Page 9 - South Africa Report

provide ecosystem services. Sea level rise is threatening about a third of coastal developments that
are within 100m of the shoreline (WWF ocean facts).

The effects of climate change in South Africa

• Sea temperature changes Country Profile
• The occurrence and degree of coral bleaching events is increasing The Republic of South Africa
• Rising sea levels
• Coastal erosion linked to the increased frequency and severity of weather events
• Growing vulnerability of the 17 per cent coastal development within 100m of the shoreline
• Social, ecological and economic impacts due to the shifting range of rock lobster and small
pelagic fish

Source: (Scholes et al. 2015)

The opportunity
Marine governance

The policy environment of South Africa has its backbone on NEMA (No 107 of 1998. It is the principal
platform that all decisions pertaining to SDG 14. Decisions relating to conservation, sustainability of
resources, land, degradation, biodiversity and equitable resource use. Under the umbrella framework
of NEMA in South Africa several governance systems have been created which include the following
below:

Table 1: Overview of the legal framework

Integrated Coastal It is the principal law for the management and governance of coastal environment.
Management Act (ICM) Targets 14.1 (management of land-based activities of the coastal zone) and Target
No 24 of 2008 14.2 (application of ecosystems-based approach) are relevant. Management of
saltmarshes in estuaries are required by this act.
Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) Implements the 1997 white Paper and south Africa commitment to the Convection on
No. 10 of 2004 Biological Diversity (CBD). Through NEMBA, the South Africa National Biodiversity
Institute (SABI) is mandated to champion terrestrial and marine biodiversity and
management of protected areas.
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action plan (NBSAP) 2015-2025. Aiming at
Target 14.2 and 14.5 (coastal and marine ecosystems)
National Environmental Aligned to SDG Target 14.5. The conservation of protected areas. Also supports
Management Protected the conservation of soil, water and biodiversity. The Act provides for the protection
Areas Act (NEMPA) No. and conservation of protected areas. Supported by National Integrated Strategy
52 of 2003 to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT): addresses issues illegal, unreported or
harvesting of marine resources. Corresponding to Target 14.5 and 14.6

Protected Areas Act The Act provides for conservation, management, sustainable and equitable use of
marine resources.
South Africa National The ecological conservation of estuaries (and salt marshes therein) before
Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) extraction of freshwaters.

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