Guidelines for the Introduction and Management of Extralimital and Other Game
Project Type:
Management Planning
Client:
Botlierskop Private Game Reserve
Consultants:
Apex Conservation Services
Associate:
Conservation Management Services
Location:
In the southern portion of the Western Cape Province of South Africa, midway between Mossel Bay and George along the southern Cape coast.
Year: 2019
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Summary:
Botlierskop Private Game Reserve (BKPGR) has acquired additional properties aligned with its expansion strategy and a revised and consolidated game reserve plan, inclusive of all its properties was required. Apex Conservation Services was approached to revise and consolidate these plans. This management plan needs to address the management requirements of all the game present on the reserve, as per the requirements of CapeNature.
The primary objective of the Botlierskop Private Game Reserve Management Plan is to address the objectives of the 2016 Game Translocation and Utilization Policy (GTUP) for the Western Cape Province: 1) To ensure that risks posed to biodiversity by the introduction of extralimital game species are effectively mitigated; 2) To ensure sustainable utilization; 3) To ensure ecological integrity of species (address ecological risks); and 4) To ensure effective protection, security and compliance.
The management plan provided an ecological review of the properties, habitat condition and habitat capability in terms of game, the ecological capacity and stocking rate, and game management. The latter provided a review of naturally occurring game species on the properties. A review was also undertaken of species introduced into the area, both for those that are extralimital and for species that are indigenous to the Western Cape. Reviews and risk assessments were done for those species not previously reviewed. Recommendations were also provided for population management, as well as for monitoring and auditing.
The revision and consolidation of the management plans simplified permitting and regulated administrative requirements for our clients in their application to CapeNature, while providing sustainable management practices to be implemented on the property.