. The rivers rising on the South African side contribute over 8000 million m3 in mean annual runoff (MAR) to systems within the region (Diederichs and Mander 2004). This initiative has developed a model for investment in water security by using the trade in ecosystem services as sustainable foundation.

BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT REPORT to inform the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Programme in the Upper uThukela (amaNgwane and amaZizi) Wilderness Areas, Okhahlamba Local Municipality, KZN.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife are the custodians of the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Programme (KZN BSP) and are driving an aggressive campaign to secure Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements with land owners and communities on land indicated as priority in the Provincial Terrestrial Systematic Conservation Plan. One such area is the Upper uThukela Wilderness Areas which represents a gap between Cathedral Peak and the Royal Natal National Park sections of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (UDP WHS). It has long been the vision of many, including local people in the valley, to see this area proclaimed as a Community Conservation Area and included in the World Heritage Site. Numerous interest groups have worked with willing  community representatives and groupings to undertake a variety of resource management projects in the valley, some of which have been in existence for more than 10 years. Currently this situation persists with a significant amount of funding being attached to these projects.

A waypoint collection of pine trees in the Drakensberg in connection with Vertical Endeavour's Pine Tree Project - read more about it here.

Please read the comments for each waypoint. These reveal details such as if the waypoint is for a single tree or a whole cluster, if it is has been been treated or not (ring-barked, cut down etc), date of treatment, or if it is an approximate location of untreated trees based on field observation.

This database is browing constantly and contributions are welcome! Please contact intrepid or diverian should you wish to be be involved.

This Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report (Draft EIAR) has been compiled based on the impact assessment undertaken as part of the Scoping and EIA Process for the proposed Sani Pass Road Upgrade. The Scoping and EIA Process was undertaken in compliance and accordance with the NEMA and associated EIA Regulations of July 2006 (Government Notice No. R385 to 387).

The Concept Development Plan (CDP) for uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (2006-2011) seeks to provide a strategic operational framework for the development and maintenance of conservation management infrastructure and visitor facilities / activities within the Park while always considering the constraints of the receiving environment.

The CDP for the Park is an integral part of the Park’s Integrated Management Plan1 (IMP) for 2006 to 2011 and has been compiled cognizant of the management framework determined by the IMP together with the guidelines specified in the recently produced Wilderness Area Management Plan for the Park.

This Integrated Management Plan for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site is the primary and overarching management document for the Park for the period 2006 to 2011. It forms the framework within which the Park will be managed and developed towards the achievement of its management objectives derived in collaboration with the Park’s stakeholders during October 2003.

The protected area management planning process and the resultant planning documents (elaborated on in the next few pages), developed in collaboration and with the assistance of the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Project (MDTP), has been designed to meet the statutory requirements of the World Heritage Convention Act and the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act.

The protected area management planning process requires participation from the Park’s stakeholders, the general public and specialists during the various stages of plan development and implementation. Although the Integrated Management Plan and its sub-components are five year planning documents, an annual review process will ensure an active adaptive management planning approach.

A long term business approach has also been introduced that ensures that the Park’s management objectives are operationalised and reflected through a Strategic Management Plan in the Park’s operational budget over the next five years. A Business Plan will at the same time actively pursue additional and improved funding and income towards the achievement of the natural and cultural heritage conservation objectives of the Park over the next five years.

Emzemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife as the appointed World Heritage Site Authority for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site hereby commits itself to the implementation of this plan.