A wide variety of initiatives have been undertaken at all levels of government to conserve the Terrestrial Resource base of the Durban Metropolitan Area (DMA).

Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D'MOSS)
D'MOSS was launched in 1989 in the former Durban Municipal Area. Its aim is to protect the city's environmental quality for current and future residents. A network of open spaces has been created. Rivers, beaches and other open space corridors are being used to link important conservation and recreational areas. In 1998, a new initiative called the D'MOSS Framework Plan was initiated with the aim of extending the D'MOSS system to the entire metropolitan area of Durban. It is estimated that the total open space within the DMA with D'MOSS potential is of the order of 45 090ha. This represents approximately 33% of the total DMA of 136 235ha. The D'MOSS Framework Plan has identified 26 Priority Action Areas i.e. areas which are not protected or zoned as open space or conservation, but that require urgent attention so as to protect and/or secure the benefits and services they deliver or have the potential to deliver. These areas can be seen on this map.

Protected Areas
A number of the DMA's important conservation areas are protected as Registered Protected Areas. In addition to these sites, other areas are protected by land use zoning. In total, only 14% of the Durban Metropolitan Area is zoned or protected open space.

Conservancies
Voluntary conservancies play an important role in protecting open space and natural resources in the DMA. These community based organisations lobby for conservation and actively manage natural resources in many areas. Industrial Conservancies are becoming more common (for example the Hammarsdale Industrial Conservancy). These conservancies are often able to achieve significant results for conservation of water, terrestrial and atmospheric resources in a specific area.

Operation Gumdrop
Operation Gumdrop is run mainly by community based organisations in the Outer West substructure of the DMA. It is aimed at removing Eucalyptus species (commonly termed Gum Trees) which are exotic to South Africa. These trees are depriving indigenous vegetation of already scarce water resources. Timber felling contractors are invited into various areas to fell and remove Gum Trees. The contractors may sell the timber for profit, provided they donate something back to the community in the area. These donations usually include indigenous seed or seedlings, herbicides or fertiliser which are used to improve the conservation status and aesthetic appeal of the area.

Durban Metropolitan Environmental Policy Initiative
An Environmental Management Policy has been prepared for the Durban Metropolitan Area. Objective E5 of the policy addresses the management of open space, and associated biodiversity, throughout the city.

Objective E5: To provide for and manage a metropolitan open space system in order to ensure the long-term survival of habitats and to sustain the range of services that open space provides to humans

Policy Statement: The economic and intrinsic value of open space in D'MOSS shall be acknowledged, protected and enhanced Local government recognises the findings of the D'MOSS Spatial Framework Plan Local government shall provide adequate resources for the establishment and management of D'MOSS Local government shall optimise the public benefit derived from the use of and access to open space in Durban Local government shall work towards the goal of ensuring access to public open spaces by all, including physical access by disabled people Local government shall establish mechanisms to deal with conflicts arising from competing potential uses of open space in a fair and balanced manner, which is informed by stakeholders

Possible Implementation Strategy: Incorporating sensitive or unique natural areas, including wetlands, indigenous grasslands and sites of geological and historical significance, into D'MOSS Establishing links between D'MOSS protected areas and open spaces and conservancies registered with the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Board Establishing community gardens with access to river irrigation and integrating these sites with D'MOSS Rehabilitation of degraded open space Tree planting programmes emphasising indigenous species, including medicinal planting Eradication of invasive alien vegetation for water conservation and job creation benefits Land-use control instruments Conflict resolution mechanisms Development and enhancement of the Botanic Gardens and natural areas.