BASIC DEMOGRAPHICS:

203 842 people living in 49 527 households,

55% female headed. 90% rural, 10% urban.

249 villages, in 26 wards.

39 406 economically active people but 38,7% of

these are unemployed with almost half being

youth.

40% residents have no sanitation access.

45% have no piped water access.

45% have access to electricity for lighting.

MLM has over 41 560 ha of wetlands feeding the upper

uMzimvubu catchment: wetlands are

critically important for erosion control, flood attenuation, winter grazing,

streamflow regulation, cultural significance, carbon storage, toxicant removal, phosphate trapping, species habitat. Wetlands sustain annual base

and surface water flow which nourishes the tributaries feeding the upper

Mzimvubu and supplying water for domestic and agricultural use to

thousands of people.

MATATIELE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY A STRATEGIC WATER FACTORY TO DRIVE THE

GREEN ECONOMY IN THE EASTERN CAPE “Where nature, agriculture and tourism are investments of choice”

The 4352 km2 Matatiele Local Municipal area is strategically located in the watershed of the upper uMzimvubu catchment, in a grassland biome lying between 1300 and 2300m altitude. The primarily rural population of over 200 000 people is highly reliant on rural

resources, grants and remittances. Farming and trading are the main economic activities. An estimated 80% of the constituency earns less than R800 per month, making them even more reliant on natural resources to meet their livelihood needs. More than 20% of the natural landscape is transformed through basic infrastructure (roads etc), residential development, agriculture and degradation. The rolling lower foothills, below the higher altitude escarpment border with Lesotho, support the majority of agricultural activities, mainly cropping and extensive livestock grazing. The Maloti-Drakensberg mountains, plus the foothills and valley bottoms form the water engine supplying the eastern uMzimvubu catchment, the third largest river in South Africa. The area has high significance for SIP19 (one of the presidential Strategic Infrastructure Projects) for ecological infrastructure underpinning water security in the Eastern Cape.

EMERGING FARMERS form a large portion of the

economically active population. Agriculture has a high

location quotient of 2.29, indicating a competitive

advantage for the sector in the area, and yet is only the

eighth most important contributor to the local

economy. Generally good soils and rainfall are not

optimally utilized, due to the declining rangeland and

soil productivity, as a result of poor management

leading to overgrazing. Lack of proper stock handling,

auction facilities and uncontrolled stock theft

compounds underproduction in the sector. There is

huge potential for growth if these rangeland and stock

production factors are effectively addressed.

SA is RANKED 11TH MOST WATER SCARCE

COUNTRY GLOBALLY, WITH INCREASED RISK

FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

Global water use > 5000km3 per year, increasing at

double global population growth.

In more than half of the country, South Africans are using

more water than what’s available. We are already using

98% of our available water supply, and 40% of our waste

water treatment is in a “critical state”. THE STAR- Cape

Town, November 2014

The Mzimvubu River provides water to a million users from

source to sea. The basin forms the northern portion with

the highest mean annual runoff in SA and contributing

nearly 15% of the total riverflow in the country.

“There have been unprecedented changes to local ecosystems, mainly to meet rising demands for water, food

and energy, and from lack of structured management” - Climate change unknowns increase the risks to

ecosystem health and water security, posing threats to human well-being which is dependent upon them.

Climate change vulnerability map in ANDM – unless we protect our intact ecosystems (shown as green areas on map) Matatiele will become extremely impacted and vulnerable as shown in the red areas around Bizana. Along with physical degradation, solid and liquid waste pose a serious threat to water resource integrity, and climate change will compound such threats to water security.

HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM = HEALTHY PEOPLE Healthy Ecosystems=Healthy People

Growth of a sustainable green economy

requires healthy ecosystems to underpin

human health and well being.

KEY ASSETS & POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES

A SANBI Grasslands Programme Payments for Ecosystem Services study indicates that, good wetland management practice can potentially result in an additional 3.9 Mm³flow per annum in winter river base flows and a reduction in sediment of up to 4.9 Mm³ per annum in the upper Umzimvubu catchment (Mander et al,2010).

Rehabilitation of groundcover and wetlands can reduce high season flooding, reduce disasters, and allow better rainfall absorption, storage and release over the drier winter months. This increased dry season availability of water is valued at R27 million!

The mountainous rural landscape, vibrant culture & 3 transfrontier passes create unique tourism

opportunities, building on what Matatiele has to offer, rather than emulating other urban offerings.

WATER RESOURCES

41 568 ha wetlands

Strong network of perennial rivers in 3 tertiary catchment

PEOPLE & CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Indigenous knowledge and history contributing to

ecotourism e.g horse racing event

Research opportunities &

career development

HEALTHY CLIMATE

850mm rainfall

no malaria or FMD

320 days sunshine

EXTENSIVE NATURAL LANDSCAPES

Crop & Animal Production

Ecotourism & events

BIOMASS PROCESSING

opportunities from wattle

HIGH BIODIVERSITY Intersection of three biomes within global

biodiversity hotspot & birding tourism potential

KEY ATTRIBUTES

IN LANDSCAPE

which can be mobilized for

IMPROVED RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT &

SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT

KEY THREATS & CHALLENGES

SOIL AND WATER DEGRADATION

FRAGMENTATION OF ECOSYSTEMS& DISRUPTION OF ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS

CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY AND UNKNOWNS

CAUSES

Unmanaged alien plant infestation Poor planning and inappropriate land use &

infrastructure Poor landscape& livestock management e.g.

grazing regimes, fire and stock theft.

INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT INFESTATION

In excess of20 000ha of exotic black and silver wattle

threatens both grassland (reducing grazing & biodiversity) and

water resources. Woody alien plants also contribute to high

fuel loads for runaway fires, and stock theft rates through providing inaccessible hiding places for cattle rustlers.

Wattle is a paradox species which also sustains thousands of rural households through provision of firewood and

building materials. Well targeted, technically appropriate medium term management interventions are required to

optimize budgets to ensure reclaimed areas are maintained and not lost again. Wattle costs approximately R6000

per hectare to clear, with follow up required for at least 3 years, averaging R15 000/ha for 3 years.

POORLY MANAGED LIVESTOCK &CULTIVATION:

This leads to overgrazing of certain areas, with removal of groundcover followed by loss of topsoil, with decreased rangeland and stock productivity, with decreased returns from livestock investments.

POOR PLANNING and INAPPROPRIATE LAND USE: WETLANDS and RIVERINE AREAS are compromised through inappropriate activities such

as illegal sand mining, draining for cultivation, construction and sanitation in marginal areas and high sediment loads from

poor road drainage and erosion.

The District has EMF, but comprehensive environmental management systems are not in place to guide appropriate planning, development and maintenance of infrastructure and projects.

Appointment of unqualified contractors resulting in short life span of infrastructure and increased repair /

replacement costs. Allocation of inadequate budgets for development and maintenance of appropriate sustainable

infrastructure.

Erosion of moral fibre and culture, and breakdown of traditional authority & governance structures is prevalent

Groundcover and wetland damage leads to soil erosion, sedimentation of infrastructure and export of 50tons/ha of topsoil per year to ocean

All information, images & statistics sourced from MLM Draft Situational Analysis for 2015/16 IDP review, ANDM EMF2012, and UCPP & ERS archives

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING LOCAL GREEN ECONOMY FOCUS ON UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL

FOR PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND SERVICESFROM THE RURAL LANDSCAPE, ADDING VALUE THROUGH APPROPRIATE

TECHNOLOGY, TO SUSTAIN INCOME GENERATION & ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION.

RANGELAND RESTORATION AND “ MEAT NATURALLY” LIVESTOCK MARKETING

Huge potential for rural households through auctioning improved quality stock and value-adding e.g. mobile abattoir and processing Nguni hides: ox passes through 100 pairs of hands before landing on supermarket shelf.

Implemented in conjunction with wetland rehab and alien clearing, managed grazing can simultaneously control stocktheft, improve rangelands and reduce erosion, contributing to water security and grassland biodiversity.

Controlling alien plant spread is vital to protecting grasslands and arable fields, and constitutes high potential for EPWP benefits if well managed: job creation for initial clearing is a catalyst investment for longer term value-adding opportunities for green jobs and biomass processing, including furniture, fencing, charcoal and firewood.

Cleared areas should be targeted for their restoration and productivity potential after clearing to ensure they remain alien free through appropriate utilization: this will optimise on investments made in initial clearing.

DECLARE UPPER MATATIELE WATERSHED AS PROTECTED AREA‘WATER FACTORY’

Aim to protect catchment & wetlands and enhance water security under communal biodiversity stewardship

Explore payment for ecosystem services returns from downstream users

Build on citizen science, research opportunities and involvement in

ecosystem goods & services valuing and protection

Strong support from ECPTA, MDTP & local NGOs to pursue proclamation

RECYCLING WASTE AND RE-PROCESSING

Reduces landfill pressure and solid waste into water resources

Develop small businesses selling and re-purposing ‘waste’

DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SUPPLIES:

Invest in development of appropriate renewable energy sources (solar

and wind) to reduce reliance on national grid, generate income for local municipality and sell excess to grid

Explore small manufacturing businesses for solar components, and use of appropriate appliances to diversify

Replicate successful mini-hydro schemes e.g. at Mariazell Mission

BRAND AND MARKET MATATIELE AS A TOURISM AND AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT DESTINATION

Revitalize and develop unique products, especially transfrontier location and passes

Build on veld-raised red meat and agri-tourism accommodation potential

Matatiele offers both destination and staging post services, with active local torism association of B’nB owners

Develop an iconic adventure event using Transfrontier location and uMzimvubu source2sea trail concept

A matrix of possible interventions is shown below, which is based on POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES &

RESOURCES, combined with REALISTIC IMPLEMENTATION OPPORTUNITIES, which can satisfy

the STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES of the Municipality.

A strong local civil society driven alliance, UCPP, can provide planning, fund raising

and implementing support for the interventions listed below. Many of these

interventions are already underway with donor support through local NGOs.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREEN ECONOMY INTERVENTIONS WHICH MEET STRATEGIC IDP OBJECTIVES FOR MATATIELE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

MLM STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

OPPORTUNITIES / INTERVENTIONS with

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POTENTIAL WARDS / TARGET ZONES

STAKEHOLDERS for LOCAL SERVICE PROVISION:

MLM is the key stakeholder in all activities listed below.

Potential donors in bold italics

BUDGET & POTENTIAL DONORS: budget given in units to allow for planning at different scales

TIMEFRAME

1. RANGE MANAGEMENT: LIVESTOCK FOR LIVELIHOODS & LANDSCAPES

ALIEN PLANT MANAGEMENT: clearing and processing × × × x × × × x × × All wards

Current: 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 21 local NGO implementers ERS, CSA, LIMA , FireWise / Kishugu, Gamtoos Donors: DEA NRM programme / WfW; LandCare; EPWP

R18 000/ha over 3 years inclusive of wages, PPE, equipment, management, training.

Minimum 3 years per area, combined with managed grazing mobilisation and follow up

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION for improved stewardship of rangelands and managed grazing (maboella) – foundation for activities below

× × × × × x × All wards Current: 7, 14, 21,

Local NGOs CSA, ERS, LIMA, INR Traditional authorities, DRDLR, DAFF Donors: CEPF, DRDLR,

R300 000 per cluster of 3-5 villages, over 3 years: facilitation, training, workshops, travel

Minimum 3 years, combined with last 2 items below

“MEAT NATURALLY” initiative: - livestock health & productivity: animal husbandry and „maboella‟

revival - mobile auction nodes for ward clusters which participate in managed

grazing, to link with enabling buyer environment and veld-raised beef standards

- explore local animal product processing with mobile abattoir, hide processing, link with local butcheries and food chains, tannery etc.

NOTE: Livestock health and marketing support programme provided to grazing programme participants as incentives to co-operate in agreed rotational rest & grazing plan to restore rangeland quality and basal cover

x × x x × x x x x All wards Current: 8, 14

DRDLR, DAFF, CSA, LIMA, INR, ERS, Donors: DRDLR, DAFF, DEA NRM LUI programme Onderstepoort, Universities, Heifer International, Woolworths MassMart

Equipment: R150 000 per ward for mobile stock handling facilities, plus R50 000 for mobile overnight kraaling equipment per grazing area / village. Mobile abattoir truck: R1 million, for MLM to support local slaughtering at auction sites to reduce transport challenges. Training & Facilitation:

Ongoing

SOIL CONSERVATION: Donga control& rehabilitation × x x x x x x × All wards

Current: LIMA, INR, ERS, CSA, , DEDEAT, DRDLR Donors: DEA NRM programme / WfW; LandCare; EPWP

R30 000/ha, combined with alien clearing teams and managed grazing

Minimum 3 years

SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING - minimum tillage, water harvesting and soil conservation measures in lands and home gardens; poultry, peaches, agri-hubs

x x x x x x x x All wards Current: LIMA?

LIMA, Mahlathini Organics, , SAVEACT, DAFF, DRDLR, ERS, INR Donors: DAFF, DRDLR, ECDC

Different costs for different crops. Average R50 000/ha initial investment

3 years kick start cycle then ongoing

WETLAND REHABILITATION & protection × x x × x × × 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13,19, 25, 26

Current: 12, 13 EWT, DEDEAT, DWAS Donors: DEA NRM programme / WfW; LandCare; EPWP

R12 500/ha combined with managed grazing and Env Education outreach

Annually in clusters

2. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY USE & RECYCLING

Solar: centralised & home based × x x x × × All wards, even close to grid Local entrepreneurs; Project 2010X90 Very expensive! PSPs would need to quote on

specific situations Long term operation at decreasing cost

Mini Hydro power schemes x x x x x x Matatiele town; Wards along

higher altitudes Appropriate design engineers and universities; ANDM Donors: IDC; ECDC

Very expensive! PSPs would need to quote on specific situations

Long term operation at decreasing cost

Wattle to charcoal × x x x x x x All wards, with cluster nodes with

central depot for transport EIA, design, feasibility and business planning PSPs would need to quote on specific situations Medium term while wattle biomass

is plentiful

Biogas from waste, linked to sanitation systems × x x x × x All villages and schools ANDM PSPs would need to quote on specific situations Long term

3. TOURISM AND MARKETING

Development of birding routes × x × x × Ongeluksnek valley & reserves BirdLife SA, EWT, ECPTA, MTDP Boardwalks, signage, brochures etc R200 000 One year for Medium term

Implement Marketing strategy with R56Matat tourism association & branding strategy and TDP guidelines

× x Nodes in TDP ECPTA, Route56Matat tourism association, MDTP, local tourism operators and accommodation facilities, ERS

As per business plans. Brochures, web site links, promotional events with media R80 000

Annually

Annual sporting & cultural events: Mehloding horse race, Freedom Challenge, Lesotho Thin air MTB, Transfrontier race, Berg to Beach

x x x x x Mehloding, UCPP, Route56Matat, MDTP, ANDM, UCPP R100 000 per event plus local sponsorship Annually

4. EXPAND PROTECTED AREAS & SECURE WATERSHED

Stewardship proclamation for upper catchment water factory protection & ECPAES with tourism, conservation & managed grazing

× x x x x x x × All areas from 1800m upwards, plus expansion of ONR; wetland areas along valley bottoms

MLM as proponent with support from ECPTA, EWT, DEDEAT, ERS, MDTP, CSA, WESSA, DRDLR, TAs Donors: GEF-5; DEA, MDTP, CEPF short term

Institutional costs can be covered by ECPTA, MDTP and DEDEAT. Consultation, and workshopping approx R20 000 per village. CEPF has limited $ til 09/2015 for facilitation

Approx One year for establishment, Long term operation

Communal custodianship proclamations in other CBA nodes × x x x x x x High biodiversity nodes DEDEAT, ECPTA , EWT, MDTP, ERS, As above As above

Transfrontier conservation area with Lesotho x × x x x x × Ongeluksnek (13 & 14) &

Makhoba / Mzongwana (5, 7 & 9) DEDEAT, MDTP, ECPTA, DEA, ERS, EWT Donors: GEF-5; DEA, MDTP

Two years establishment, then long term

5. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS & CAPACITY BUILDING

Global environmental events hosted locally (at least 4 per year): develop calendar of events and priority days

x x x x x × ward committees, officials , schools, tribal auth,

Local UCPP NGOs, ANDM, DEDEAT MLM & ANDM, DWS, DEDEAT, Local NGO budgets

Approx R25 000 per event for catering, branded goods, posters, transport. Use buildings not tents

Annually

Ecoranger career development: for youth who cannot access formal tertiary education and who want to contribute to conservation economy

x x x x x x x x x × Youth in all wards CSA, EWT, WESSA, ERS, LIMA, INR EU; Dept Education??

Approx 3 years initial then ongoing

Contractor up-skilling for compliance to reduce ecosystem damage: introduce green certification as part of tender process

x x x x x × All PSPs for infrastructure delivery

ANDM, DWA/S, DEDEAT, ERS, WESSA, EWT District water demand budget?

PSPs can pay for course or District could sponsor training for complaint PSPs and ocntractors

1 month prep, one week training

Community Env awareness & Ecoschools support and outreach x x x x x × All wards WESSA, DEDEAT, NGOs

DEDEAT WESSA has some budget and extensive programme; DEDEAT links

ongoing