Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area maps for Water Management Areas

The document details how Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area (FEPA) maps serve as a tool for biodiversity conservation and water resource management in South Africa. It outlines the integration of these maps into legal frameworks such as the National Water Act, Biodiversity Act, and Protected Areas Act. The text defines various map categories—including River FEPAs, Wetland/Estuary FEPAs, Fish Sanctuaries, and Fish Support Areas—and specifies the ecological conditions and management priorities associated with each to ensure the protection of threatened species and the maintenance of ecosystem health.

• FEPA maps are designed to inform several key policy mechanisms under the National Water Act, including Catchment Management Strategies, water resource classification, reserve determination, the setting of resource quality objectives, and water use licensing.
• The maps support the Biodiversity Act by providing data for listing threatened river ecosystems and developing provincial biodiversity and bioregional plans, where FEPAs are prioritized as Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas.
• FEPA identification is based on representing ecosystem types, flagship free-flowing rivers, water supply areas with high water yield, connected ecosystems, and migration corridors for threatened or near-threatened fish species.
• River FEPAs are identified in rivers currently in a good condition (ecological category A or B) to meet biodiversity targets; the entire associated sub-quaternary catchment is shaded dark green to indicate that surrounding land must be managed to maintain this condition.
• Wetland FEPAs are identified using a combination of modeled condition and special features, such as Ramsar status, intact peat wetlands, and the presence of threatened frogs or birds; unlike river FEPAs, they do not have to be in good condition to be selected.
• Fish sanctuaries are essential for protecting indigenous threatened and near-threatened fish; those in good condition (A or B) are classified as FEPAs, while those in lower ecological conditions are designated as Fish Support Areas.
• Nineteen flagship free-flowing rivers have been identified based on their biodiversity value and representativeness across the country, and they are designated as top priorities for retaining their free-flowing character.

APA

Bugan, R. (n.d.). Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area maps for Water Management Areas. Centre for Environmental Rights. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Annexure-H1.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Bugan, Richard. Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area maps for Water Management Areas. Centre for Environmental Rights, n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Annexure-H1.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bugan |first1=Richard |title=Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area maps for Water Management Areas |publisher=Centre for Environmental Rights |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Annexure-H1.pdf?x21779 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{buganndfreshwater, author = {Bugan, Richard}, title = {{Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area maps for Water Management Areas}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Annexure-H1.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }