Marine conservation area in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape, in South Africa

Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area

Namaqua National Park MPA location

Location| Coast of Namaqualand, Northern Cape, South Africa
Coordinates| 30°41.3′S 17°26.6′E / 30.6883°S 17.4433°E / -30.6883; 17.4433Coordinates: 30°41.3′S 17°26.6′E / 30.6883°S 17.4433°E / -30.6883; 17.4433
Area| 500 km2 (190 sq mi)
Established| 2019
Governing body| SANParks

Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area (South Africa)

The Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area is an inshore conservation region in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape province in the territorial waters of South Africa. It is closely associated with the Namaqua National Park, with which it has a common border and management.

## History[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2019)

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## Purpose[edit]

See also: Marine protected areas of South Africa and Marine protected area

A marine protected area is defined by the IUCN as "A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values".[1]

This MPA is the first protection to critically endangered coastal ecosystem types in the Namaqua bioregion. The Northern Cape will benefit from additional ecotourism. Detailed ecosystem mapping and monitoring has been ongoing in this region since 1976 so this area can provide a baseline to understand human impacts of harvesting, mining, introduction of alien species and climate change.[2]

## Extent[edit]

The MPA is an inshore region in the depth range 0 to 150 m between the Spoeg River and Island Point, partly adjacent to the Namaqua National Park. The protected area includes the water column, the seabed and the subsoil inside the boundaries.[3] Area of sea protected is 500 km2[2]

### Boundaries[edit]

The MPA boundaries are:[3]

* Northern boundary: S30°27.540’, E17°16.860’ to S30°27.540’, E17°20.8458’
* Northwestern boundary: S30°27.540’, E17°20.8458’ to S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’
* Western boundary: S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’ to S30°55.002’, E17°19.998’
* Southern boundary: S30°55.002’, E17°19.998’ to S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’
* Eastern boundary: S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’ back to S30°27.540’, E17°16.860’ along the high-water mark

### Zonation[edit]

The MPA consists of one offshore restricted zone, six inshore controlled zones, and six inshore restricted zones.[4]

#### Restricted areas[edit]

Namaqua National Park offshore restricted zone boundaries:[4]

* Northern boundary: S30°27.540’, E17°16.860’, 100m to seaward of the high-water mark, north of the Spoeg River, to S30°27.540’, E17°20.8458’
* Northwestern boundary: S30°27.540’, E17°20.8458’ to S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’
* Western boundary: S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’ to S30°55.002’, E17°19.998’
* Southern boundary: S30°55.002’, E17°19.998’ to S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’, 100 m to seaward of the high-water mark at Island point.
* Eastern boundary: S30°55.002’, E17°36.420’ back to S30°27.540’, E17°16.860’ along a line 100 m to seaward of the high-water mark.

Namaqua National Park coastal restricted zones:[4]

* Coastal restricted zone 1, from S30°52.7886’, E17°35.2344’ to S30°49.6188’, E17°33.8454’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal restricted zone 2, from S30°49.2918’, E17°33.5016’ to S30°45.7830’, E17°32.0178’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal restricted zone 3, from S30°44.0058’, E17°31.3314’ to S30°42.0300’, E17°29.4672’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal restricted zone 4, from S30°40.8342’, E17°28.2378’ to S30°33.1404’, E17°24.6900’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal restricted zone 5, from S30°30.8784’, E17°23.2404’ to S30°30.0210’, E17°22.5036’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal restricted zone 6, from S30°29.7384’, E17°22.1694’ to S30°27.5400’, E17°20.9400’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.

#### Controlled areas[edit]

Namaqua National Park coastal controlled zones:[4]

* Coastal controlled zone 1, from S30°55.0020’, E17°36.4200’ to S30°52.7886’, E17°35.2344’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal controlled zone 2, from S30°49.6188’, E17°33.8454’ to S30°49.2918’, E17°33.5016’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal controlled zone 3, from S30°45.7830’, E17°32.0178’ to S30°44.0058’, E17°31.3314’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal controlled zone 4, from S30°42.0300’, E17°29.4672’ to S30°40.8342’, E17°28.2378’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal controlled zone 5, from S30°33.1404’, E17°24.6900’ to S30°30.8784’, E17°23.2404’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.
* Coastal controlled zone 6, from S30°30.0210’, E17°22.5036’ to S30°29.7384’, E17°22.1694’ between the high-water mark and 100 m to seawards of the high-water mark.

## Management[edit]

The marine protected areas of South Africa are the responsibility of the national government, which has management agreements with a variety of MPA management authorities, in this case, SANParks, which manages the MPA with funding from the SA Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).[1][5]

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for issuing permits, quotas and law enforcement.[6]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2019)

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## Use[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2019)

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## Geography[edit]

### Climate[edit]

See also: Climate of South Africa

### Seasonal variations in sea conditions[edit]

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## Ecology[edit]

Marine ecoregions of the South African Exclusive Economic Zone: Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area is in the Benguela ecoregion

The MPA is in the warm temperate Bengeula ecoregion to the west of Cape Point which extends northwards to the Orange River. There are a moderately large proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.[7]

Four major habitats exist in the sea in this region, distinguished by the nature of the substrate. The substrate, or base material, is important in that it provides a base to which an organism can anchor itself, which is vitally important for those organisms which need to stay in one particular kind of place. Rocky shores and reefs provide a firm fixed substrate for the attachment of plants and animals. Some of these may have Kelp forests, which reduce the effect of waves and provide food and shelter for an extended range of organisms. Sandy beaches and bottoms are a relatively unstable substrate and cannot anchor kelp or many of the other benthic organisms. Finally there is open water, above the substrate and clear of the kelp forest, where the organisms must drift or swim. Mixed habitats are also frequently found, which are a combination of those mentioned above.[8] There are no significant estuarine habitats in the MPA.

Rocky shores and reefs There are rocky reefs and mixed rocky and sandy bottoms. For many marine organisms the substrate is another type of marine organism, and it is common for several layers to co-exist. Examples of this are red bait pods, which are usually encrusted with sponges, ascidians, bryozoans, anemones, and gastropods, and abalone, which are usually covered by similar seaweeds to those found on the surrounding rocks, usually with a variety of other organisms living on the seaweeds.[8]: Ch.2

The type of rock of the reef is of some importance, as it influences the range of possibilities for the local topography, which in turn influences the range of habitats provided, and therefore the diversity of inhabitants. Sandstone and other sedimentary rocks erode and weather very differently, and depending on the direction of dip and strike, and steepness of the dip, may produce reefs which are relatively flat to very high profile and full of small crevices. These features may be at varying angles to the shoreline and wave fronts. There are fewer large holes, tunnels and crevices in sandstone reefs, but often many deep but low near-horizontal crevices.

Kelp forests Kelp forests are a variation of rocky reefs, as the kelp requires a fairly strong and stable substrate which can withstand the loads of repeated waves dragging on the kelp plants. The Sea bamboo Ecklonia maxima grows in water which is shallow enough to allow it to reach to the surface with its gas-filled stipes, so that the fronds form a dense layer at or just below the surface, depending on the tide. The shorter Split-fan kelp Laminaria pallida grows mostly on deeper reefs, where there is not so much competition from the sea bamboo. Both these kelp species provide food and shelter for a variety of other organisms, particularly the Sea bamboo, which is a base for a wide range of epiphytes, which in turn provide food and shelter for more organisms.[8]: Ch.4

Sandy beaches and bottoms (including shelly, pebble and gravel bottoms) Sandy bottoms at first glance appear to be fairly barren areas, as they lack the stability to support many of the spectacular reef based species, and the variety of large organisms is relatively low. The sand is continually being moved around by wave action, to a greater or lesser degree depending on weather conditions and exposure of the area. This means that sessile organisms must be specifically adapted to areas of relatively loose substrate to thrive in them, and the variety of species found on a sandy or gravel bottom will depend on all these factors. Sandy bottoms have one important compensation for their instability, animals can burrow into the sand and move up and down within its layers, which can provide feeding opportunities and protection from predation. Other species can dig themselves holes in which to shelter, or may feed by filtering water drawn through the tunnel, or by extending body parts adapted to this function into the water above the sand.[8]: Ch.3

The open sea The pelagic water column is the major part of the living space at sea. This is the water between the surface and the top of the benthic zone, where living organisms swim, float or drift, and the food chain starts with phytoplankton, the mostly microscopic photosynthetic organisms that convert the energy of sunlight into organic material which feeds nearly everything else, directly or indirectly. In temperate seas there are distinct seasonal cycles of phytoplankton growth, based on the available nutrients and the available sunlight. Either can be a limiting factor. Phytoplankton tend to thrive where there is plenty of light, and they themselves are a major factor in restricting light penetration to greater depths, so the photosynthetic zone tends to be shallower in areas of high productivity.[8]: Ch.6 Zooplankton feed on the phytoplankton, and are in turn eaten by larger animals. The larger pelagic animals are generally faster moving and more mobile, giving them the option of changing depth to feed or to avoid predation, and to move to other places in search of a better food supply.

### Marine species diversity[edit]

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#### Animals[edit]

Fish:

* Merluccius capensis (Cape hake) - nursery area[2]

Invertebrates:

* (mussels)[2]
* Jasus lalandii (west coast rock lobsters)[2]

#### Seaweeds[edit]

* Laminaria pallida (kelp) forests[2]

#### Endemism[edit]

The MPA is in the cool temperate Benguela ecoregion to the west of Cape Point which extends northwards to the Orange River. There are a moderately large proportion of species endemic to South Africa along this coastline.[7]

#### Alien invasive species[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019)

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## Threats[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019)

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## Slipways and harbours in the MPA[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019)

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## See also[edit]

Marine protected areas of South Africa[9][10]

* List of protected areas of South Africa – Areas protected for conservation in South Africa
* Marine protected areas of South Africa – Protected areas of coastline or ocean in the EEZ of South Africa

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Marine Protected Areas". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
2. ^ a b c d e f "Namaqua National Park MPA". www.marineprotectedareas.org.za. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
3. ^ a b "R127. Draft Notice declaring the Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area under Section 22A of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No.57 of 2003)" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.
4. ^ a b c d "R125. Draft Regulations for the management of the Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 10553. Pretoria: Government Printer. 608 (39646). 3 February 2016.
5. ^ "Namaqua National Park". www.sanparks.org. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
6. ^ "Marine Protected Area". Retrieved 26 May 2018.
7. ^ a b Sink, K.; Harris, J.; Lombard, A. (October 2004). Appendix 1. South African marine bioregions (PDF). South African National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment 2004: Technical Report Vol. 4 Marine Component DRAFT (Report). pp. 97–109.
8. ^ a b c d e Branch, G.M.; Branch, M.L. (1985). The Living Shores of Southern Africa (3rd impression ed.). Cape Town: C. Struik. ISBN 0 86977 115 9.
9. ^ "MPA Declarations" (PDF). Regulation Gazette No. 42478. Pretoria: Government Printer. 647 (10177). 23 May 2019.
10. ^ "Protected Areas Register". dffeportal.environment.gov.za. Retrieved 10 July 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Biodiversity of South Africa

* Afrotropical realm
* Marine biodiversity of South Africa
* Temperate Southern Africa
* Western Indo-Pacific
* Wildlife of South Africa

National taxon checklists

| Plants|

* Conifers
* Cycads
* Hornworts
* Liverworts
* Lycophytes
* Mosses
* Pteridophytes

| Flowering
plants|

* Acorales
* Alismatales
* Apiales
* Apiaceae
* Aquifoliales
* Arecales
* Asparagales
* Asphodelaceae
* Hyacinthaceae
* Iridaceae
* Orchidaceae
* Asterales
* Asteraceae
* Boraginales
* Brassicales
* Bruniales
* Buxales
* Canellales
* Caryophyllales
* Aizoaceae
* Celastrales
* Ceratophyllales
* Commelinales
* Cornales
* Crossosomatales
* Cucurbitales
* Dioscoreales
* Dipsacales
* Ericales
* Escalloniales
* Fabales
* Fagales
* Gentianales
* Apocynaceae
* Rubiaceae
* Geraniales
* Gunnerales
* Huerteales
* Icacinales
* Lamiales
* Acanthaceae
* Lamiaceae
* Scrophulariaceae
* Laurales
* Liliales
* Magnoliales
* Malpighiales
* Euphorbiaceae
* Malvales
* Myrtales
* Nymphaeales
* Oxalidales
* Pandanales
* Piperales
* Poales
* Poaceae
* Proteales
* Ranunculales
* Rosales
* Santalales
* Sapindales
* Saxifragales
* Solanales
* Vahliales
* Vitales
* Zingiberales
* Zygophyllales

|

Animals|

* Ascidians
* Bryozoans
* Comb jellies
* Echinoderms
* Nematodes
* Polychaetes
* Marine cnidarians
* Marine flatworms
* Sponges
* Tardigrades

| Arthropods|

* Marine crustaceans
* Sea spiders
* Centipedes
* Millipedes
* Entognatha

| Arachnids|

* Harvestmen
* Microwhip scorpions
* Pseudoscorpions
* Scorpions
* Shorttailed whipscorpions
* Solifugae
* Araneae
* Ixodida
* Whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions

|

Insects|

* Alderflies, dobsonflies and fishflies
* Beetles
* Booklice, barklice and barkflies
* Butterflies and moths
* Caddisflies
* Cockroaches and termites
* Dragonflies and damselflies
* Earwigs
* Fleas
* Flies
* Jumping bristletails
* Lice
* Mantises
* Mayflies
* Net-winged insects
* Notoptera
* Orthoptera
* Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants
* Scorpionflies
* Silverfish and firebrats
* Stick and leaf insects
* Stoneflies
* Strepsiptera
* Termites
* Thrips
* True bugs
* Webspinners

Molluscs|

* Non-marine molluscs
* Marine molluscs
* Marine gastropods
* Marine heterobranch gastropods

Vertebrates|

* Amphibians
* Birds
* Marine fishes
* Marine bony fishes
* Marine spiny-finned fishes
* Marine Perciform fishes
* Marine fishes in suborder Percoidei
* Mammals
* Reptiles

Seaweeds|

* Green seaweeds
* Brown seaweeds
* Red seaweeds

Fungi|

* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

Related|

* List of bacteria of South Africa
* List of invasive species in South Africa
* List of invasive plant species in South Africa
* List of Oomycetes of South Africa
* List of slime moulds of South Africa
* List of Southern African indigenous trees and woody lianes
* List of botanists by author abbreviation

Regional taxon checklists and other minor lists

* List of marine animals of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of green seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of brown seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* List of red seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay
* Related:
* Timber trees of Gauteng

Biodiversity hotspots and Centres of diversity

* Cape Floristic Region
* Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot
* Succulent Karoo

* Succulent Karoo
* Cape Floristic Region
* Griqualand West Centre
* Albany Centre
* Drakensberg Alpine Centre
* Soutpansberg Centre
* Wolkberg Centre
* Sekhukhuneland Centre
* Barberton Centre
* Maputaland-Pondoland Region

Ecoregions

* List of ecoregions in South Africa

| Tropical and subtropical
moist broadleaf forests|

* Knysna–Amatole montane forests
* KwaZulu–Cape coastal forest mosaic
* Maputaland coastal forest mosaic

|

Tropical and subtropical grasslands,
savannas, and shrublands|

* Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea woodlands
* Southern Africa bushveld
* Zambezian and mopane woodlands

Montane grasslands
and shrublands|

* Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands
* Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands and forests
* Highveld grasslands
* Maputaland–Pondoland bushland and thickets

Mediterranean forests,
woodlands, and scrub|

* Albany thickets
* Lowland fynbos and renosterveld
* Montane fynbos and renosterveld

Deserts and xeric shrublands|

* Kalahari xeric savanna
* Nama Karoo
* Succulent Karoo

Tundra|

* Southern Indian Ocean Islands tundra

Mangroves|

* Southern Africa mangroves

Marine ecoregions|

* Agulhas ecoregion
* Benguela ecoregion
* Delagoa ecoregion
* Natal ecoregion
* Southeast Atlantic ecoregion
* Southwest Indian ecoregion

Biomes and Vegetation classification

* List of vegetation types of South Africa

| Savanna|

* Andesite Mountain Bushveld
* Aoub Duneveld
* Barberton Serpentine Sourveld
* Bhisho Thornveld
* Cathedral Mopane Bushveld
* Central Sandy Bushveld
* Delagoa Lowveld
* Dwaalboom Thornveld
* Dwarsberg-Swartruggens Mountain Bushveld
* Eastern Valley Bushveld
* Gabbro Grassy Bushveld
* Gauteng Shale Mountain Bushveld
* Ghaap Plateau Vaalbosveld
* Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld
* Gordonia Duneveld
* Gordonia Kameeldoring Bushveld
* Gordonia Plains Shrubland
* Granite Lowveld
* Gravelotte Rocky Bushveld
* Kaalrug Mountain Bushveld
* Kathu Bushveld
* Kimberley Thornveld
* Koranna-Langeberg Mountain Bushveld
* Kuruman Mountain Bushveld
* Kuruman Thornveld
* Kuruman Vaalbosveld
* KwaZulu-Natal Hinterland Thornveld
* KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld
* Lebombo Summit Sourveld
* Legogote Sour Bushveld
* Limpopo Ridge Bushveld
* Limpopo Sweet Bushveld
* Loskop Mountain Bushveld
* Loskop Thornveld
* Lowveld Rugged Mopaneveld
* Madikwe Dolomite Bushveld
* Mafikeng Bushveld
* Makatini Clay Thicket
* Makhado Sweet Bushveld
* Makuleke Sandy Bushveld
* Malelane Mountain Bushveld
* Mamabolo Mountain Bushveld
* Marikana Thornveld
* Molopo Bushveld
* Moot Plains Bushveld
* Mopane Basalt Shrubland
* Mopane Gabbro Shrubland
* Musina Mopane Bushveld
* Ngongoni Veld
* Norite Koppies Bushveld
* Northern Lebombo Bushveld
* Northern Zululand Sourveld
* Nossob Bushveld
* Nwambyia-Pumbe Sandy Bushveld
* Ohrigstad Mountain Bushveld
* Olifantshoek Plains Thornveld
* Phalaborwa-Timbavati Mopaneveld
* Pilanesberg Mountain Bushveld
* Polokwane Plateau Bushveld
* Postmasburg Thornveld
* Poung Dolomite Mountain Bushveld
* Pretoriuskop Sour Bushveld
* Roodeberg Bushveld
* Schmidtsdrif Thornveld
* Schweizer-Reneke Bushveld
* Sekhukhune Mountain Bushveld
* Sekhukhune Plains Bushveld
* South Eastern Coastal Thornveld
* Southern Lebombo Bushveld
* Soutpansberg Mountain Bushveld
* Springbokvlakte Thornveld
* Stella Bushveld
* Swaziland Sour Bushveld
* Tembe Sandy Bushveld
* Thukela Thornveld
* Thukela Valley Bushveld
* Tsende Mopaneveld
* Tshokwane-Hlane Basalt Lowveld
* Tzaneen Sour Bushveld
* Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland
* VhaVenda Miombo
* Waterberg Mountain Bushveld
* Western Maputaland Clay Bushveld
* Western Maputaland Sandy Bushveld
* Western Sandy Bushveld
* Zeerust Thornveld
* Zululand Coastal Thornveld
* Zululand Lowveld

|

Grassland|

* Aliwal North Dry Grassland
* Amathole Mistbelt Grassland
* Amathole Montane Grassland
* Amersfoort Highveld Clay Grassland
* Barberton Montane Grassland
* Basotho Montane Shrubland
* Bedford Dry Grassland
* Besemkaree Koppies Shrubland
* Bloemfontein Dry Grassland
* Bloemfontein Karroid Shrubland
* Carletonville Dolomite Grassland
* Central Free State Grassland
* Drakensberg Afroalpine Heathland
* Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland
* Drakensberg-Amathole Afromontane Fynbos
* East Griqualand Grassland
* Eastern Free State Clay Grassland
* Eastern Free State Sandy Grassland
* Eastern Highveld Grassland
* Egoli Granite Grassland
* Frankfort Highveld Grassland
* Income Sandy Grassland
* Ithala Quartzite Sourveld
* KaNgwane Montane Grassland
* Karoo Escarpment Grassland
* Klerksdorp Thornveld
* KwaZulu-Natal Highland Thornveld
* Leolo Summit Sourveld
* Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland
* Low Escarpment Moist Grassland
* Lydenburg Montane Grassland
* Lydenburg Thornveld
* Mabela Sandy Grassland
* Midlands Mistbelt Grassland
* Mooi River Highland Grassland
* Mthatha Moist Grassland
* Northern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
* Northern Escarpment Afromontane Fynbos
* Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland
* Northern Escarpment Quartzite Sourveld
* Northern Free State Shrubland
* Northern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
* Northern KwaZulu-Natal Shrubland
* Northern Zululand Mistbelt Grassland
* Paulpietersburg Moist Grassland
* Queenstown Thornveld
* Rand Highveld Grassland
* Sekhukhune Montane Grassland
* Senqu Montane Shrubland
* Southern Drakensberg Highland Grassland
* Southern KwaZulu-Natal Moist Grassland
* Soutpansberg Summit Sourveld
* Soweto Highveld Grassland
* Steenkampsberg Montane Grassland
* Stormberg Plateau Grassland
* Strydpoort Summit Sourveld
* Tarkastad Montane Shrubland
* Tsakane Clay Grassland
* Tsomo Grassland
* uKhahlamba Basalt Grassland
* Vaal Reefs Dolomite Sinkhole Woodland
* Vaal-Vet Sandy Grassland
* Vredefort Dome Granite Grassland
* Wakkerstroom Montane Grassland
* Waterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld
* Western Free State Clay Grassland
* Western Highveld Sandy Grassland
* Western Lesotho Basalt Shrubland
* Winburg Grassy Shrubland
* Wolkberg Dolomite Grassland
* Woodbush Granite Grassland
* Xhariep Karroid Grassland
* Zastron Moist Grassland

Fynbos|

* Agulhas Limestone Fynbos
* Agulhas Sand Fynbos
* Albertinia Sand Fynbos
* Algoa Sandstone Fynbos
* Atlantis Sand Fynbos
* Bokkeveld Sandstone Fynbos
* Boland Granite Fynbos
* Breede Alluvium Fynbos
* Breede Quartzite Fynbos
* Breede Sand Fynbos
* Breede Shale Fynbos
* Canca Limestone Fynbos
* Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
* Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos
* Cederberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
* Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation
* De Hoop Limestone Fynbos
* Eastern Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
* Eastern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
* Elgin Shale Fynbos
* Elim Ferricrete Fynbos
* Garden Route Granite Fynbos
* Garden Route Shale Fynbos
* Graafwater Sandstone Fynbos
* Greyton Shale Fynbos
* Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos
* Hangklip Sand Fynbos
* Hawequas Sandstone Fynbos
* Hopefield Sand Fynbos
* Kamiesberg Granite Fynbos
* Kango Conglomerate Fynbos
* Knysna Sand Fynbos
* Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos
* Kouebokkeveld Shale Fynbos
* Kouga Grassy Sandstone Fynbos
* Kouga Sandstone Fynbos
* Leipoldtville Sand Fynbos
* Loerie Conglomerate Fynbos
* Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos
* Matjiesfontein Quartzite Fynbos
* Matjiesfontein Shale Fynbos
* Montagu Shale Fynbos
* Namaqualand Sand Fynbos
* North Hex Sandstone Fynbos
* North Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
* North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
* North Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
* North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
* North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
* North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Northern Inland Shale Band Vegetation
* Olifants Sandstone Fynbos
* Overberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Peninsula Granite Fynbos
* Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos
* Piketberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos
* Potberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Robertson Granite Fynbos
* South Hex Sandstone Fynbos
* South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos
* South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos
* South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos
* South Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos
* South Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos
* South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos
* Southern Cape Dune Fynbos
* Stinkfonteinberge Quartzite Fynbos
* Suurberg Quartzite Fynbos
* Suurberg Shale Fynbos
* Swartberg Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
* Swartberg Shale Fynbos
* Swartland Alluvium Fynbos
* Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos
* Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos
* Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos
* Western Altimontane Sandstone Fynbos
* Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation
* Winterhoek Sandstone Fynbos

Renosterveld|

* Baviaanskloof Shale Renosterveld
* Breede Alluvium Renosterveld
* Breede Shale Renosterveld
* Central Mountain Shale Renosterveld
* Central Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
* Ceres Shale Renosterveld
* Eastern Ruêns Shale Renosterveld
* Hantam Plateau Dolerite Renosterveld
* Humansdorp Shale Renosterveld
* Kango Limestone Renosterveld
* Langkloof Shale Renosterveld
* Matjiesfontein Shale Renosterveld
* Montagu Shale Renosterveld
* Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld
* Namaqualand Granite Renosterveld
* Nieuwoudtville Shale Renosterveld
* Nieuwoudtville-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld
* Peninsula Shale Renosterveld
* Robertson Granite Renosterveld
* Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld
* Ruêns Silcrete Renosterveld
* Swartberg Shale Renosterveld
* Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld
* Swartland Granite Renosterveld
* Swartland Shale Renosterveld
* Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld
* Uniondale Shale Renosterveld
* Vanrhynsdorp Shale Renosterveld
* Western Ruêns Shale Renosterveld

Succulent
Karoo|

* Aggeneys Gravel Vygieveld
* Agter-Sederberg Shrubland
* Anenous Plateau Shrubland
* Bushmanland Inselberg Shrubland
* Central Knersvlakte Vygieveld
* Central Richtersveld Mountain Shrubland
* Citrusdal Vygieveld
* Die Plate Succulent Shrubland
* Doringrivier Quartzite Karoo
* Eastern Little Karoo
* Eenriet Plains Succulent Shrubland
* Goariep Mountain Succulent Shrubland
* Hantam Karoo
* Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland
* Klawer Sandy Shrubland
* Knersvlakte Dolomite Vygieveld
* Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld
* Knersvlakte Shale Vygieveld
* Koedoesberge-Moordenaars Karoo
* Kosiesberg Succulent Shrubland
* Lekkersing Succulent Shrubland
* Little Karoo Quartz Vygieveld
* Namaqualand Arid Grassland
* Namaqualand Blomveld
* Namaqualand Coastal Duneveld
* Namaqualand Heuweltjie Strandveld
* Namaqualand Heuweltjieveld
* Namaqualand Inland Duneveld
* Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland
* Namaqualand Shale Shrubland
* Namaqualand Spinescent Grassland
* Namaqualand Strandveld
* Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld
* Northern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
* Northern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
* Oograbies Plains Sandy Grassland
* Piketberg Quartz Succulent Shrubland
* Platbakkies Succulent Shrubland
* Prince Albert Succulent Karoo
* Richtersveld Coastal Duneveld
* Richtersveld Red Duneveld
* Richtersveld Sandy Coastal Scorpionstailveld
* Riethuis-Wallekraal Quartz Vygieveld
* Robertson Karoo
* Roggeveld Karoo
* Rooiberg Quartz Vygieveld
* Rosyntjieberg Succulent Shrubland
* Southern Namaqualand Quartzite Klipkoppe Shrubland
* Southern Richtersveld Inselberg Shrubland
* Southern Richtersveld Scorpionstailveld
* Southern Richtersveld Yellow Duneveld
* Steytlerville Karoo
* Stinkfonteinberge Eastern Apron Shrubland
* Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo
* Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland
* Tanqua Karoo
* Tatasberg Mountain Succulent Shrubland
* Umdaus Mountains Succulent Shrubland
* Upper Annisvlakte Succulent Shrubland
* Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld
* Vyftienmyl se Berge Succulent Shrubland
* Western Bushmanland Klipveld
* Western Gwarrieveld
* Western Little Karoo
* Willowmore Gwarrieveld

Albany
Thicket
and
Strandveld|

* Albany Arid Thicket
* Albany Bontveld
* Albany Mesic Thicket
* Albany Valley Thicket
* Baviaans Valley Thicket
* Bethelsdorp Bontveld
* Blombos Strandveld
* Buffels Mesic Thicket
* Buffels Valley Thicket
* Cape Flats Dune Strandveld
* Crossroads Grassland Thicket
* Doubledrift Karroid Thicket
* Eastern Gwarrieveld
* Elands Forest Thicket
* Escarpment Arid Thicket
* Escarpment Mesic Thicket
* Escarpment Valley Thicket
* Fish Arid Thicket
* Fish Mesic Thicket
* Fish Valley Thicket
* Gamka Arid Thicket
* Gamka Valley Thicket
* Geluk Grassland Thicket
* Goukamma Dune Thicket
* Gouritz Valley Thicket
* Grahamstown Grassland Thicket
* Grassridge Bontveld
* Groot Brak Dune Strandveld
* Hamburg Dune Thicket
* Hartenbos Dune Thicket
* Kasouga Dune Thicket
* Koedoeskloof Karroid Thicket
* Lambert's Bay Strandveld
* Langebaan Dune Strandveld
* Mons Ruber Fynbos Thicket
* Motherwell Karroid Thicket
* Nanaga Savanna Thicket
* Oudshoorn Karroid Thicket
* Overberg Dune Strandveld
* Saldanha Flats Strandveld
* Saldanha Granite Strandveld
* Saldanha Limestone Strandveld
* Saltaire Karroid Thicket
* Sardinia Forest Thicket
* St Francis Dune Thicket
* Subtropical Dune Thicket
* Sundays Arid Thicket
* Sundays Mesic Thicket
* Sundays Valley Thicket
* Thorndale Forest Thicket
* Umtiza Forest Thicket
* Vanstadens Forest Thicket
* Western Gwarrieveld
* Willowmore Gwarrieveld

Nama
Karoo
and
desert|

* Albany Broken Veld
* Blouputs Karroid Thornveld
* Bushmanland Arid Grassland
* Bushmanland Basin Shrubland
* Bushmanland Sandy Grassland
* Eastern Lower Karoo
* Eastern Upper Karoo
* Gamka Karoo
* Kalahari Karroid Shrubland
* Lower Gariep Broken Veld
* Lower Karoo Gwarrieveld
* Northern Upper Karoo
* Upper Karoo Hardeveld
* Western Upper Karoo
* Alexander Bay Coastal Duneveld
* Eastern Gariep Plains Desert
* Eastern Gariep Rocky Desert
* Helskloof Canyon Desert
* Kahams Mountain Desert
* Kwaggarug Mountain Desert
* Namib Lichen Fields
* Noms Mountain Desert
* Northern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
* Richtersberg Mountain Desert
* Richtersveld Sheet Wash Desert
* Southern Nababiepsberge Mountain Desert
* Western Gariep Hills Desert
* Western Gariep Lowland Desert
* Western Gariep Plains Desert

Azonal|

* Albany Alluvial Vegetation
* Albany Dune Strandveld
* Algoa Dune Strandveld
* Arid Estuarine Salt Marshes
* Bushmanland Vloere
* Cape Estuarine Salt Marshes
* Cape Inland Salt Pans
* Cape Lowland Alluvial Vegetation
* Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands
* Cape Seashore Vegetation
* Cape Vernal Pools
* Drakensberg Wetlands
* Eastern Temperate Freshwater Wetlands
* Fynbos Riparian Vegetation
* Highveld Alluvial Vegetation
* Highveld Salt Pans
* Lesotho Mires
* Lower Gariep Alluvial Vegetation
* Muscadel Riviere
* Namaqualand Riviere
* Namaqualand Salt Pans
* Namaqualand Seashore Vegetation
* Namib Seashore Vegetation
* Southern Kalahari Mekgacha
* Southern Kalahari Salt Pans
* Southern Karoo Riviere
* Subantarctic Kelp Bed Vegetation
* Subtropical Alluvial Vegetation
* Subtropical Dune Thicket
* Subtropical Estuarine Salt Marshes
* Subtropical Freshwater Wetlands
* Subtropical Salt Pans
* Subtropical Seashore Vegetation
* Tanqua Wash Riviere
* Upper Gariep Alluvial Vegetation

Forest
and
Coastal
belt|

* KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt
* Maputaland Coastal Belt
* Maputaland Wooded Grassland
* Pondoland-Natal Sandstone Coastal Sourveld
* Transkei Coastal Belt
* Ironwood Dry Forest
* Lowveld Riverine Forest
* Mangrove Forest
* Northern Afrotemperate Forest
* Northern Coastal Forest
* Northern Mistbelt Forest
* Sand Forest
* Scarp Forest
* Southern Afrotemperate Forest
* Southern Coastal Forest
* Southern Mistbelt Forest
* Swamp Forest

Subantarctic
biome|

* Subantarctic Biotic Herbfield and Grassland
* Subantarctic Cinder Cone Vegetation
* Subantarctic Coastal Vegetation
* Subantarctic Drainage Line Vegetation
* Subantarctic Fellfield
* Subantarctic Fernbrake Vegetation
* Subantarctic Mire
* Subantarctic Polar Desert

not on
VEGMAP|

* List of forests of South Africa
* List of forests of the Eastern Cape
* Forests of KwaZulu-Natal
* KwaZulu-Natal Dune Forest
* KwaZulu-Natal coastal lowland forest
* List of forests of the Western Cape

Protected areas of South Africa

* Index of protected areas of South Africa

| South
African
National
Parks|

* Addo Elephant National Park
* Agulhas National Park
* Augrabies Falls National Park
* Bontebok National Park
* Camdeboo National Park
* Garden Route National Park
* Tsitsikamma National Park
* Wilderness National Park
* Golden Gate Highlands National Park
* Karoo National Park
* Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
* Kruger National Park
* Mapungubwe National Park
* Marakele National Park
* Mokala National Park
* Mountain Zebra National Park
* Namaqua National Park
* Table Mountain National Park
* Tankwa Karoo National Park
* West Coast National Park
* ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

|

Biosphere
reserves|

* Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve
* Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve
* Kogelberg Nature Reserve
* Kruger to Canyons Biosphere
* Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve
* Waterberg Biosphere

Marine
protected
areas of
South
Africa|

| Coastal|

* Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area
* Amathole Marine Protected Area
* Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area
* Bird Island Marine Protected Area
* De Hoop Marine Protected Area
* Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area
* Goukamma Marine Protected Area
* Helderberg Marine Protected Area
* Hluleka Marine Protected AreaI
* iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area
* Jutten Island Marine Protected Area
* Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area
* Malgas Island Marine Protected Area
* Marcus Island Marine Protected Area
* Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area
* Pondoland Marine Protected Area
* Robben Island Marine Protected Area
* Rocherpan Marine Protected Area
* Robberg Marine Protected Area
* Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area
* Sixteen Mile Beach Marine Protected Area
* Stilbaai Marine Protected Area
* Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area
* Trafalgar Marine Protected Area
* Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area
* uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area
* Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary

|

Offshore|

* Agulhas Bank Complex Marine Protected Area
* Agulhas Front Marine Protected Area
* Agulhas Muds Marine Protected Area
* Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area
* Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area
* Benguela Bank Marine Protected Area
* Benguela Muds Marine Protected Area
* Browns Bank Complex Marine Protected Area
* Browns Bank Corals Marine Protected Area
* Cape Canyon Marine Protected Area
* Childs Bank Marine Protected Area
* iSimangaliso Offshore Marine Protected Area
* Namaqua Fossil Forest Marine Protected Area
* Orange Shelf Edge Marine Protected Area
* Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area
* Protea Banks Marine Protected Area
* Southeast Atlantic Seamounts Marine Protected Area
* Southwest Indian Seamount Marine Protected Area
* Port Elizabeth Corals Marine Protected Area
* uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area

Management
organisations|

* CapeNature
* City of Cape Town
* Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
* Department of Science and Innovation
* Eastern Cape Parks
* Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
* iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority
* Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality
* South African National Parks

Biodiversity research in SA

* Bolus Herbarium
* Iziko South African Museum
* National Research Foundation
* South African National Collection of Fungi

| Research
organisations|

* Animal Demography Unit
* BirdLife South Africa
* South African Association for Marine Biological Research
* South African Environmental Observation Network
* South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
* South African National Biodiversity Institute

|

Research
projects|

* African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme
* National Biodiversity Assessment
* National Vegetation Map Project
* Reef Atlas Project
* SeaKeys

Citizen science
databases|

* iNaturalist
* iSpot
* Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Virtual Museum

Botanical
gardens|

* Durban Botanic Gardens
* Free State National Botanical Garden
* Garden Route Botanical Garden
* Hantam National Botanical Garden
* Harold Porter National Botanical Garden
* Johannesburg Botanical Garden
* Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden
* Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
* KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden
* Lowveld National Botanical Garden
* Makana Botanical Gardens
* Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden
* North-West University Botanical Garden
* Pretoria National Botanical Garden
* Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
* University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden
* Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden

Taxonomists|

* List of authors of South African botanical taxa
* List of authors of South African animal taxa

Related

* Biodiversity
* Biosphere
* Ecotourism
* Encyclopedia of Life
* Environmental impact of recreational diving
* Low impact diving
* International Union for Conservation of Nature
* Marine protected area
* National park
* Nature conservation
* Nature reserve
* Scuba diving tourism
* South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative
* World Register of Marine Species
* World Wide Fund for Nature

| Regional biodiversity|

* Biodiversity of Cape Town
* List of nature reserves in Cape Town

|

Legislation|

* Marine Living Resources Act, 18 of 1998
* National Environmental Management Act, 1998
* National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004
* National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 24 of 2008
* National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003

Publications|

* List of field guides to South African biota

* Categories: Biodiversity of South Africa
*   * Index

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