Ecosystem protection level

Overall, estuaries are Moderately (59%) to Poorly (32%) protected in South Africa, less than 1% of area is well protected. From a ecosystem types perspective about 9% are Well protected, 36% Moderate, 41% Poorly, and 14% Not Protected.

---

1%
of estuarine extent
Well Protected

32%
of estuarine extent
Poorly Protected

9%
of 22 ecosystem types
Well Protected

41%
of 22 ecosystem types
Poorly Protected

59%
of estuarine extent
Moderately Protected

8%
of estuarine extent
Not Protected

36%
of 22 ecosystem types
Moderately Protected

14%
of 22 ecosystem types
Not Protected

---

Figure 1. South Africa’s Protected Area network.

Ecosystem protection level assessment

Overall, estuaries are Moderately (59%) to Poorly (32%) protected in South Africa, less than 1% of area is well protected. From an ecosystem types perspective about 9% are Well protected, 36% Moderate, 41% Poorly, and 14% Not Protected.

Since 2011 there has been erosion of protection in historical protected areas caused by removal of no-take restrictions and developing commercial fisheries in Marine protected Areas (MPAs). This is further exasperated by increased illegal gillnetting in protected areas in KZN.

An investment in estuarine protection is needed in ecosystem types that are Not Protected or to advance Poorly Protected ecosystem types towards Well Protected. Ecosystem types in the Tropical and Warm Temperate biogeographical region are the best protected, while ecosystem types in the Cool Temperate are least protected.

Figure 2. Estuarine ecosystem type protection level.

Opportunities to improve ecosystem protection level

There is an opportunity to improve the protection level of some of the Poorly or Moderately Protected ecosystem types to Well Protected through improved estuarine management and ecosystem restoration to reduce ecosystem degradation.

Several under protected ecosystem types can advance to Well Protected solely with improved management of fishing and water quality. For example, 32% of types and 10% of area can be well protected if fishing effort in just 3 estuaries are better controlled – Langebaan, Knysna and Kosi.

The global support for 30% protection target (2030 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3) represent a unique opportunity to garden international support and present funding opportunities to advance estuary protection. Conservation agencies around the coast are in the process to evaluate and extend estuarine protection with local community support, e.g. Olifants Estuary and Verlorenvlei (CapeNature).

Ongoing efforts to develop OECMs and stewardship approaches for estuaries present an opportunity for bottom-up conservation models to be developed that can be used to protect and arrest the ongoing decline in Blue Carbon habitats. It is less clear, if this mechanism will also be able to protect invertebrates, fish and birds. However, there is no doubt that increased community engagement in protection will create an environment of trust and present opportunities for strengthening protection over time, either as a ‘stepping stone’ for increase formal protection over time or as a sufficient measure one its own.

Figure

Figure 3. NEEDS A CAPTION

Data

Table 1. NEEDS A CAPTION

		Well Protected	Moderately Protected	Poorly Protected	Not Protected
Cool Temperate	Type	1	9	20	3
	Extent (km2)	0	101	696	458
	Percentage	0	8	55	36
Subtropical	Type	0	64	66	1
	Extent (km2)	0	4 504	4 067	28
	Percentage	0	52	47	0
Tropical	Type	0	2	0	0
	Extent (km2)	0	163	0	0
	Percentage	0	100	0	0
Warm Temperate	Type	6	52	65	1
	Extent (km2)	7	1 233	7 188	6
	Percentage	0	15	85	0

While the larger and more biodiversity rich estuaries are undoubtedly protection priorities, there is an urgent need to update the 2011 National Estuary Biodiversity Plan to reflect updated estuary condition/development levels, increased protection target (30%), facilitate inter-estuary connectivity (e.g. De Hoop Cluster), and ensure protection of key ecosystem services such as blue carbon and nursery function to inform the 30 x 30 planning process and the beyond.Unless some ecosystem types or functional groups, e.g. Cool Temperate large fluvially dominated are targeted for inclusion in Marine Protected Areas, Protected areas or OECMs, gaps in representation will persist.

It is increasingly evident that protected areas won’t work if they don’t consider and involve people and address issues that undermine their legitimacy and effectiveness. Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) and/or Stewardship offer new opportunities for a broader diversify of conservation models to contribute to marine protection. Lastly, increasing extent of protection alone will not advance estuarine ecosystems to well protected. The condition of ecosystems in protected areas needs improvement.

Table 2. NEEDS A CAPTION

Estuary name	Estuary type	Estuary functional type	Protection level
Bloukrans	Warm Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Well Protected
Elands	Warm Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Well Protected
Elandsbos	Warm Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Well Protected
Groot (Oos)	Warm Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Well Protected
Lottering	Warm Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Well Protected
Steenbras	Cool Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	CTemp	Well Protected
Storms	Warm Temperate Small Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Well Protected
Baakens	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Beechamwood	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Blind	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Blinde	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Bob’s Stream	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Boknes	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Buffels (Oos)	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Bulolo	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Cunge	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Cwili	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Gericke	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Grant's	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Groot (Wes)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Gwaing	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Gxwaleni	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Haga-haga	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Heuningnes	Warm Temperate Estuarine Lake	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Hickman's	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Hlaze (iHlanze)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Hlozi	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Hluleka	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Imtwendwe (Mtwendwe)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ingo	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Jujura (Jujurha)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Klipdrif (Oos)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Klipdrifsfontein	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Knysna	Warm Temperate Estuarine Bay	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Kosi	Tropical Estuarine Lake	Tropical	Moderately Protected
Krom	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Ku-Amanzimuzama	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Ku-Bhula (Mbhanyana)	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Ku-Mpenzu	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Ku-Nocekedwa	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Kwa-Goqo	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Kwanyambalala	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Kwanyana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Kwazlelitsha (Kwazwedala)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Langebaan	Cool Temperate Estuarine Lagoon	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Lilyvale	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Lourens	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Lupatana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Lwandilana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Matjies	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Mbotyi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mcantsi	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Mdikana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mgwegwe	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mgwetyana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mkozi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mkweni	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mlele	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Mpahlane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mpahlanyana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mpako	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mtana	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Mtendwe	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Mtentwana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mtolane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mtumbane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Mzimpunzi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Ncizele	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Nebelele	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Nenga	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Ngadla	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ngculura (Ngculurha)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ngogwane	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ngoma/Kobule	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ngomane (East)	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Noetsie	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Nqakanqa	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Nqinisa	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ntlupeni	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Onrus	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Papkuils	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Ratel	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Richards Bay	Subtropical Estuarine Lake	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Riet	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Rocky Bay	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Rooiels	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Ross' Creek	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Rufane	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Schuster	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Shelbertsstroom	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Sihlontlweni	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Sikatsha	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Sikombe	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Sinangwana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Sir Lowry’s Pass	Cool Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Moderately Protected
Slang	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
St Lucia	Subtropical Estuarine Lake	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Sundwana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Swartvlei	Warm Temperate Estuarine Lake	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Thsani	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Timba	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Touw/Wilderness	Warm Temperate Estuarine Lake	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Tsitsikamma	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Tweekuilen	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
Zalu	Warm Temperate Small Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Moderately Protected
aMahlongwa	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
aManzanamtoti	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iBhobhoyi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iBilanhlonhlo	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iKhaba	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iKhandalendlovu	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iKongeni	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iMvutshini	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iNgane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iNhlabane	Subtropical Estuarine Lake	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iNjambili	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iNkomba	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iSandlu	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iSiyaya	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
iSolwane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMakhosi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMbango	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMbhoyibhoyi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMdesingane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMgobezeleni	Tropical Estuarine Lake	Tropical	Moderately Protected
uMhlathuze	Subtropical Estuarine Lake	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMkhumbane	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMnamfu	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMphambanyoni	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMuntongazi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uMzimayi	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uSetheni	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uVunguza	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
uVuzana	Subtropical Small Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Moderately Protected
Bira (Bhirha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Bot/Kleinmond	Cool Temperate Estuarine Lake	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Breede	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Buffalo	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Buffels	Cool Temperate Arid Predominantly Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Bulungula	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Bulura (Bulurha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Bushmans	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Cebe	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Cefane	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Cintsa	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Coega (Ngqurha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Diep/Rietvlei	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Disa	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Duiwenhoks	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
East Kleinemonde	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Eerste	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Gamtoos	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Goda	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Goukamma	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Goukou	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Gouritz	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Gqunqe	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Gqunube	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Gqutywa	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Great Fish	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Groen	Cool Temperate Arid Predominantly Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Groot Brak	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Gxara (Gxarha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Gxulu	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Hartenbos	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Jakkals	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Kaaimans	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kabeljous	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kariega	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kasouga	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Keiskamma	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Keurbooms	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kiwane (Khiwane)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Klein	Cool Temperate Estuarine Lake	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Klein Brak	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kobonqaba (Khobonqaba)	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kowie	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kromme	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kwa-Suku	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Kwelera (Kwelerha)	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Kwenxura (Kwenxurha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Lwandile	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Maalgate	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Maitland	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Mapuzi	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mbashe	Subtropical Large Fluvially Dominated	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mdumbi	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mendu	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Mendwana	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Mgwalana	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Mncwasa	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mnenu	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mngazana	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mngazi	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mntafufu	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mnyameni	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Morgan	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Mpande	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mpekweni	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Msikaba	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mtakatye	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mtata	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mtati (Mthathi)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Mtentu	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mtonga	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mzamba	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mzimvubu	Subtropical Large Fluvially Dominated	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Mzintlava	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Nahoon	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Ncera (Ncerha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Ngqwara (Ngqwarha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Nkanya	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Nkodusweni	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Nqabara/Nqabarana	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Ntlonyane	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Nxaxo/Ngqusi	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Nyara (Nyarha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Old Woman’s	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Orange	Cool Temperate Large Fluvially Dominated	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Palmiet	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Piesang	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Qinira (Quinirha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Qolora (Qolorha)	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Qora (Qhorha)	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Quko	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Seekoei	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Shixini	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Silwermyn	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Sout (Noord)	Cool Temperate Arid Predominantly Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Sout (Oos)	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Sout (Wes)	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Spoeg	Cool Temperate Arid Predominantly Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Sundays	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Swartkops	Warm Temperate Predominantly Open	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Swartlintjies	Cool Temperate Arid Predominantly Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Tyolomnqa	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Van Stadens	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Verlorenvlei	Cool Temperate Estuarine Lake	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Wadrift	Cool Temperate Arid Predominantly Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
West Kleinemonde	Warm Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	WTemp	Poorly Protected
Wildevoëlvlei	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Xora	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Zand	Cool Temperate Large Temporarily Closed	CTemp	Poorly Protected
Zeekoei	Cool Temperate Estuarine Lake	CTemp	Poorly Protected
aManzimtoti	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
aMatigulu/iNyoni	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iDombe	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iFafa	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iKhoshwana	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iLovu	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iMbizana	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iMfolozi/uMsunduze	Subtropical Large Fluvially Dominated	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iMpenjani	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iNonoti	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iSezela	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iSiphingo	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iZimbokodo	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iZinkwazi	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
iZotsha	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
oHlangeni	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMahlongwane	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMdlotane	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMdloti	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMfazezala	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMgababa	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMhlabashana	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMhlali	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMhlanga	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMhlangomkhulu (North) (Mhlangamkulu)	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMhlangomkhulu (South) (Umhlangankulu)	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMhlungwa	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMkhomazi	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMlalazi	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMngeni	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMsimbazi	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMthavuna	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMthente	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMthwalume	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMuziwezinto	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMvoti	Subtropical Large Fluvially Dominated	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMvuzi	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMzimkhulu	Subtropical Predominantly Open	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uMzumbe	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uThongathi	Subtropical Large Temporarily Closed	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
uThukela	Subtropical Large Fluvially Dominated	SubTrop	Poorly Protected
Durban Bay	Subtropical Estuarine Bay	SubTrop	Not Protected
Great Kei	Warm Temperate Large Fluvially Dominated	WTemp	Not Protected
Groot Berg	Cool Temperate Predominantly Open	CTemp	Not Protected
Olifants	Cool Temperate Predominantly Open	CTemp	Not Protected
Uilkraals	Cool Temperate Predominantly Open	CTemp	Not Protected

Approach

The protection level assessment for estuarine ecosystems was adjusted to align with global targets. While the 2018 assessment used a standard 20% target, the 2025 assessment applied a 30% target. In order for a estuarine ecosystem type to qualify in the Well Protected category, at least 30% of the ecosystem type (i.e. the ecosystem target) needs to be in a natural / near natural ecological condition. If this target was not met, the ecosystem was categorised as Moderately Protected. Additionally, any area inside a protected area that was in degraded condition had it’s contribution to the protection level target scaled according to the severity of the degradation.

Using as input data the South African Protected Areas Database (SAPAD) 2024Q4 (Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment), South African estuary ecosystem map (van Niekerk 2020) and estuarine health condition as input data.

Estuarine Condition (Health) scores (0-100) are assigned to Department of Water and Sanitation Present Ecological Status (PES) categories (A-F) and NBA Modification categories (Natural - Severely modified) according to the table below.

Table 3. NEEDS A CAPTION

Condition score (0-100)	PES category	Modification category
>= 90	A	Natural
>=75 & < 90	B	Near Natural
>= 60 & < 75	C	Moderately Modified
>=40 & < 60	D	Heavily Modified
< 40	E/F	Severely/Critically Modified

Protection Level is an indicator developed in South Africa that measures the representation of ecosystem types within the protected area network. The extent of each ecosystem type within the network is expressed as a proportion of the total extent. Four categories of Ecosystem Protection Level are calculated per ecosystem type (n= 22).

• Well Protected: 100% of the PA target within PA network; AND only A&B condition estuaries contribute; AND areas under heavy and very heavy fishing pressure are excluded from contributing

• Moderately Protected: 50% to 99% of PA target within the PA network; and A&B condition estuaries contribute 100%, C & D condition estuaries contribute 30% and E&F condition estuaries contribute 10%

• Poorly Protected: 5% to 49% of PA target within the PA network; and A&B condition estuaries contribute 100%, C & D condition estuaries contribute 30% and E&F condition estuaries contribute 10%

• Not Protected: less than 5% of PA target within the PA network; and A&B condition estuaries contribute 100%, C & D condition estuaries contribute 30% and E&F condition estuaries contribute 10%

The PA target was historically set at 20% for marine and estuarine ecosystems, but with the adoption of the 30% targets for Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework - the protected areas target was increased to 30% in the EPL calculations (previous time points (2018) were recalculated using this higher target). Ecosystem condition data (van Niekerk et al., 2025) for each time point allow for only good condition estuaries without heavey fishing pressure (especially systems under severe gill-netting pressure) to be considered representative for Well Protected status; while for Moderately Protected, Poorly Protected and Not Protected the condition of the estuaries is used to calculate their contribution to meeting targets such that higher integrity / condition estuaries contribute more to meeting protected areas targets than low integrity / condition estuaries.

Technical documentation

Code repositories

• Protection level assessment

Key publications

Recommended citation

Van Niekerk, L., Skowno, A.L., Sink, K., & Harris, L.R. 2025. Ecosystem protection level: Estuarine realm. National Biodiversity Assessment 2025. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://nba.sanbi.org.za/.