Ecosystems

Freshwater ecosystems – including rivers, wetlands, floodplains, and springs – are among South Africa's most threatened natural assets. They provide critical services such as water purification, flood attenuation, and habitat for a rich diversity of aquatic species.

Monitoring the health and condition of these ecosystems is essential for sustainable water resource management. The resources below provide access to data, assessments, and tools relevant to freshwater ecosystem condition and biodiversity across South Africa.

Freshwater Biodiversity Programme (SANBI) South Africa's national programme for monitoring and assessing the state of freshwater biodiversity

National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas – NFEPA (CSIR/DEA) Maps and data identifying South Africa's priority rivers, wetlands, and fish sanctuaries for conservation planning

National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) – Freshwater Component Reports on the condition and threat status of freshwater ecosystem types across the country

South African Scoring System (SASS) A bioassessment tool using aquatic macroinvertebrates to evaluate river health and ecological condition

DWS Ecological Reserve Determinations of the water quantity and quality needed to protect freshwater ecosystems, as required by the National Water Act

GBIF – Freshwater Species (South Africa) Global Biodiversity Information Facility data filtered for freshwater taxa recorded in South Africa

iNaturalist – Freshwater Projects Citizen science observations of freshwater species across South Africa