An exceptional biodiversity and national parks
The country has 23 national parks, covering more than 3.3% of its territory. They combine the conservation of species and habitats with the promotion of public awareness. Some, however, are threatened by urbanization, pollution from mining activities and the long droughts of recent years, which have seen many animals die. Poaching is still rife, despite drastic anti-poaching measures.
These include
Kruger National Park : located in the north-east of the country, this is the oldest and largest national park, home to large mammals (including elephants), birds and numerous plant species. Classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which also includes Limpopo National Park in Mozambique and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe.
Table Mountain National Park : located in the Western Cape province, this park protects various ecosystems, includingTable Mountain, which boasts one of the world's greatest plant biodiversity (almost 70% endemic species), and the Cape of Good Hope. The coastal area is home to a wide range of marine fauna (penguins, seals). Also worth a visit: the KirstenboschNational Botanical Gardens .
The Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: located in the west of the country, it is the result of the merger of two former parks and is shared between South Africa and Namibia. It is co-managed by the Nama (nomadic herders) and the South African National Parks Council. An arid mountain zone, it is home to one of the world's largest canyons and protects a huge diversity of succulent plants. Erected against a mining project, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its botanical and cultural landscapes.
Initiatives are springing up here and there to preserve biodiversity. In the summer of 2020, for example, environmental associations and ecotourism professionals joined forces to call for the protection of Algoa Bay, home to the world's largest colony of African penguins. Since 2016, this site has been used to refuel cargo ships offshore, an activity that disturbs the penguins (noise, oil leaks in 2017 and 2019) and could also affect dolphins, whales and the migration of sardines.
Environmental impacts related to industry and energy
South Africa has the largest industry on the African continent. It is based on mining and the consumption of fossil fuels. Mining activity generates discharges, particularly of heavy metals and radioactivity, into surface waters. Acid mine drainage (formation of sulfuric acid linked to the oxidation of certain minerals) leads to persistent water and soil pollution. A study published by the NGO Greenpeace in 2018 ranks Mpumalanga Province as one of the most polluted provinces in the world with nitrogen dioxide. The cause? The presence of twelve obsolete coal-fired power plants (plus an oil refinery and a coal liquefaction plant), which the operating company, in debt, would struggle to bring up to standard. The ecological situation is coupled with a public health issue. That same year, two NGOs attacked the government for "lethal levels of pollution".
Agriculture as a source of pollution, but also initiatives in favour of biodiversity
Conventional agriculture and viticulture are also sources of pollution through the use of chemical inputs, including molecules banned in the European Union. Faced with this, alternatives based on agro-ecology are being observed. In 2004, the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) was created in the Cape Province, bringing together wine growers and naturalist associations. Its objective? To preserve the exceptional biodiversity of the region. Biodiversity (flora, insects, etc.) works as an ally of the vineyards, where no chemical products are used. The BWI also provides training and organizes experience sharing in order to spread the approach.
South Africa's response to climate change
Africa's largest industrial power, the country is also the continent's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, with an energy mix dominated by fossil fuels. In concrete terms, the actions implemented are insufficient and not very effective: carbon tax introduced in 2019, construction of solar farms, buses running on natural gas in Johannesburg, installation of individual solar water heaters... stopped for lack of funding. The country continues to build coal-fired power plants (Medpui). A report published by the UN in December 2020 warns that the trajectory we are following is that of a global warming of + 3.2°C compared to the pre-industrial era by the end of the century. This means, if nothing is done, the irremediable transformation of the world we know, with heavy impacts for humanity. South Africa is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Extreme events could multiply in frequency and intensity. The country is already facing longer and more intense periods of drought, with consequent water shortages. In 2019, water restrictions had to be put in place in several regions and a state of natural disaster was declared in the Northern Cape. The situation has resulted in lost agricultural yields and the death of livestock herds. According to Wildlife Ranching South Africa, the Northern Cape region has lost two-thirds of its wildlife in three years. Faced with this situation, the government indicated in September 2020 new bills to mitigate global warming and encourage the implementation of a circular economy. A major challenge that will have to be translated into concrete actions in the next ten years.
