干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): Rates and patterns of habitat loss across South Africa's vegetation biomes

Arid

DOI	10.17159/sajs.2021/8182
	Rates and patterns of habitat loss across South Africa's vegetation biomes
	Skowno, Andrew L.; Jewitt, Debbie; Slingsby, Jasper A.
通讯作者	Skowno, AL (corresponding author), South African Natl Biodivers Inst SANBI, Kirstenbosch Res Ctr, Cape Town, South Africa. ; Skowno, AL (corresponding author), Univ Cape Town, Dept Biol Sci, Plant Conservat Unit, Cape Town, South Africa.
来源期刊	SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
ISSN	0038-2353
EISSN	1996-7489
出版年	2021
卷号	117 期号:1-2
英文摘要	The loss of natural habitat resulting from human activities is the principal driver of biodiversity loss in terrestrial ecosystems globally. Metrics of habitat loss are monitored at national and global scales using various remote sensing based land-cover change products. The metrics go on to inform reporting processes, biodiversity assessments, land-use decision-making and strategic planning in the environmental and conservation sector. We present key metrics of habitat loss across South Africa at national and biome levels for the first time. We discuss the spatial patterns and trends, and the implications and limitations of the metrics. Approximately 22% of the natural habitat of South Africa has been lost since the arrival of European settlers. The extent and the rate of habitat loss are not uniform across South Africa. The relatively mesic Grassland, Fynbos and Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biomes have lost the most habitat, while the arid Nama-Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Desert have lost the least. Rates of loss increased across all biomes in recent years (2014-2018), indicating that the historical drivers of change (i.e. expansion of croplands, human settlements, plantation forestry and mining) are intensifying overall. We should caution that the losses we report are conservative, because the land-cover change products do not capture degradation within natural ecosystems. Preventing widespread biodiversity losses and securing the benefits we derive from biodiversity requires slowing and preventing further habitat degradation and loss by using existing land-use planning and regulatory tools to their full potential. Significance: The loss of natural habitat resulting from human activities is the principal driver of biodiversity loss in terrestrial ecosystems in South Africa. Monitoring trends and patterns of habitat loss at a national scale provides a basis for informed environmental decision-making and planning, thus equipping civil society and government to address habitat loss and protect biodiversity while also meeting key development and socio-economic needs.
英文关键词	land-cover change monitoring biodiversity ecosystem indicator
类型	Article
语种	英语
开放获取类型	gold
收录类别	SCI-E
WOS记录号	WOS:000662660800019
WOS关键词	ECOSYSTEM
WOS类目	Multidisciplinary Sciences
WOS研究方向	Science & Technology - Other Topics
资源类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/351799
作者单位	[Skowno, Andrew L.] South African Natl Biodivers Inst SANBI, Kirstenbosch Res Ctr, Cape Town, South Africa; [Skowno, Andrew L.] Univ Cape Town, Dept Biol Sci, Plant Conservat Unit, Cape Town, South Africa; [Jewitt, Debbie] Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Biodivers Res & Assessment, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; [Jewitt, Debbie] Univ Witwatersrand, Sch Anim Plant & Environm Sci, Johannesburg, South Africa; [Slingsby, Jasper A.] Ctr Biodivers Conservat, South African Environm Observat Network SAEON, Cape Town, South Africa; [Slingsby, Jasper A.] Univ Cape Town, Dept Biol Sci, Ctr Stat Ecol Environm & Conservat, Cape Town, South Africa
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Skowno, Andrew L.,Jewitt, Debbie,Slingsby, Jasper A.. Rates and patterns of habitat loss across South Africa's vegetation biomes[J],2021,117(1-2).
APA	Skowno, Andrew L.,Jewitt, Debbie,&Slingsby, Jasper A..(2021).Rates and patterns of habitat loss across South Africa's vegetation biomes.SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE,117(1-2).
MLA	Skowno, Andrew L.,et al."Rates and patterns of habitat loss across South Africa's vegetation biomes".SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 117.1-2(2021).