What do we do
This programme periodically assesses the threat status of ecosystems and identifies those at high risk of collapse due to increasing human-induced and functional pressures. This work supports the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004) which has provisions that empower the Minister and/or MEC to publish a list of ecosystems that are threatened and in need of protection in the government gazette. The Act further mandates that this list be reviewed and updated at least every five years to reflect the most current information.
A history of ecosystem assessments
South Africa’s first national-scale ecosystem assessment was documented in the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (NSBA) 2004 report. Using a nationally developed set of criteria, these assessments primarily focused on the spatial aspects of biodiversity. Since 2004, two additional iterations of ecosystem assessments have been completed, with the most recent findings presented in the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) 2018 synthesis report. A significant milestone of the 2018 assessment was South Africa’s adoption of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) standards across multiple realms (i.e., terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine) including for the first time the coastal ecosystems.
A global standard applied with local knowledge
The decision to adopt the IUCN RLE standards was informed by extensive stakeholder engagements led by SANBI to understand the legal implications of alignment in policy and land-use planning spheres. Through these engagements, concerns and potential challenges related to this transition were addressed, fostering confidence among all stakeholders. By adopting these global standards, SANBI was able to present a more comprehensive and holistic picture of the country’s biodiversity status. This alignment not only facilitated a consistent, multi-realm assessment approach but also strengthened South Africa’s contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Units of assessments
The RLE uses the ecosystem type as its unit of assessment. These types are classified and mapped according to the South African National Ecosystem Classification System (SA-NEC).
Where we work
Our work in ecosystem assessments involves identifying the drivers of ecosystem change and assessing their impacts across all realms. We collaborate with government departments, academic institutions, conservation agencies, and industries to ensure the use of the best available data and to integrate key scientific findings into policy and decision-making processes.
Reason for our programme
Under its governing Act, SANBI is mandated to assess and report on the status of South Africa’s biodiversity at an ecosystem level. This ensures that decision-making for conservation, policy development, and sustainable land-use planning is informed by scientifically defensible information.
What we have achieved
A key challenge in assessing ecosystem threat status (globally referred to as the Red List of Ecosystems) is data limitations, which are a concern not only in South Africa but also in many countries across the globe. South Africa, in particular, faces fragmented, spatially explicit data on environmental degradation and biotic disruptions, restricting the application of the full range of IUCN RLE criteria.
Various efforts are underway to address these data limitations. For example, SANBI is leading a five-year regional project called the Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, Prioritization, and Planning (SBAPP), which began in 2022 in collaboration with Malawi, Namibia, and Mozambique. Through this project, South Africa is working on developing a national spatial database on terrestrial ecosystem condition and integrity, specifically designed to improve RLE assessments.
SANBI continues to lead ecosystem mapping and classification committees to refine and improve wall-to-wall ecosystem maps across realms through focused research. Enhancing ecosystem type maps is a significant undertaking; therefore, SANBI has aligned this body of work with the periodic updates of the National Biodiversity Assessment report. This ensures that the most up-to-date data informs the revision of headline indicators and national reporting.
Who we are
- Dr Andrew Skowno, Maphale Monyeki, Anisha Dayaram, Dr Jock Currie, Dr Kerry Sink, Nancy Job, Prideel Majiedt
How to contact us
Address: Kirstenbosch Research Centre, P/Bag X7, Claremont 7735, RSA.
Email: m.monyeki@sanbi.org.za