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Ecosystem Protection level is a key indicator for the National Biodiversity Assessment 2011. An up to date Protected Areas layer is critical to identify what the current protection levels of habitat biodiversity are, which helps identify where future conservation efforts should be focused.

Assembly of the dataset was a joint venture between SANParks and SANBI. An earlier national protected areas layer, prepared for the NPAES 2008 project was used as the starting point, and was updated to reflect the current state of protected areas in South Africa.

Additional data for contact nature reserves for the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal provinces have been added (proclaimed by end December 2011). Spelling and classification errors in the attribute table for the Western and Northern Cape provinces were also updated. The most recent marine protected areas, updated for the Marine component of the NBA 2011 were also incorporated into this layer.

Previously used categories of protected areas were reduced (see Appendix 1, Table 3), and the new categories recorded in the <Spec_Type> field. Protected Areas are also categorized into Formal_A and Formal_B categories in the <PA_Categ> field (see Table 1), as part of the National Protected Areas Expansion Conservation Assessment, depending on the level of protection they enjoy.

Note that the dataset can be considered fairly reliable for the formal protected area system, but is known to contain significant errors and omissions in the Informal Conservation Area system data.

Available documentation:

For more information see:

National Biodiversity Assessment 2011

National Protected Area Expansion Strategy 2008

NPAES Resource Document 2009

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998