fdda24df-d2d6-4d8f-b850-b256acc155ac Andrew Skowno South African National Biodiversity Institute NBA Science Lead +27 21 799 8711 Kirstenbosch Research Centre Cape Town Claremont 7735 South Africa nba@sanbi.org.za 2026-05-24T08:07:39 SANS 1878 FGDC-STD-001-1998 2025 NBA terrestrial ecosystem threat status and protection level results 2025-12-09T11:00:00 The nba2025_terr_rle_epl layer forms a key part of the National Biodiversity Assessment. The Red List of Ecosystems (commonly referred to as ecosystem threat status) and Ecosystem Protection Level are the two headline indicators used in South Africa to report on the state of its biodiversity. This dataset contains the historical / potential extent (circa 1750) of each of the 463 ecosystem types assessed. This means that patches of ecosystems lost to anthropogenic activities such as mining or croplands are part of the dataset. A separate dataset (nba2025_terr_rle_epl_remnants.shp) is also available and contains only the natural remaining remnants of each ecosystem type. This represents a revision of the “List of terrestrial ecosystems that threatened or in need of protection” published in the government gazette in December 2022. The revision is based on the best available data and uses the IUCN RLE risk assessment framework version 2.0 (IUCN,2024). Terrestrial ecosystems are categorised into one of four classes representing their risk of collapse; in descending order of risk: Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, and Least Concern. The national vegetation map, 2024 version (Mucina and Rutherford 2006; Dayaram et al., 2025 in prep) provided the units of assessment for the RLE (Vegetation Unit / Type level) assessments. For further details, see the relevant ecosystem threat status and protection level pages. To provide a vector map that represents the threat status and protection level of ecosystem types based on the 2025 NBA assessment. This map is an important input into spatial planning and decision-making processes in South Africa. The list and the spatial data underpinning it is referred to in national regulations relating to environmental impact assessment (EIA); specifically – Critically Endangered and Endangered ecosystem types trigger additional steps and processes during environmental authorisation processes. The data will also become part of the Environmental Screening Tool developed by the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment which all prospective developers are required to complete prior to the environmental authorisation process. Andrew Skowno South African National Biodiversity Institute nba@sanbi.org.za Maphale Monyeki South African National Biodiversity Institute m.monyeki@sanbi.org.za This layer was developed as part of the National Biodiversity Assessment 2025 and will be updated in future iterations of the assessment Ecosystem Threat status Protection level Assessment This data may not be reproduced by any means, nor redistributed via web site or ftp site, without prior permission. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of data, users are advised to use the data and conclusions drawn from its use with caution. Users noting errors and omissions are requested to notify the data custodian (M.monyeki@sanbi.org.za) to improve data accuracy. These data are not for resale or replicating. This digital version is in the public domain requiring only the conventional acknowledgement of source in publications and reports. APPROPRIATE USE OF THIS DATASET: The Threat status and Ecosystem Protection level statistics must be interpreted with an understanding of the approach and rationale described in the National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Terrestrial technical documents and Synthesis report. 50000 environment biota 1750-01-01 2025-12-09 13.359375 36.12304687499999 -36.20882309283711 -21.002471054356718 PROJCS["AEA_RSA_WGS84",GEOGCS["GCS_WGS_1984",DATUM["D_WGS_1984",SPHEROID["WGS_1984",6378137.0,298.257223563]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0],UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]],PROJECTION["Albers"],PARAMETER["False_Easting",0.0],PARAMETER["False_Northing",0.0],PARAMETER["Central_Meridian",25.0],PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_1",-24.0],PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_2",-33.0],PARAMETER["Latitude_Of_Origin",0.0],UNIT["Meter",1.0]] South African National Biodiversity Institute bgishelp@sanbi.org ZIP 1 Full details of the methodology can be accessed here: https://github.com/SANBI-TER-ECO/RLE_terr