CAPE TOWN, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has unveiled its National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) 2025, revealing significant challenges for ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity across the country.
During the launch of the report in Cape Town on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said, "Although South Africa remains one of the world's most biodiverse countries, the NBA 2025 confirms that our biodiversity is under increasing pressure."
The latest report, produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute, was informed by the expertise of over 110 institutions and 490 contributors. The fourth of its kind, it is considered the most comprehensive assessment of the country's biodiversity and marks 20 years since the first NBA was released.
"Our vital aquatic ecosystems including those in our Strategic Water Source Areas -- the mountain catchments, wetlands and rivers that only constitute 10 percent of our land area yet supply over 50 percent of our water -- continue to face severe pressure from pollution, invasive species, and altered water flows," said Swarts.
The report found that nearly half of the 986 ecosystem types assessed were threatened, with estuaries, wetlands, rivers and the coast having the highest proportion of threatened ecosystems.
"For our species, we can see that again our aquatic systems are at risk, as the most threatened species groups are freshwater and cartilaginous fishes," the deputy minister said. "Several terrestrial groups, including reptiles, birds, mammals and plants, are showing concerning declines."
Of 20,248 plant species assessed, 16 percent were threatened; of 5,226 animal species assessed, 10 percent were threatened, according to the report.
The report also introduced global genetic indicators for the first time, which are able to show signs of early genetic erosion, even if species are found to be stable.
Swarts said the findings would be used to update the national biodiversity planning tools and policy instruments. "The NBA gives us the knowledge to act -- now it is up to all of us to turn this knowledge into lasting change for our planet and our people," she said. ■