The 22nd May 2023, provides an opportunity to think about biodiversity- animal and plant life. South Africa is ranked highly in the world for its richness in biodiversity but while global scientists are seeing loss in species in large numbers in Asia and the Americas, our figures still look fairly healthy, or at least according to a report back in 2020 by the WWF Living Planet Report (2020).
South Africa has a large range of habitats, ecosystems and landscapes
making up nine terrestrial biomes, 30 freshwater and six marine
ecoregions. In addition, the country is home to three globally recognized
biodiversity hotspots.
There are also over 95,000 known species, making up a large percentage of the world’s species.
According to the Biodiversity and ecosystem health report, South Africa has assessed a wider range
of taxonomic groups than most countries, making it a world leader in
Red Listing. Red List assessments showed the following back in 2020 (quoted directly from the report):
• One in five terrestrial and freshwater mammal species is
threatened;
• One in five freshwater fish species is threatened;
• One in seven frog species is threatened;
• One in seven bird species is threatened;
• One in eight plant species is threatened;
• One in twelve reptile species is threatened; and,
• One in twelve butterfly species is threatened.
With mounting threats on the rise since three years ago, how intact is our biodiversity? Threats according to World Wide Fund planet report include changes in land use, over exploitation of species, invasive alien species and diseases as well as pollution and climate change.
A statement by Greenpeace in May 2023, cautions climate change and biodiversity issues cannot be considered one without the other, but as interdependent. “The solutions for climate mitigation rely on the preservation of biodiversity should take this intertwining into account.”