NEWS
that could qualify have not been identi-
fied.
"SA is working with four African coun-
tries to identify red-listed species and
ecosystems, which they can then use
to identify their key biodiversity areas,"
Marnewick says. "Part of the objective
is also to work with local NGOs and ex-
perts in these countries to develop the
local human capacity and skills to iden-
tify and manage these areas."
Marnewick says there are about 15,000
such areas globally, including important
bird and biodiversity areas, zero-extinc-
tion sites, and key biodiversity areas
identified under an older set of criteria.
The network will be expanded for other
taxa and ecosystems across terrestrial,
marine and freshwater habitats.
SA needs a robust network of key biodi-
versity areas, as pressure on its natural
resources is immense from develop-
ment for humans and the escalating
threats of mining.
"How well the country’s biodiversity will
be protected will be the measure by
which the rest of the world assesses our
success, as it will be the case study for
other countries that are signatories to
the Convention on Biological Diversity,"
says Marnewick.
"A robust network of key biodiversity
areas gives us traction to lobby for the
protection of these sites on a global
scale and to be able to apply for sup-
port from global funders who require
that initiatives they support subscribe
to the standard.
"Such funders include the Global Envi-
ronmental Facility and the Critical Eco-
system Partnership Fund.
"Key biodiversity areas are a global in-
dicator for where countries should place
their protected areas and conservation
areas. If countries can begin protecting
the most important biodiversity areas
globally, this process has the ability to
start tipping the scales away from spe-
cies decline."
Grassroots
Vol 18
No 4
December 2018
12