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The Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004) provides for listing threatened or protected ecosystems, in one of four categories: critically endangered (CR), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU) or protected. The purpose of listing threatened ecosystems is primarily to reduce the rate of ecosystem and species extinction. This includes preventing further degradation and loss of structure, function and composition of threatened ecosystems. The purpose of listing protected ecosystems is primarily to preserve witness sites of exceptionally high

conservation value.

The current (first) phase of listing deals with threatened ecosystems in the terrestrial environment. The ecosystems listed in the current phase make up 9.5% of the country, with critically endangered and endangered ecosystems together accounting for 2.7% and vulnerable ecosystems a further 6.8%.

The mapping of terrestrial ecosystems was based on the South African vegetation map, national forest types recognized by DWAF, priority areas identified in a provincial systematic biodiversity plan, or high irreplaceability forest patches or clusters systematic identified by DWAF. Six criteria were developed for identifying threatened terrestrial ecosystems. Of these six criteria, four (A, C, D and F) were used and the remaining two (B and E) are dormant owing to lack of data. Two of the criteria (A and D) were split into sub-criteria. The six criteria for threatened terrestrial ecosystems are:

Criterion A1: Irreversible loss of natural habitat

Criterion A2: Ecosystem degradation and loss of integrity

Criterion B: Rate of loss of natural habitat

Criterion C: Limited extent and imminent threat

Criterion D1: Threatened plant species associations

Criterion D2: Threatened animal species associations

Criterion E: Habitat Fragmentation

Criterion F: Priority areas for meeting explicit biodiversity targets as defined in a systematic biodiversity plan

The criteria and thresholds for critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable ecosystems and explained in more detail in the document on Threatened Ecosystems in South Africa: General Information.

Note: the data represents the original extent of listed ecosystems; in other words, natural areas which have been converted to agriculture, mining and urban areas have been included. The analysis was based on a composite land cover data set compiled by SANBI (NLC2000, NLC1994, and provincial land covers).

It is important to note that while the original extent of each listed ecosystem has been mapped, a basic assessment report in terms of the EIA regulations is only triggered in remaining natural habitat within each ecosystem and not in portions of the ecosystem where natural habitat has already been irreversibly lost.

See and refer to the following reports for more information:

Threatened Ecosystems in South Africa: General Information (available on BGIS website) Threatened Ecosystems in South Africa: Descriptions and Maps (available on BGIS website)

Contact Person: Tammy Smith (smitht@sanbi.org , +27 12 843 5200) smitht@sanbi.org Contact Person: Tammy Smith (smitht@sanbi.org , +27 12 843 5200)

REVISION HISTORY

1st version released 30 April 2009

Final version released 9 December 2011

SANS 1878

FGDC-STD-001-1998