Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: South Africa

This report reviews the status of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in South Africa, detailing the country's policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, and practical implementation of nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience.

• South Africa's coastal population, which accounts for approximately 45% of the 58 million people (as of 2019), is highly dependent on ocean and coastal ecosystem services for food security, livelihoods, trade, and industry.
• Sea levels are rising across the South African coast, with the highest annual rate of increase occurring on the east coast at 2.74mm per year, compared to 1.87mm on the west coast and 1.47mm on the south coast.
• The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) holds primary national responsibility for EbA governance, supported by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for research and implementation, while local authorities handle project execution.
• South Africa has established a comprehensive policy landscape for EbA, including the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Strategic Framework and Overarching Implementation Plan (2017) and the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Guidelines (2018).
• Despite its commitments, South Africa's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) have failed to mention the necessity of ensuring climate-resilient ecosystems, a gap the report identifies as critical for the 2020 update.
• Practical EbA applications in South Africa include dune rehabilitation in the Western Cape and eThekwini Municipality, the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) like the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and the use of technology via the ABALOBI initiative to support small-scale fisheries.
• Funding for EbA remains a significant challenge, with the country relying heavily on international sources such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund, as national financing volumes are insufficient.
• Institutional coordination is hindered by 'silo' operations within and across government departments, alongside resource constraints and ineffective management systems at the local government level.

APA

Sauka, S. (2019). Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: South Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eba-Special-Report-sauka.pdf

Chicago

Sauka, Siyasanga. Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: South Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2019. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eba-Special-Report-sauka.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sauka |first1=Siyasanga |title=Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: South Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eba-Special-Report-sauka.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sauka2019marine, author = {Sauka, Siyasanga}, title = {{Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: South Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Eba-Special-Report-sauka.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }