What is the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System

The Durban Metropolitan Open Space System, currently 94 000 hectares in extent, is a spatial layer of interconnecting open spaces in public, private and traditional authority ownership that seeks to protect the biodiversity and associated ecosystem services of Durban for future generations.

Examples of areas included in D’MOSS are nature reserves (e.g. Paradise Valley, Burman Bush and Kenneth Stainbank Reserve), large rural landscapes in the upper catchments and riverine and coastal corridors. D’MOSS is mapped by the Biodiversity Planning Branch of the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) in consultation with relevant experts.

From a natural resource perspective, D’MOSS includes approximately 2 400 ha of estuarine environment, including sand and mudbanks, mangrove and swamp forests; 14 000 ha of forests including dune, coastal and scarp forests; 7 500 ha of wetlands including floodplains, swamp forest and reedbeds; 13 000 ha of grassland including the threatened KZN Sandstone Sourveld Grasslands; and 40 000 ha of dry valley thicket.

D’MOSS thus provides a unique opportunity to conserve many of South Africa’s threatened ecosystems and species including: the endangered KZN Sandstone Sourveld grasslands; the critically endangered Brachystelma natalense (a small herbaceous plant); and the endangered Oribi, Spotted Ground Thrush, and Pickersgill’s Reed Frog. If protected and managed, D’MOSS will assist the province and the country in meeting biodiversity conservation targets.

Why is D’MOSS important?
Apart from contributing to the attainment of provincial and national biodiversity conservation targets, D’MOSS provides a range of services to all residents of Durban, including the formation of soil, erosion control, water supply and regulation, climate regulation, cultural and recreational opportunities, raw materials for craft and building, food production, pollination, nutrient cycling and waste treatment.

From a climate adaptation perspective, the biodiversity that is protected within D’MOSS plays an important role. The impacts of sea level rise, for example, can be reduced by ensuring the protection of well vegetated fore-dunes and setting coastal developments back from vulnerable areas. Increased flood events can be moderated by ensuring that wetlands and floodplains are protected and where necessary rehabilitated. Predicted increased temperatures can also be alleviated by D’MOSS as vegetated areas assist with cooling.

D’MOSS also plays a substantial role in climate change mitigation. Research undertaken in 2006 found that D’MOSS stores the equivalent of 24.7±0.6 million tons of carbon dioxide. In addition, it was conservatively calculated that it sequesters between 31 000 and 36 000 tons of carbon dioxide per annum. Wetlands and forest ecosystems store the most carbon, while disturbed woodlands and alien thickets store the least. These more degraded D’MOSS areas offer restoration opportunities using poverty alleviation projects, providing benefits to biodiversity, people and the climate. Read more about the restoration of habitats by clickinghere.

D’MOSS boundaries and D'MOSS GIS

D’MOSS is designed to maintain:

As many functional ecosystems as possible

The widest range of open space types (e.g. grassland, forests, wetland)

Physical links between open spaces to allow for the flow of genetic material, energy, water and nutrients.

Physical links to and between significant sources of biodiversity (e.g. Pondoland and Maputaland centres of plant diversity) to prevent local species extinctions in the eThekwini Municipal Area.

Physical links along the coast, connecting river catchments to marine sources of biodiversity.

D’MOSS boundaries do change, usually for one of the following reasons:

1. The attrition of the D’MOSS as a result of development
    
2. The addition of areas to the D’MOSS as a result of mitigation measures imposed during the development approval process
    
3. Changes to the composition of habitats as a result of ecological disturbance

Land identified as environmentally sensitive may be viewed on City Maps on the Home Page of the municipality’s website www.durban.gov.za

The value of D’MOSS to the City

A Work Bank report completed in 2017 shows that natural and semi-natural systems within the eThekwini Municipal Area give rise to flows of ecosystem services worth at least R4.2 billion per year. The total asset value of these areas are estimated to be at least R48 — 62 billion. Without these free services, the municipality would require an unaffordable increase to its budget to provide these services, especially in the rural areas, where communities rely heavily on the natural environment for daily needs.

These ecosystem services help meet our basic needs and enhance our quality of life. The Biodiversity Impact Assessment Branch of the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) is responsible for assessing, and in some cases, regulating development that is proposed within or adjacent to D’MOSS to ensure that biodiversity is protected and the supply of ecosystem goods and services is maintained.  This ensures that the quality of life of all residents is enhanced and contributes to ensuring that Durban will be able to respond to the expected impacts of a changing climate.

What can you do to protect biodiversity

The challenges to biodiversity may seem overwhelming, but decisions are made one at a time, with each individual playing some part in making a difference. Durban residents and ratepayers have an extremely important role to play in protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Here are just some of the things you can do:

Plant indigenous

Plant an indigenous garden. Indigenous plants and trees thrive in local soil and climate conditions. They are resistant to pests and diseases and are more likely to attract local wildlife. Let your garden become a wildlife sanctuary in your community. We need to create a mosaic of these sanctuaries all through the city, attracting birds, butterflies and possibly even frogs. If you have a flat roof, you could even plant a ‘green roof’! Only a small layer of soil is needed to be able to start a productive garden on your roof, and this will also help to attract a variety of insects and birds.

Reduce your ecological footprint

Reduce your ecological footprint by doing things like reducing your use of electricity, conserving water, recycling materials and using environmentally products. Using electricity for example, increases the production of greenhouse gases which cause climate change. Climate change in turn poses a serious threat to biodiversity.

You can conserve energy at home by buying energy efficient appliances, using compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs, using natural light wherever possible and using blinds to reduce heat and the need for an air-conditioner. You can reduce further production of greenhouse gases by lowering your use of fuel. Start a lift club and share transport instead of driving alone.

Almost every resource that we use comes at some environmental cost, either through the direct use of a natural product (e.g. wood from trees to make paper; plants for medicinal purposes) or through the destruction of part of an ecosystem. For example, over-extraction of water reduces the ability of river ecosystems to function.  You can reduce your water consumption by watering your plants with ‘grey water’ (used water from your bathroom and kitchen) or by directing your gutters at home towards the lawn or a rain barrel instead of the pavement. The less water we use, the less damage is done to river ecosystems. The more each of us is able to reduce our footprint, the less we will demand from our natural resources and the lower the risk to biodiversity.

Become a Critical Consumer

Urban living cuts you off from nature. You are cut off from the sources of your food and the other resources you consume. You are also cut off from the places your waste is taken to. Develop more of an interest in the biodiversity consequences of your consumption.

Buy local fruit and vegetables that haven’t used enormous amounts of fuel to get to you. Wherever possible, select organic products that have been produced without the use of pesticides and fertilisers that are harmful to natural ecosystems and biodiversity.  Practice green consumerism by buying environmentally friendly products and refuse plastic bags when these are given to you. Plastic is a petroleum based-product and, since petroleum is a fossil fuel, greenhouse gases are released when plastic is produced. Greenhouse gases contribute towards climate change, posing a risk to biodiversity.

Become a Biodiversity Activist

Join a local conservancy which promotes biodiversity conservation, or start your own. Contribute to groups such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) that work to conserve biodiversity.

Familiarise yourself with regulations that govern zoning and the use of environmental servitudes and abide by these if your property falls into a category that requires environmental protection. Before developing land, consult with the EPCPD to find out about biodiversity constraints.

Durban Metropolitan Open Space System FAQ

D’MOSS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THE ETHEKWINI PLANNING SCHEMES

BACKGROUND:

For many years D’MOSS existed purely as a policy directive of Council and was implemented in terms of this directive.  Due to uncertainty in some quarters on its status with respect to the existing zoning under the respective planning schemes and too often the undertaking of abortive work by some individuals proceeding purely in terms of the existing zoning and unaware of D’MOSS existence, it was decided to integrate D’MOSS into the respective planning schemes as a control area or overlay.

This action would also immediately bring its existence to the attention of anyone inspecting a scheme map. Accordingly following the advertising of a general scheme amendment in the press on a number of occasions in 2009, the holding of a number of public meetings throughout the city, the serving of notices by post on some 18 000 land owners and careful analysis and consideration of all the comments received, D’MOSS was finally integrated into the respective original 54 eThekwini Municipality schemes following its formal adoption by Council on 9 December 2010.

With the consolidation of the Regional Schemes, efforts are now being made to depict D’MOSS on the respective five schemes as overlays over the zoning and in addition D'MOSS may be found as a green (switchable) layer on the Council’s Geographic Information System (GIS).

The GIS is accessible from web site:
http://citymaps.durban.gov.za/website/master/viewer.htm

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What does the acronym D’MOSS represent?
A. The acronym D’MOSS is shorthand for the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System; this was also previously known as the eThekwini Environmental Services Management Plan or EESMP.

Q. Why is D’MOSS being incorporated into the planning scheme and not being left as a policy layer as in the past?
A. The ability of the eThekwini Municipality to enforce D’MOSS while it was purely a Council policy, albeit in a spatial layer, was limited because it did not enjoy the legislative authority it would have enjoyed as part of a town planning scheme backed by the Natal Town Planning Ordinance No 27 of 1949, as amended.

In addition the environmental qualities of a site may have an impact on development aspirations and municipal and market property values. Introducing D'MOSS formally into the planning scheme regime has reduced these past uncertainties and should lead to far less conflicts with affected parties.

N.B.The planning legal framework for town planning schemes, i.e. the Natal Town Planning Ordinance No 27 of 1949, as amended, was replaced by the KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Act No 6 of 2008 from 1 May 2010 and in terms of which all new development applications must be launched. This will not materially affect the individual schemes framed under the former.

Q. Is D’MOSS a zone, and if not, what is it and its implications?
A. D’MOSS is a layer that overlies the underlying town planning scheme zoning. It is a controlled area wherein, despite the underlying zoning, development may not occur without having first obtained the necessary environmental authorisation or support from the Environmental Planning & Climate Protection Department of the eThekwini Municipality, which may or may not be given.

Where it is given it is likely to be subject to significant controls to ensure that the biodiversity and/or the ecosystem goods and services of the designated land is not deleteriously affected.

Q. What is the role of the Environmental Planning & Climate Protection Department in the development assessment process?
A.The Environmental Planning & Climate Protection Department, through its Biodiversity Impact Assessment Branch, assesses all development applications forwarded to it by other departments. These are applications that fall either within or adjacent to the D’MOSS areas and include building plans, special consent applications, rezoning applications, subdivision/township applications or site development plans for multi-unit developments.

The Biodiversity Impact Assessment Branch will assess the potential impact on the environment of the development as proposed, if necessary in conjunction with the Biodiversity Branch, whereafter it will make its recommendations for approval, approval with conditions or refusal, as the case may be.

Q. Will D’MOSS ever be changed to a zone?
A. No. There is no intention to change D’MOSS from a controlled area or layer to a conventional zone. Having said that it may occur that where more definitive boundaries are established for the sensitive environmental areas, that these specific areas will be zoned to Environmental Conservation Reserve when it is intended that these areas are to be acquired to form part of (say) a nature reserve, or to Conservation Zone, if they are to be left in private ownership but permanently protected from development. The latter may have certain rate advantages for the owners (see below). In such cases the D’MOSS footprint is likely to be adjusted to fit the new zone.

Q. How is a D’MOSS controlled area defined within the planning schemes?
A. The following is extracted from Clause 1 - Interpretation of Terms in the planning schemes. "D’MOSS Controlled area" means any area demarcated upon the map by the overprinting of a green hatched pattern (or by a green layer on the GIS), where, by reasons of the natural biodiversity, flora and fauna, topography, or the environmental goods and services provided or other like reasons, development or building may be prohibited, restricted, or permitted upon such conditions as may be specified having regard to the nature of the said area;

Q. What are the development controls or limitations imposed in the D’MOSS controlled areas in terms of the town planning scheme?

A. The following controls are extracted from Clause 10 of the Durban Scheme which deals with. Limitations upon Development Due to Lack of Services, Unsuitability of Land, Environmental and Other Causes in the schemes. N.B. these provisions are also to be found in the other Scheme, however, the numbering may vary between schemes.

(3)
(a)
No person shall, within a D’MOSS controlled area (as defined in clause 1) develop any land, or excavate or level any site, or remove any natural vegetation from, or erect any structure of any nature whatsoever, dump on or in or carry out any work upon such site without having first obtained the prior approval of the Council in terms of this sub-clause.

(b)
No such approval shall be given unless the Head: Development Planning Environment and Management, after due examination, and subject to such conditions as he/she may specify, is satisfied that any such development, erection or other work referred to in paragraph (a) hereof can be carried out without materially and/or temporarily degrading, destroying, or negatively impacting on the integrity of the biodiversity and/or environmental goods and services found or generated within the said area.

(c)
For the purpose of any examination referred to in paragraph (b), the applicant shall, where required by the Head: Development Planning Environment and Management submit such plans or other supporting documentation as the Head: Development Planning Environment and Management may require. Without affecting the generality of the aforegoing, such plans and supporting documentation may be required by the Head: Development Planning Environment and Management to be certified as being correct by an appropriately recognised/registered Environmental Consultant.

(d)
The conditions referred to in paragraph (b) hereof may be such as to: -
(i) Restrict the form or nature of the building or structure;
(ii) Limit the size and/or shape of the building or structure;
(iii) Prescribe or restrict the materials of which the building or structure is to be constructed;
(iv) Determine the siting of any building or structure and of any soakpits or other drainage works;
(vi) Prohibit or control any excavation on the site, the construction of any roadways, paths and other garden features;
(vii) Prohibit or control the removal of any natural vegetation;
(viii) Control any other aspects which the Head: Development Planning Environment and Management considers to be desirable.

(e)
In any approval or any conditions as may be specified by the Head: Development Planning Environment and Management above, the applicant shall enjoy a right of appeal to the KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Appeal Tribunal  as established in terms of Section 100(1) of the KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Act No 6 of 2008.

Q. What is a conservation servitude?
A. A conservation servitude (sometimes called a non-user conservation servitudes or NUCS) is a servitude registered over a property, normally in favour of the local authority, expressly for the purpose of protecting the biodiversity and/or environmental goods and services found on that property. The servitude diagram would normally be prepared by a land surveyor.

Q. Do D’MOSS controlled areas have to have conservation servitudes registered over them or will the title deed of the property need to be endorsed?
A. D’MOSS areas will not as a matter of course be defined by non-user conservation servitudes (NUCS), nor otherwise entrenched into the respective title deeds. Such a requirement could however be requested as part of the conditions of approval in terms of (say) a development plan submitted to Council. Such development approval may also require the management of the area in terms of an approved environmental management plan.

Q. What is an environmental management plan?
A. An environmental management plan is a detailed plan prepared by an environmental specialist that stipulates management activities that must be followed in minimizing any impact on the environment and, if necessary, in seeking to reverse past degradation.

It may in the case of a proposed development cover action to be taken prior to any construction activities, during construction and post construction, i.e. for the ongoing management of an area. A standard or basic environmental management plan may be obtained on request from the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department.

Q. Do D’MOSS controlled areas have to be fenced off?
A. D’MOSS areas will not necessarily be fenced off from the unaffected portion of the property, if this is the case. Such a requirement could however be required as a condition of approval in terms of (say) a development plan submitted to Council. Such development approval may also require the management of the area in terms of an approved environmental management plan.

It should be noted that when there is construction involved it is likely that the erection of a temporary fence/screen during the construction part of the environmental management plan will be a requirement. This is so as to ensure that the construction workers do not enter the sensitive environmental areas or deposit or leave behind building rubble within it.

Q. Are D’MOSS areas subject to nil rates or a rates rebate?
A. In normal circumstances D’MOSS designated areas are not automatically subjected to a rates rebate, although D'MOSS may impact on property values and thus rates payable. In order to obtain a rates rebate it will be necessary to apply for an Environmental Certificate in terms of Section 7.15 of the eThekwini Municipality Rates Policy.

The rates policy has to be set each year by Council and may vary from time to time. Currently in terms of this policy an application form would have to be submitted to the Environmental Planning & Climate Protection Department describing the significance of the property in terms of its biological and landscape features, how it is used by people, e.g. for recreation or education, its broader value to society as a supplier of environmental goods and services (e.g. wetlands reduce water run-off and flooding), whether the property has been recognized by others for its conservation value, whether it currently enjoys any legal protection, and if not whether the owner would be prepared to register an environmental servitude or alternatively allow Council to zone the affected portion of the property for conservation purposes.

It is also necessary to describe the threats that the environmental conservation area currently experiences, the management activities currently undertaken on the land and if so whether these occur as part of an environmental management plan. In summary successful applicants must meet three criteria; 1) the land must be environmentally significant, 2) the environmental asset must be protected, and 3) the land must be managed in terms of an environmental management plan.

Q. In including my property in the D'MOSS layer, is it being expropriated by Council and will I be compensated at market value?
A. No. The property remains in the ownership of the current land owner. The council does not take ownership; it does however restrict what may be done on the land. Accordingly there is no financial compensation paid.

Q. Surely, this is in violation of Section 25 of the South African Constitution relating to property rights and specifically that no one may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application, and that no law may permit arbitrary deprivation of property?
A. No. As stated above, the property remains in the ownership of the current owner and is not taken over by the Council. The property as a whole may still be developed, albeit that certain very restrictive conditions may be imposed on such development.

It should be noted that Section 24. of the South African Constitution, specifically relating to Environment, has relevance whereby everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations; through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation, and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

Flowing from this Section, the National Environmental Management Act No 107 of 1998 (NEMA) was framed and this is a law of general application. Any restriction of rights imposed via D’MOSS or via a Conservation Zone is not arbitrary, but is for the public good. Furthermore, legal opinion has been obtained confirming that there is no conflict with the South African Constitution even when land is zoned or designated for conservation purposes.
 

Q. What occurs if no development is allowed at all on the property, is there still no financial compensation paid?
A. If it so happens that a development application is lodged and at the end of the assessment process it emerges that no development is possible on the land that is otherwise zoned for (say) residential purposes, compensation would be paid at market value after taking into account other development limitations, e.g. over steep land.
 

Q. Is the Council responsible for managing the D’MOSS designated areas?
A. No, the Council does not have the human or financial resources to undertake such management. Nor is it legally entitled to manage private land without being recompensed by the owner of the land. The property is required to be managed by the land owner, as was the position in the past. However, the Council is developing extension and stewardship functions and through these functions aims to provide some limited assistance to landowners.

Q. Individual land owners do not have the necessary knowledge and/or the expertise to manage the D’MOSS areas particularly where invasive alien plants (IAPs) have to be removed, periodic burns carried out to remove moribund vegetation or annual fire breaks burnt; is there assistance that may be expected from Council in managing these areas?
A. The Environmental Planning & Climate Protection Department and the Natural Resources Section of the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department may offer limited extension assistance. In this regard the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department has also prepared “Fact Sheets” which may be obtained on request. There are also a number of private sector service providers that could also be contacted by landowners to assist.

Q. My property has D’MOSS over it yet most (or all) of this area is infested with invasive alien vegetation. What is the purpose of D’MOSS here?
A. The purpose of D’MOSS is to protect both biodiversity and ecosystem services. While most of the biodiversity value in the city is found in more pristine, indigenous habitats, many of the ecosystem goods and services can originate from both pristine and disturbed areas. In the latter case, examples can include buffering the effects of flooding to residents downstream, purifying water through natural filtration processes, or facilitating important nutrient cycles.

In many instances these areas act as conduits, linking better condition areas into a larger more viable system. The benefits of larger systems to biodiversity have been well documented and include reducing the genetic risks associated with inbreeding depression in animal and plant species as well as decreasing the threats associated with smaller fragmented habitats, known as 'edge effects'.
 

Q. Can joint owners alternatively set up a Special Rating Area and thereby through it employ outside parties to manage the environmentally sensitive area on their behalf?
A. A Special Rating Area could in theory be approved by Council that could then through its management body be tasked with managing the area. It is of course not necessary that a Special Rating Area be set up and tasked with the management of an area, equally a group of residents could jointly between themselves appoint a skilled service provider to assist in managing a particular area.

Q What are the requirements for setting up a Special Rating Area and how does it function?
A. Prior to setting up a Special Rating Area there are a number of policy caveats or requirements of Council that have first to be met: -

• The outside boundary of the Special Rating Area has to be clearly defined.
• The area must contain a minimum of two hundred properties or a minimum combined total market value of R 100 000 000 for all the contained properties.
• Sixty-six per cent of all the owners in the area and 51% by property value must agree to the proposal.
• The application to launch the Special Rating Area must be accompanied by a budget and business plan on the management by no later than 31 January preceding the start of the new municipal year for which the application is made.
• There has to be a proven commitment from a dedicated core of the residents to manage the Special Rating Area on an ongoing basis.

Even then, this is not generally an easy process and may take a considerable time to achieve. If a Special Rating Area is eventually approved, a small additional amount is added to the property rates. These monies are then transferred by Council to a Section 21 (not for profit) company specifically set up for the purpose of managing the Special Rating Area. Further advice on this option may be obtained from the Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department.