Browsing by Author "Harris, Linda"
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- ItemAdvancing coastal cross-realm integration for planning and assessment(NMU; Stellenbosch University; SANBI; DEA; Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife; CSIR, 2018-06-20) Harris, Linda; Bessinger, Mariel; Holness, Stephen; Kirkman, Stephen; Livingstone, Tamsyn; Amanda, Lombard; Luck-Vogel, Melanie; van Niekerk, LaraThe coast is one of South Africa’s most valuable national assets but has been poorly included in biodiversity plans because the realm has been split into its “land” and “sea” components. Even if planners intended to include the coast meaningfully, this has been impossible because the terrestrial and marine ecosystem type maps don’t align along the shore. Thus, a key step in progressing cross-realm integration for both planning and assessment is to generate a fine-scale coastal ecosystem-type map that is seamless among realms. We explicitly avoided controversial boundaries, rather choosing the most stable boundaries available that divide the ecotone into ecologically meaningful zones. We defined and mapped (at <1:3000) the “seashore” as the land-sea interface between the dune scrub/thicket break and the back of the surf zone. The seashore is divided at the dune base into a landward “backshore” (which replaces the seashore vegetation type) and seaward “shore”. Given the dynamic nature of the coast, temporal aspects were included in the boundary delineation and ecosystem type classification, where appropriate. The estuary delineation from the National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 was also embedded in the map. South Africa is now the first country with a wall-to-wall ecosystem type map for its territory and Exclusive Economic Zone.
- ItemCoastal Ecological Infrastructure in South Africa(2018-06-20) Perschke, Myriam; Lombard, Mandy; Harris, LindaThe value of intact coastal ecosystems to the well-being of humanity is being increasingly appreciated. Valuable goods and services provided by coastal ecosystems include inter alia: fisheries, recreation and tourism, water filtration and purification, and coastal protection. Given their inherent value, coastal systems are among the most threatened ecosystems. Key pressures like coastal development, mining and fresh water flow reduction are intensifying, degrading ecological processes and consequently, service provision. To mainstream the ecosystem services concept into natural resource and conservation management, new strategies need to be developed. We advance this by adapting the innovative ecological infrastructure (EI) idea to the coastal context. We first create an ‘inventory’ of coastal EI in South Africa by conducting a broad literature review that links coastal services to the features delivering them, which then allows spatial representation of services based on existing maps of coastal features and ecosystem types. A coastal EI map is envisioned to display preliminary results of the research. The gathered data are meant to form the foundation of further research on coastal EI in South Africa and worldwide. Our results will allow coastal resource and conservation managers to describe the value of coastal EI and argue for ecosystem-centred strategies.
- ItemEcologically or Biologicaly Significant Areas (EBSAs) in South Africa: Linking scientific information with marine planning and management(2018-06-20) Kirkman, Stephen; Holness, Stephen; Harris, LindaEcologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) are areas of the oceans that have special ecological or biological importance. South Africa currently has 14 EBSAs that have been endorsed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Assisted by the “Marine Spatial Management and Governance” project, which is implemented through the Benguela Current Convention, South Africa is in the process of determining gaps in its EBSA network, identifying new potential EBSAs and refining existing EBSA boundaries, based on up-to-date information and a systematic conservation planning approach. Further work will include undertaking status assessments of EBSAs and translating scientific information into recommended management protocols. Ultimately, the aims are to fully embed EBSAs into a robust, spatially explicit, Marine Spatial Planning process; and to secure tangible and improved management outputs for these key biodiversity assets. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are but one of the options available to secure appropriate management of EBSAs. In South Africa, focussed portions of most of the existing EBSAs were gazetted as proposed MPAs in terms of the Phakisa Initiative. EBSAs therefore potentially provide a means of identifying further key areas for South Africa’s MPA network, in line with the National Protected Areas Expansion Strategy and addressing CBD targets for protection.
- ItemEcosystem-based spatial conservation planning: a novel approach to sandy beach conservation and management(2013-05-09) Harris, Linda; Nel, Ronel; Schoeman, David
- ItemLife: the state of South Africa’s biodiversity 2012.(2013-05-22) Holness , Stephen; Van Niekerk, Lara; Harris, Linda
- ItemMapping coastal systems: lessons learnt from zipping together the land and sea(NMMU, 2014-05-15) Harris, Linda
- ItemNational biodiversity and ecosystem assessments for conservation impact: Uptake and lessons learnt from the South African experience(2025-11-19) da Silva, Jessica; Seymour, Colleen; Harris, Linda; van Niekerk, Lara; Dayaram, Anisha; Driver, Amanda; Kgomo, Thapelo; Khatieb, Sediqa; Msweli, Samukelisiwe; Sink, Kerry; Tshidada, Ntakadzeni; von Staden, Lize; Poole, Carol; Skowno, Andrew
- ItemNational Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) 2018 taking shape(2018-06) van Deventer, Heidi; Smith-Adao, Lindie; van Niekerk, Lara; Harris, Linda; Foden, Wendy
- ItemNational Biodiversity Assessment 2018: The status of South Africa’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Synthesis Report. Synthesis Report. South African National Biodiversity Institute, an entity of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria(2019-09-29) Van Deventer, Heidi; Van Niekerk, Lara; Harris, Linda; Smith-Adao, Lindie, B.; Foden, Wendy, B.; Midgley, Guy, F.
- ItemNational Biodiversity Assessment 2025: The status of South Africa’s biodiversity. Summary of Findings and Key Messages.(2025-11-12) Skowno, Andrew; Poole, Carol; Besseling, Natasha; Currie, Jock; Da Silva, Jessica; Dayaram, Anisha; Harris, Linda; Job, Nancy; Monyeki, Maphale; Mtshali, Hlengiwe; Sink, Kerry; Van der Bank, Megan; Van der Colff, Dewidine; van Niekerk, Lara; von Staden, Lize
- ItemSouth African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018 Technical Report Volume 4: Marine Realm. South African National Biodiversity Institute(SANBI, 2019-09-29) Harris, Linda; Atkinson, Lara; Kirkman, Stephen; Karenyi, Natasha
- ItemSouth African National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: Technical Report. Volume 5: The Coast.(SANBI, 2019-09-29) Harris, Linda; Van Niekerk, Lara
- ItemThe South African National Sandy Beach Conservation Plan(NMMU; University of Ulster, 2012-05-22) Harris, Linda; Nel, Ronel; Schoeman, David
- ItemTowards a National Marine and Coastal Spatial Biodiversity Plan: Challenges and Opportunities(2018-06-20) Harris, Linda; Van Niekerk, LaraSouth Africa’s oceans are becoming busier as ocean activities expand and diversify, while mining, coastal development and deteriorating water quality pose challenges to coastal ecosystems. Key opportunities to strengthen coastal and offshore biodiversity management include the development of a first National Marine Critical Biodiversity Areas map and associated use guidelines. This presentation highlights key challenges including information gaps, overlap between development or industry activity and priority areas, weak Environmental Impact Assessments, poor understanding of coastal and ocean processes and poor protection levels of offshore and estuarine ecosystems with specific examples. The planning community are invited to assist in addressing these challenges through new decision support tools including products to support the implementation of Marine Spatial Planning. The new maps provided by the 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment will be used to identify and communicate Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas. Progress and possible approaches to improve mapping and management of marine and coastal ecological infrastructure are briefly reviewed to set the scene for the next two sessions.
- ItemThe value of integrated coastal planning(2018-06-20) Harris, Linda