South Africa´s response to the Global Strategy for Plant CtiConservation Domitilla Raimondo Threatened Plant Programme Manager South African National Biodiversity Institute RSA GSPC focal point Total flora 20 456 plant taxa ca 13 000 are endemic, 65% SltKSucculent Karoo ~ 2439 endidemics Maputo-Pondoland ~ 1900 Endemics Cape Floral Region (Fynbos) 6210 endemics South Africa has: Global flora current estimate at 379,881 taxa, meaning that 5% of the world ’ s plant diversity is represented within South African borders. The world’s richest temperate flora; 3 biodiversity hotspots &1 of the 6 flora kingdoms. The effective conservation of our local flora is a high priority and simultaneously a great challenge. South Africa has no national strategy for plant conservation as yet. In 2012 a national strateg y will be developed. Much work already happening towards achieving targets in South Africa this will be outlined in this talk. 2006 Organisations responsible for conservation of plants National Department of Environment Affairs National Environmental Management Act Biodiversity Act Protected Areas Act South African Botanical Society of National South African National South Africa Parksboard Biodiversity Institute Management of Protected Scientific work – assessment of the Areas Network Civil society NGO supporting status of ecosystems and species plant conservation 9 provinces each with conservation agency Responsible for management of biodiversity outidtside o f pro tec tdted areas Small protected areas Provincial conservation ordinances Objective I: Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized Target 1: An online flora of all known plants. htpp://p osa.sanbi.org Objective I: Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized Target 1: An online flora of all known plants. htpp://p osa.sanbi.org Objective I: Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized Target 1: An online flora of all known plants. htpp://p osa.sanbi.org Objective I: Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized Target 2: An assessment of the conservation status of all known plant Serruria rostellaris NT PROTEACEAE Assessing the conservation status of plants in megadiverse countries is challenging – the higgph numbers of species – finding information required for assessing the status is difficult South Africa is the only megadiverse country to have Tritonia lancea EN completed a comprehensive assessment of its flora using IRIDACEAE IUCN Red List criteria (version 3.1) http://redlist.sanbi.org Updated every 6 months Comparison with other megadiverse countries 40000 Total number of taxa Number of endemic taxa 35000 Number of taxa assessed 30000 Number of taxa threatened 25000 20000 15000 10000 12 % 22 % 5000 4 % 6% 17% 0 Brazil Australia South Africa* Ecuador* Madagascar* Objective I: Plant diversity is well understood, documented and recognized Target 3: Information, research and associated outputs and methods necessary to implement the Strategy developed and shared. Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 4: At least 15 % of each ecological region or vegetation type secured through effective management and / or restoration. 440 vegetation types 225 of these have been identified as threatened. RSA will probably only determine if 15% of these ecosystems are effectively managed. Reactive avoidance of loss of habitat in threatened ecosystems Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 4: At least 15 % of each ecological region or vegetation type secured through effective management and / or restoration . RSA has a protected areas expansion strategy that aims to achieve representation of currently under conserved vegetation types. Proactive conservation of ecosystems Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 5: At least 75 % of the most important areas for plant diversity of each ecological region protected with effective management in place for conserving plants and their habitats and their genetic diversity Natural vegetation Critical Biodiversity Areas Protected areas Plant taxa of conservation concern Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 6: At least 75 % of production lands in each sector managed sustainably SANBI co-ordinates a number of Biome based programmes that work with production sectors. No current knowledge of % of land managed sustainably but good progress is being made. Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 7: At least 75 % of known threatened plants conserved in situ In 2006 only 40% of 750 threatened plants in CFR with at least one subpopulation conserved. Since 2009 Red List publication now 1736 trt plan ts. 1690 are endemic to CFR South Africa has to set a more realistic target Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 8: At least 75 % of threatened plant species in ex situ collections, 20% available for recovery and restoration programmes. 33.3% of SA threatened plants in NBGs or MSB = 858 plant species 37% of SA Critically Endangered plants in NBGs or MSB 85.7% Extinct in the Wild plant species in NBGs or MSB: Recovery work only 34 of 1736 (2%)CFR species currently being used for recovery work but many more available. Aim to add 1000 species by 2020 to NBGs or MSB = 72% Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Target 9: 70 per cent of the genetic diversity of crops including their wild relatives and other socio-economically valuable plant species conserved, while respecting, preserving and maintaining associated indigenous and local knowledge. The National Plant Genetic Resources Centre (NPGRC) from the Department of Agriculture have the mandate to collect and conserve: 1. Indigenous crops landraces, namely sorghum, millets, cucurbits and the genus Vigna. 2. Crops that have become locally adapted (landraces). 3. Wild relatives of crop species. 4. LfLeafy vegetbltables. Objective II: Plant diversity is urgently and effectively conserved Tt10EfftiTarget 10: Effective managemen tliltt plans in place to prevent new biological invasions and to manage important areas for plant diversity that are invaded. SANBI started an Early detection and Rapid Response to emerging alien plants in 2009. Works on selected emerging invasive plants and has programme to eradicate them. Funded by the Department of Water Affairs. e.g. currently on SANBI ‘s website Genista monspessulana French broom has been documented to be invading forest margins around Cape Town and Swellendam. Objective III: Plant diversity is used in a sustainable and equitable manner Target 11: No species of wild flora endangered by international trade. Trade in wild-collected plants is the predominant threat to SA’s wild cycads – 38 species Affects all but 2 of SA’s cycad species (poaching severe for 15 species) About 5 million cycads in private collections … at least 1 million originate from wild populations 14000 12000 10000 3 cycad species already Extinct in the 8000 s exported tt 6000 Wild (plus another 2?) 4000 12 Critically Endangered (32%) 2000 0 4 Endangered (11%) Number of plan 11 Vulnerable (29%) 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year Objective III: Plant diversity is used in a sustainable and equitable manner Target 12: All wild harvested plant-based products sourced sustainably. The Biodiversity Biodiversity Act management plans to (NEMBA) be developed by 2020 includes a List fllhilhtdfor all heavily harvested ofThf Threat ened RSA plants that are and Protected exported. Species. 322 plant species heavily traded in local medicinal trade 20% (62) are threatened due to unsustainable harvesting. Objective III: Plant diversity is used in a sustainable and equitable manner Target 13: Indigenous and local knowledge innovations and practices associated with plant resources maintained or increased, as appropriate, to support customary use, sustainable livelihoods, local food security and A lot of indigenous health care. knowledge not yet dtdhdocumented, hence very difficult to document if it is being maintained. Objective IV: Education and awareness about plant diversity, its role in sustainable livelihoods and importance to all life on earth is promoted Excellent education work at Botanic Gardens until 2010, need to ensure enough plant environmental education takes place in future. Civil society volunteer programme that monitors threatened plants Involves local civil society groups in monitoring and conserving threatened plants and habitats Prioritise DD and CR PE species. 14 CR PE species of our 108 refound in past 6 year Objective V: The capacities and public engagement necessary to implement the Strategy have been developed A llotot ooff ttrainingraining tatakingking pplacelace oonn An annual basis 1 workshop on plant conservation 5 plant identification and herbarium techniques courses 1 Red List workshop per year Not enough capacity within institutions to implement strategy – but SANBI leading the Human Capital developppgment programme and also j ust been awarded Green Jobs grant for developing individuals to work in the sector. Thank you Gibbaeum pilosulum VU MESEMBRYANTHEMACEAE Acrolophia ustulata VU Raphionacme lucens NT ORCHIDACEAE APOCYNACEAE.