Mutanga, Shingirirai SSkhosana, FelixMateyisi, MohauThenga, Humbelani FNaidoo, SashaRamoelo, ANangombe, Shingirai SLumsden, Trevor GVon Maltitz, GPMidgley, GFVeitch, JBrümmer, CRötte, RPViehberg, FAVeste, M2024-03-152024-03-152024-01Mutanga, S.S., Skhosana, F., Mateyisi, M., Thenga, H.F., Naidoo, S., Ramoelo, A., Nangombe, S.S. & Lumsden, T.G. et al. 2024. Environmental challenges to meeting sustainable development goals in Southern Africa. In <i>Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change: Science for Management and Policy Interventions</i>. G. Von Maltitz, G. Midgley, J. Veitch, C. Brümmer, R. Rötte, F. Viehberg & M. Veste, Eds. S.l.: Springer. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13622 .978-3-031-10947-8978-3-031-10948-5https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_3http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13622There is an inextricable link between ecosystem integrity and the potential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDG). This chapter highlights key ecosystem threats and their drivers within the southern African regional context to emphasize the role of earth system science in supporting the achievement of regional sustainable development goals. It describes how some major anthropogenic threats have unfolded in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of the region. Earth system science is increasingly contributing to understanding how globally driven climate and environmental changes threaten these ecosystems, and in turn how these impact people’s livelihoods. Long-term changes in rainfall variability, concomitant disruption of hydrological balances, impacts on ocean chemistry, together with more immediate impacts on the frequency and magnitude of extreme climate events are some of the critical global change drivers. While terrestrial ecosystems are already faced with encroachment by novel species, characterized by the proliferation of both invasive alien and endemic woody species, freshwater and marine ecosystems appear more immediately threatened by more local impacts, such as the accumulation of contaminants. Overall, predicted climate and environmental changes are projected to hamper development trajectories and poverty reduction efforts, and possibly exacerbate adverse impacts on human livelihoods.FulltextenEcosystem threatsWoody proliferationEnvironmental challengesTerrestrial ecosystemsAquatic ecosystemsSustainable developmentAlien invasionBook ChapterMutanga, S. S., Skhosana, F., Mateyisi, M., Thenga, H. F., Naidoo, S., Ramoelo, A., ... Lumsden, T. G. (2024). Environmental challenges to meeting sustainable development goals in Southern Africa. In G. Von Maltitz, G. Midgley, J. Veitch, C. Brümmer, R. Rötte, F. Viehberg & M. Veste. (Eds.), <i>Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change: Science for Management and Policy Interventions</i> Springer. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13622Mutanga, Shingirirai S, Felix Skhosana, Mohau Mateyisi, Humbelani F Thenga, Sasha Naidoo, A Ramoelo, Shingirai S Nangombe, and Trevor G Lumsden. "Environmental challenges to meeting sustainable development goals in Southern Africa" In <i>SUSTAINABILITY OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN ECOSYSTEMS UNDER GLOBAL CHANGE: SCIENCE FOR MANAGEMENT AND POLICY INTERVENTIONS</i>, edited by GP Von Maltitz. n.p.: Springer. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13622.Mutanga SS, Skhosana F, Mateyisi M, Thenga HF, Naidoo S, Ramoelo A, et al. Environmental challenges to meeting sustainable development goals in Southern Africa. In Von Maltitz G, Midgley G, Veitch J, Brümmer C, Rötte R, Viehberg F, et al., editors.. Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change: Science for Management and Policy Interventions. [place unknown]: Springer; 2024. [cited yyyy month dd]. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13622.TY - Book Chapter AU - Mutanga, Shingirirai S AU - Skhosana, Felix AU - Mateyisi, Mohau AU - Thenga, Humbelani F AU - Naidoo, Sasha AU - Ramoelo, A AU - Nangombe, Shingirai S AU - Lumsden, Trevor G AB - There is an inextricable link between ecosystem integrity and the potential for achieving sustainable development goals (SDG). This chapter highlights key ecosystem threats and their drivers within the southern African regional context to emphasize the role of earth system science in supporting the achievement of regional sustainable development goals. It describes how some major anthropogenic threats have unfolded in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of the region. Earth system science is increasingly contributing to understanding how globally driven climate and environmental changes threaten these ecosystems, and in turn how these impact people’s livelihoods. Long-term changes in rainfall variability, concomitant disruption of hydrological balances, impacts on ocean chemistry, together with more immediate impacts on the frequency and magnitude of extreme climate events are some of the critical global change drivers. While terrestrial ecosystems are already faced with encroachment by novel species, characterized by the proliferation of both invasive alien and endemic woody species, freshwater and marine ecosystems appear more immediately threatened by more local impacts, such as the accumulation of contaminants. Overall, predicted climate and environmental changes are projected to hamper development trajectories and poverty reduction efforts, and possibly exacerbate adverse impacts on human livelihoods. DA - 2024-01 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR ED - Von Maltitz, GP ED - Midgley, GF ED - Veitch, J ED - Brümmer, C ED - Rötte, RP ED - Viehberg, FA ED - Veste, M J1 - Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change: Science for Management and Policy Interventions KW - Ecosystem threats KW - Woody proliferation KW - Environmental challenges KW - Terrestrial ecosystems KW - Aquatic ecosystems KW - Sustainable development KW - Alien invasion LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2024 SM - 978-3-031-10947-8 SM - 978-3-031-10948-5 T1 - Environmental challenges to meeting sustainable development goals in Southern Africa TI - Environmental challenges to meeting sustainable development goals in Southern Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/13622 ER -27650