NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 1567
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 20 of 2009
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09 October 2009
Ms P Duncan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
i) What are the probable risks of climate change to biodiversity in
South Africa?
ii) Whether the Department is taking any measures to promote adaptation
to climate change in the biodiversity sector; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details?
iii) Whether any measures are being examined to finance adaptation to
climate in the biodiversity sector; if not, why not, if so, what
are the relevant details?
NW1973E
MS P DUNCAN (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
1567 THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(i) The latest science indicates that the key climate change
impacts that the terrestrial biodiversity sector can anticipate
are:
⢠Increasing prevalence of invasive species, primarily plants which
poses challenges to conservation efforts in certain regions.
⢠Models predict that the Great Karoo will become drier and more
desert-like, particularly in the west.
⢠Grasslands are likely to be transformed as the climate warms up and
frost becomes less frequent, resulting in woody plants invading
grasslands, transforming them into Savanna areas.
⢠Climate change is projected to increase species extinction rates
with red-data and vulnerable species more likely to display range
shifts.
⢠Projections of the future impacts of climate change on biodiversity
have identified wetlands, as being particularly vulnerable.
⢠Future projected rainfall changes differ regionally. There are
indications for a wetter east coast in summer, and a drier west
coast, but the location of the transition zone between areas of
greater and lower rainfall is uncertain. Drier conditions are
predicted for the south west of the country in both seasons.
Rainfall intensity is likely to increase, but not necessarily
translating to an increase in total rainfall.
⢠The most severe effects on biodiversity are projected in the winter
rainfall biomes, the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo, with between
roughly 20 and 40% of the areas supporting these biomes exposed to
novel climate conditions by mid-century. Additional stresses to
biodiversity that will interact with climate change include
wildfire frequency (which has already shown climate change-related
increases in the Fynbos Biome) and alien invasive species. The
combined effects of these and stresses relating to land use and
fragmentation of habitats will further increase the vulnerability
of biodiversity to climate change. Rising atmospheric CO2 levels
may be increasing the cover of shrubs and trees in Grassland and
Savanna biomes, with mixed effects on biodiversity, and possible
positive implications for carbon sequestration.
⢠Forecast climate change for South Africa over the next 50-100 years
suggests that tropical species will become a more significant
component of the invasive biota, and that distributions of many
species currently limited by water availability will expand into
previously drier areas.
(ii) The Department is in the process of developing National Climate
Change Response Policy as well as sector response plans.
Biodiversity has been identified as one of the priority adaptation
sector as a draft biodiversity and climate change response strategy is in
place. The Biodiversity sector partners as well as a number of
municipalities are already implementing a number of practical measures
aimed at reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience of natural
systems.
(iii) The broader financial mechanisms for adaptation activities in
the biodiversity sector will be incorporated into the response
strategy and action plan once it is completed. Currently, the
Department is utilising donor funding to ensure the development of
sound adaptation plans for key sectors. For on the ground
implementation, the Department aims to mobilise funds through the
PTEF processes, donor relations and any other possible avenues.
However, resource availability remains a challenging area,
especially at local government level.