Celebrating our precious resources

Celebrating our precious resources

A look at conservation efforts across the provinces

South Africa ranks as the third most biodiverse country in the world. The country boasts diverse biomes, including forests, deserts, estuaries and marine systems.

Home to more than 95 000 known species, its biodiversity is a key part of South Africa’s economy and culture. It supports heritage, traditional medicine, and economic drivers such as tourism, fishing, farming and industry.

But to ensure it continues to provide well-being and livelihoods, this biodiversity must be protected through a wide range of conservation efforts.

These are just four ways South Africans are working to conserve our biodiversity:

Mapping Marine areas

Around three-quarters of the world’s ocean remains unmapped, which has hampered marine conservation efforts, especially in the face of climate change. However, a partnership between the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi), the University of Cape Town and underwater exploration outfit Wreckless Marine is contributing to the efforts to map the world’s oceans. They contribute data to the Nippon Foundation-Gebco Seabed 2030 project, which aims to produce a complete ocean floor map by 2030. Sanbi uses information gathered to contribute to a national map of the marine ecosystem types.

South Africa is home to 10% of the world’s plant species; 7% of its reptile, bird and mammal species; and 15% of its marine species

Mapping our seabed is essential for several reasons, including tracking the impacts of climate change research, managing ocean resources, and protecting biodiversity.

South Africa has 163 different ecosystem types in our mainland ocean territory, and mapping these areas allows researchers to begin understanding the sensitivities of those different ecosystem types. Many marine areas are sensitive to commercial activity, such as mining and trawling, and identifying where they are can help protect them from those activities.

THE SUCCULENT KAROO

The Succulent Karoo, which crosses from southern Namibia down the West Coast of South Africa and east into the Klein Karoo, is home to around one-third of the world’s succulent plant species. Many of those are endemic to the area.

Ensuring these species are protected is the work of the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa. The organisation, founded in 1995, has funded the expansion and establishment of 300 000ha of nature reserves and national parks in the region. This is to protect the unique plants, animals, and landscapes found here.

The organisations also fund projects with partners working with communities and farmers in the area to educate them on conservation and support them in their work as biodiversity stewards. Ensuring protected spaces in this area is especially important in the face of increasing mining activities.

STOPPING RHINO POACHING

South Africa is home to most of the world’s rhinos and has been the country most severely hit by rhino horn poaching. On average, more than 1 000 rhinos were killed each year between 2013 and 2017.

The South African and US governments have banded together to stop the illegal killing of this iconic species. A specialised task force is being set up to follow the funds used in, and derived from, rhino poaching. The task team hopes to disrupt the illicit trade by following the cash flow, as is done in tracking other organised crime syndicates.

The task force will also help improve information sharing between financial intelligence units, and this will support law enforcement agencies in both countries.

PROTECTING VULTURE POPULATIONS

With vulture populations on the decline, the government has released a draft proposal to limit vulture deaths caused by poisoning, electrocution from the collision with power lines and habitat loss.

The draft Biodiversity Management Plan for Vultures, developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) and conservation groups, supports the conservation of vultures, some species of which are threatened with extinction.

South Africa is home to nine vulture species. Of those, seven have established breeding populations in the country. But they are under threat from poisoning, electrocution, and habitat loss.

Poisoning is considered the most significant threat to our vultures, and the management plan suggests working with stakeholders, vets and traditional leaders to promote more sustainable practices and prevent poisonings.

The plan also looks to reduce deaths due to collisions with the country’s extensive power lines. It proposes a risk assessment of new and existing infrastructure, which would inform mitigation measures.

South Africa is home to 10% of the world’s plant species; 7% of its reptile, bird and mammal species; and 15% of its marine species. It’s no wonder it is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. However, this incredible natural heritage could be lost if we don’t work to protect it through innovative programmes that allow communities and scientists to work hand in hand.

Sources:MG|farmersweekly|.dailymaverick|sanb|cbd|news24.com|english.alarabiya.net|savetherhino