Collating data for freshwater biodiversity planning in South Africa

Abstract

The National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPA) project builds on the river component of the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment (NSBA) 2004, and will feed directly into the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) 2010. This multi-partner project between CSIR, WRC, SANBI, DWEA, WWF, SAIAB and SAN Parks aims to identify a national network of freshwater conservation areas and to explore institutional mechanisms for their implementation. A range of input data layers were used in the NFEPA project. These data layers include for example river networks, sub-quaternary catchments, river types, mosaiced land cover and transformed water bodies, river condition, free-flowing rivers, wetland delineations, significant wetland clusters, estuary delineations, high groundwater recharge areas, high water yield areas per primary catchment, fish sanctuaries, etc. The data layers were refined and finalized following regional expert review from May to July 2009 for the NFEPA planning process. These data layers will be incorporated into a series of maps per Water Management Area, showing the freshwater ecosystem areas identified. The input GIS layers used are briefly described, together with methods that were used to collate the data. Furthermore, data dissemination through for example SANBI's BGIS website (http://bgis.sanbi.org) will be discussed as well as the development of an atlas of freshwater conservation planning in South Africa.