The MBSP is an up-to-date, fine-scale plan that identifies a province-wide network of Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) that:
Achieve national and provincial biodiversity targets on the least amount of land possible
Have the least conflict with other forms of land-use
Favour areas that are important for freshwater ecosystems and water security
Promote adaptation to climate change and connectivity across the landscape.
Satellite data and other data were collected from across the province and the entire area divided into planning units based on the data analysis. These ranged in size from about 10 ha to 500 ha. The data used in the analysis ranged widely from surface reflectance values to known distributions of hundreds of plant and animal species, and current land-uses. The data were compiled into two maps; one for terrestrial critical biodiversity areas and one for freshwater. Our task was to interpret the process of data capture and creation of the maps on an A0 poster in a way that shows the complexity and scale of data and also, using a land-use guidelines matrix, show how different land-uses could be accommodated within different categories of biodiversity units.
This is the result (there's a high res version on our Facebook page):
Mpumalanga Biodiversity Sector Plan Map
In addition to the map, we designed and published a handbook explaining in detail the role and management recommendations for biodiversity.