Page 8 - South Africa Report
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Human activities
Threats to seagrass beds are similar in the WIO region and these threats are widely caused by anthropogenic
and natural activities. Like any other ecosystem, saltmarshes in South Africa are threatened by both
human and natural activities. For example, closure of river mouth, water abstraction, urban and industrial
developments, salt works, mining, fishing, boating, fishing, livestock grazing, trampling and siltation.
The constraints
Country Profile
Population growth
About 30 per cent of the population is estimated to live within 60 km of the South African coastline (DEA
2000). Population growth and coastal development are major drivers of change as they put pressure on
South Africa’s coastal ecosystems and marine resources through increased exploitation and pollution.
The Republic of South Africa
Figure 1: South Africa Population Distribution
Source: (Grid Arendal / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Climate change
Climate change is a global threat whose impacts are being felt in South Africa.
About 17% of South Africa’s coast has some form of development within 100m of the shoreline (WWF
ocean facts). Climate change, combined with the pressures from urban developments at the coast
and increasing vulnerable ecosystems are likely to hinder the ability of the communities to withstand
the impacts of climate change. This has negative impacts of the ability of the coastal resources to
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