This map shows the results of the terrestrial biodiversity assessment. The approach used incorporates:

• Use of fine-scale planning units able to be used at provincial and local municipal scales;
• Selection of a wide range of species and ecosystem features to define biodiversity;
• Use of cost surfaces to create bias for meeting terrestrial biodiversity targets within important aquatic planning units (subcatchments);
• Avoiding areas of conflict or threats from other priority land uses.

This combination of fine scale, large data sets, use of intelligent clumping of planning units and the integration of aquatic and terrestrial assessments, is also novel.

Results
Marxan calculates the smallest area required to meet all targets while minimizing land-use conflict and protecting important aquatic areas. It is able to calculate the ‘irreplaceability’ value of a parcel of land. This irreplaceability value is defined as the likelihood of a particular parcel being needed to meet biodiversity targets. The irreplaceability value and the minimum area required were then sorted into meaningful biodiversity assessment categories. 

These categories are:

	Protected areas: already managed for biodiversity protection
	Irreplaceable: 100% Irreplaceable - no other options available to meet targets
	Highly Significant: 50 - 99% Irreplaceable - very limited options available to meet targets
	Important & Necessary: lower irreplaceability value, less than 50% but still required to meet targets
	Least Concern: areas of natural habitat that could be used to meet some targets but not needed now, as long as other areas are not lost
	No natural habitat remaining: virtually all natural habitat has been irreversibly lost as a result of cultivation, timber plantations, mining, urban development.

Brief descriptions of these biodiversity assessment categories are included below. For further details, in terms of how to respond to the designation of these consult  Chapter 6 of the MBCP Handbook. Click on the highlighted priority areas on the map below for further information.

Descriptions of biodiversity assessment categories

	Protected areas: These include all formally proclaimed PAs on both state and private land. All are managed for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Such use includes: commercial naturebased tourism, education, and limited production and harvesting of wild resources, especially game animals. State owned PAs are required to be managed in terms of formal management plans and to benefit local communities. All PAs contribute to meeting biodiversity targets, although not all were originally established for their biodiversity values.  AREA: 4.4% (+10.4% KNP) already managed for biodiversity protection
	Irreplaceable: 1Irreplaceable areas are those of highest biodiversity value outside the formal PA network. They support unique biodiversity features, such as endangered species or rare habitat patches that do not occur anywhere else in the province. These features have already been so reduced by loss of natural habitat, that 100% of what remains must be protected to achieve biodiversity targets. All land in this category must be managed for biodiversity conservation to meet the targets set. All development must be strictly controlled in line with biodiversity conservation objectives. AREA: 2.4%
	Highly Significant: Highly significant areas are those where biodiversity has been heavily compromised and very few options remain to meet biodiversity targets. Natural vegetation cover in these areas should be maintained or restored. Any significant habitat loss may cause these areas to become irreplaceable. Approved developments or changes in land use must be compatible with conservation objectives, e.g. well managed livestock grazing. If development is unavoidable, such land uses must be made sufficiently dispersed and/or small scale, so as to be biodiversity friendly. Decisions on landuse changes will require a biodiversity specialist study as part of the EIA. AREA: 12.3%
	Important & Necessary: lBiodiversity in this category is relatively intact. It represents the areas which most efficiently contribute to meeting biodiversity targets and minimise landuse conflict. If biodiversity is lost from these areas, larger areas will be required elsewhere for targets to be met. This category allows some flexibility and there are options for development. However, approved developments or changes in land use must still be compatible with conservation objectives.Decisions on land-use changes will require a biodiversity specialist study as part of the EIA. Developments most antagonistic to biodiversity should be discouraged. AREA: 9.5%
	Least Concern: These areas have biodiversity value in the form of natural vegetation cover. Although they are not currently required in order to meet biodiversity targets, they do contribute significantly to functioning ecosystems, including ecological connectivity. A greater variety of development choices exists in these areas. However they are still subject to National EIA legislation, where at least a scoping report is required for all listed activities. AREA: 25.2%
	No natural habitat remaining: This category covers the rest of the Province in which natural vegetation has been lost. It includes all land transformed by urban / industrial development and cultivation. Biodiversity is irreversibly changed, reduced to levels that are virtually dysfunctional. These landscapes have only residual or negative effects on the functioning of natural ecosystems. AREA: 35.8%
	Ecological Corridors: The purpose of ecological corridors is to provide intact mega-pathways for longterm biological movement. They are selected primarily along river-lines and altitudinal gradients to provide for the natural retreat and advance of plants and animals in response to environmental change. Where possible they are also selected to follow lines of intact natural habitat and to link areas holding the Province’s most valuable ecological assets. Ecological corridors function at the landscape scale and for the very long term. Natural vegetation in corridors should be maintained, loss of natural habitat minimised, and restoration encouraged. Approved development or changes in land-use must be compatible with conservation objectives. Decisions on land use change may require a biodiversity specialist study as part of the EIA.

Areas highlight on MBCP Map

Long Tom Pass - Graskop
Value: important sub-catchment; unique grassland & forest types; blue swallow; endemic and threatened plant species; centre of plant endemism; golden moles; endemic reptiles; unique caves and bat species.
Pressures: alien plant invasion; mining, urban development; timber plantations.

Crocodile Gorge
Value: special forest type known only from this locality; locally endemic threatened
plant species (Streptocarpus fasciatus) and important muthi plants (Siphonochilus aethiopicus).
Pressures: granite quarrying; alien plant invasion; wood cutting & plant harvesting.

Kaalrug
Value: important sub-catchment; unique forest and grassland types; endemic plant species; threatened snake species; Barberton girdled lizard.
Pressures: quarrying; alien plant invasion; timber plantations.

Mananga
Value: important sub-catchment; threatened and muthi plants; unique bushveld type; reptile species; whistling rain frog.
Pressures: sugar cane; agricultural development; urban development.

Barberton
Value: important sub-catchment; unique grassland and forest patches; endemic and threatened plants; centre of plant endemism; golden mole; threatened bats; endemic reptiles (Barberton girdled lizard).
Pressures: mining; alien plant invasion; timber plantations.

Kaapsehoop
Value: important sub-catchment; grassland and forest types; blue swallow; endemic and threatened plants; centre of plant endemism ; golden moles.
Pressures: alien plant invasion; mining; timber plantations.

Badplaas
Value: important sub-catchment; large montane grassland patch; forest patch; unique grassland types; birds; rough-haired golden mole.
Pressures: agriculture, mining; alien plant invasion.

Chrissiesmeer
Value: sub-catchment; wetlands & unique pans; water birds; variety of grassland types; blue & wattled cranes; endemic grassland birds; muthi plants
Pressures: coal mining; cultivated lands; pollution.

Wakkerstroom
Value: important sub-catchment; grassland and forest vegetation types; important grassland patch; threatened plant species; golden mole; blue and wattled crane nest sites; endemic grassland birds. These highveld grasslands are amongst the most threatened.
Pressures: coal mining; timber plantations; agriculture; alien plant invasion.

Dullstroom-Belfast
Value: important sub-catchment; unique grassland; threatened and endemic plant species; centre of plant endemism; blue and wattled crane; robust golden mole; endemic grasslandbirds.
Pressures: urban development; agricultural and mining development; alien plant invasion.

Middelburg-Loskop
Value: sub-catchment; unique grassland type; important highveld grassland patch; threatened plant species. 
Pressures: mining; pollution; land-use conflict; alien
plant invasion; plant harvesting.

Bronberge
Value: important sub-catchment; Juliana's  golden mole; threatened plants; grassland types.
Pressures: urban development; alien plant invasion.

Sekhukhuneland
Value: centre of plant endemism; unique grassland & savanna vegetation types; threatened plant species; important bird area.
Pressures: rapid urban and industrial development; mining; water availability & flow; plant harvesting; alien plant invasion.