2025 NBA terrestrial ecosystem threat status and protection level results

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.

Simple

Date (Publication)
2025-12-09T11:00:00
Purpose

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.
Status
Completed
Custodian
  South African National Biodiversity Institute - Andrew Skowno
Custodian
  South African National Biodiversity Institute - Maphale Monyeki
Maintenance and update frequency
Not planned
Maintenance note

This layer was developed as part of the National Biodiversity Assessment 2025 and will be updated in future iterations of the assessment
Theme

  • Ecosystem

  • Threat status

  • Protection level

  • Assessment
Use limitation

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. M.monyeki@sanbi.org 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.

Access constraints
Copyright
Use constraints
otherRestictions
Other constraints

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.
Spatial representation type
Vector
Denominator
50000
Language
English
Character set
UTF8
Topic category
  • Environment
  • Biota
Begin date
1750-01-01
End date
2025-12-09
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Supplemental Information

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]]

Distributor

Distributor
  South African National Biodiversity Institute
Name

ZIP
Version

1
Hierarchy level
Dataset
Statement

Full details of the methodology can be accessed here: https://github.com/SANBI-TER-ECO/RLE_terr

File identifier
fdda24df-d2d6-4d8f-b850-b256acc155ac XML
Metadata language
English
Character set
UTF8
Date stamp
2026-05-24T08:07:39
Metadata standard name

SANS 1878
Metadata standard version

FGDC-STD-001-1998
Author
  South African National Biodiversity Institute - Andrew Skowno ( NBA Science Lead )
Kirstenbosch Research Centre , Cape Town , Claremont , 7735 , South Africa
+27 21 799 8711
 
 

Overviews

Spatial extent

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Keywords

Assessment Ecosystem Protection level Threat status

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