Focus on CSIR research in pollution waste: South African national spatial biodiversity assessment 2004 (Technical report volume 2: river component)

Abstract

This report forms the river component of the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, which focuses on spatial conservation assessments for South Africa’s terrestrial, river, marine, estuarine and wetland ecosystems. The results presented form the first ever systematic assessment of river biodiversity in South Africa. The approach and results should therefore be seen as the first attempt towards deriving a systematic and scientifically defensible method for identifying river heterogeneity, achieving representation, systematically satisfying conservation targets, and designing conservation options, for example, through identification of threatened riverine ecosystems. River ecosystems, in addition to being home to large numbers of fish and other species, are crucial for the production of the country’s water supply. Together with wetlands, they play a vital role in purifying and delivering the water on which our economy and quality of life depend. Well functioning, intact river and wetland ecosystems are also extremely important for flood control.