Macassar Dunes Co-management project

Macassar Dunes Eco-trail Project

Aim
The project aims to create a visible and broadly supported development intervention in the Macassar dunes area (Cape Town, South Africa), which harnesses tourism and community participation so as to enhance the conservation value of the area, raise environmental awareness, foster long-term conservation goals and create local employment.

Project Summary

Background
The Macassar dunes project is located on the Cape Town coast adjacent to Macassar and Khayelitsha and is bounded by the Eerste River in the east, Baden Powell drive in the north west and False Bay to the south. The property is owned by the Department of Public Works and is zoned as rural.

This project was initiated in 1999 when funding was made available through the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism’s (DEAT) Poverty Alleviation Fund for the Macassar Dunes Co-management Project. This project aimed to establish a representative organisation that would ultimately play a major role in long-term planning, management and decision-making about the Macassar dunes. The initial project was launched in 1999 by the City of Cape Town (Tygerberg Administration), in partnership with the Centre for Integrated Rural Development (CIRD); the EEU; and the Khayelitsha Education and Resource Information Centre (KERIC).
The project was supported by the Chief Directorate: Marine and Coastal Management (DEAT), to give effect to objectives contained in the 2000 White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa.

A key outcome of this early period of activities was the establishment of the Macassar Dunes Co-Management Association (MDCA), which was constituted as a legal entity in 2003. The MDCA was mandated to implement various projects identified by stakeholders.

Projects identified included the development of an eco-trail and a basic educational facility; the implementation of an ongoing alien vegetation clearing and rehabilitation programme; awareness raising, training and capacity building for stakeholder groups; as well as the appointment and training of community monitors to provide a safe and secure environment.
The EEU has provided ongoing facilitation and support for the activities of the Management Committee members and has provided training and capacity building towards effective co-management with the City of Cape Town.

Current activities
Funding was obtained from USAID, DEAT and the National Lotteries Board in 2005 for the implementation of a project based on the Macassar Dunes Eco-trails Feasibility study of 2001. Two of these funds are administered by the EEU and the DEAT fund, subsequently withdrawn, was administered by Bergstan consulting engineers. Funds have however been combined to ensure the planning and implementation of one integrated project, and the EEU collaborates closely with Bergstan to maximise the benefit of the various funds.
Project objectives

The main project objectives are to:

Provide and manage access to the dune area for recreational use, and to improve safety and security for users of the area

Provide infrastructure and facilities for resource users, tourists and educational groups so as to harness opportunities presented by the area

Protect and enhance the ecosystem services of the dunes through conservation of the biodiversity and integrity of the dunes

Raise awareness amongst local residents and dune users of the ecological and resource value of dunes, through environmental education and recreational activities

Provide training and employment for trail and site maintenance staff, community monitors, and trail guides and provide possible opportunities for local crafters.

Project components

The intention is to provide basic infrastructure facilities within the vicinity of the large western dune. The Macassar Dunes development project comprises 3 Sub-projects:

The construction of access roads, bulk services infrastructure (e.g. electricity and water), a parking area and a facility to control access
A system of trails (mostly existing sand tracks) providing access to the dunes, the beach and look-out points, with interpretive signage
The possibility of an Environmental Education / Multipurpose Centre, including ablution facilities, offices and a kiosk. This component is still under discussion with stakeholders.

Progress to date has included the following activities:

The EEU has held meetings and workshops with major stakeholders and specialists, resulting in a design concept to be used as the basis for the Environmental and Heritage Impact Assessment scoping processes.
Scoping Report documents were submitted to the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning in April 2006 for authorization.
Bergstan has prepared a detailed design of the civil services, road and parking area, and has produced tender documents
An additional process has included formal applications for a land lease agreement between the land owner, the Department of Public Works and the City of Cape Town.
A specialist Traffic Impact Assessment was commissioned, relating in particular to the intersection of the proposed access road. A final road alignment design has been concluded.
The EEU has engaged with the MDCA on an on-going basis to develop their ability to participate in co-management of the area with the City of Cape Town.

The EEU, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town and the MDCA, has also engaged in some smaller sub-projects relating to the Macassar Dunes area. Interpretive signage has been designed and printed on large steel boards, dealing with subjects such as “Dunes on the move”, “Sandy Shores”, and “Off-road vehicles”. In addition, a full colour, environmental education brochure has been developed, printed and distributed to a range of stakeholders (click here to request a copy from the EEU). A further sub-project has been the clearing of 63 hectares of alien vegetation from the western dunes, using five recently-established local contractors.

Publications and Reports

Macassar Dunes Nature Reserve colour brochure 2006

Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU). 2006. Scoping Report for the Macassar Dunes Eco-Trails Project. Prepared for the city of Cape Town by EEU, University of Cape Town. EEU Report No. 2/06/271

Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU). 2002. Macassar Dunes Co-management Project Update: Year Two. EEU, University of Cape Town. EEU Report No. 9/02/230.

Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU). 2001. Macassar Dunes Co-management Demonstration Project: Project Summary Year One. EEU, University of Cape Town. Report No. 10/01/222. Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU). 2001. Macassar Dunes Co-management Demonstration Project: Preliminary Needs Assessment. EEU, University of Cape Town. EEU Report No. 3/01/216.