Ecosystem-based Adaptation in South African Coastal Cities

The document argues that ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)—the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change—is a sustainable development approach that provides socio-economic, adaptation, and conservation benefits. While South Africa has national frameworks for EbA, implementation in coastal cities faces significant hurdles, including a lack of promulgated Coastal Management Lines (CMLs), complex jurisdictional overlaps between national and local government, and a persistent preference for 'grey' engineering solutions over nature-based ones. Case studies of Cape Town and Durban highlight successes such as hybrid dune rehabilitation and the use of 'climate change champions' to break down institutional silos, but also reveal challenges like funding gaps and public lack of buy-in among poor communities who prioritize immediate economic needs over environmental resilience.

• Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is defined as a sustainable development approach that simultaneously delivers socio-economic benefits, climate change adaptation through risk and vulnerability reduction, and biodiversity conservation.
• South African coastal cities are highly vulnerable to climate impacts, including flooding, rising sea levels, seawater intrusion, and coastal storm surges, which threaten both urban economies and the livelihoods of the urban poor.
• A critical governance barrier is the failure to promulgate Coastal Management Lines (CMLs); despite being a legislated requirement since 2009, no coastal municipality in South Africa has yet promulgated one.
• In Cape Town, EbA is integrated into the city's biodiversity network, but 'grey' engineering solutions are still typically the first recourse during crises, and the city struggles to secure buy-in from indigent communities who view their challenges as primarily economic.
• Durban has successfully used 'climate change champions' across different departments to overcome 'siloed' management and has implemented a hybrid EbA project combining offshore dredging with dune rehabilitation to protect infrastructure.
• Financial constraints are a major inhibitor, as municipalities prioritize basic service delivery over climate adaptation; there is a need to move toward innovative financing, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES) and partnerships with the insurance industry.
• The document identifies several specific EbA options for coastal environments, including mangrove and coral reef restoration, seagrass/kelp conservation, managed realignment (coastal retreat), and the use of 'living breakwaters'.

APA

SWANEPOEL, E., & SAUKA, S. (2019). Ecosystem-based Adaptation in South African Coastal Cities. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Occasional-Paper-297-swanepoel-sauka-002.pdf

Chicago

SWANEPOEL, ERNESTA, and SIYASANGA SAUKA. Ecosystem-based Adaptation in South African Coastal Cities. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2019. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Occasional-Paper-297-swanepoel-sauka-002.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=SWANEPOEL |first1=ERNESTA |last2=SAUKA |first2=SIYASANGA |title=Ecosystem-based Adaptation in South African Coastal Cities |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Occasional-Paper-297-swanepoel-sauka-002.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{swanepoel2019ecosystembased, author = {SWANEPOEL, ERNESTA and SAUKA, SIYASANGA}, title = {{Ecosystem-based Adaptation in South African Coastal Cities}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Occasional-Paper-297-swanepoel-sauka-002.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }