The National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) is the primary tool for monitoring and reporting on the state of biodiversity in South Africa. It is used to inform policies, strategies and actions in a range of sectors for managing and conserving biodiversity more effectively.
The NBA is led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and is a collaborative project involving over 470 individuals from approximately 90 institutions.
The Red List assessment, led by the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in collaboration with various organisations and experts makes use of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List 3.1 system, which provides globally recognised scientific criteria for measuring the risk of extinction to species.
Sensitive species are those that are vulnerable or potentially vulnerable to collecting, over-exploitation, commercial and/or medicinal use. The National Sensitive Species List (NSSL) is a list of sensitive information regarding sensitive taxa which provides guidance around whether or not and to what extent the information relating to the sensitive taxa can be distributed. The list is periodically updated as new data becomes available.
The Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) is an international standard for assessing risks to ecosystems and allows us to recognise characteristics which determine the threat level an ecosystem is facing. It is a scientific, evidence-based tool that helps is understand the dynamics of and health of ecosystems, and which are at risk for future collapse. As well as to determine the most effective ways in which to manage these ecosystems to prevent further risk and prevent biodiversity loss.
Biological invasions are a large and growing concern—globally and in South Africa. Many thousands of species have been translocated from their native ranges to novel environments, where some have become invasive. Biological invasions threaten native biodiversity, reduce the ability of ecosystems to deliver vital services like adequate water supply, and have direct negative impacts on the well-being of millions of people by threatening their health and the country’s rural economy.
