The South African government appears to be on track to announce the expansion of our ocean protection (in Marine Protected Areas – MPAs for short) from 5.4% to 10% (or more) soon and as the people of this beautiful country, we can let them know they have our support with #whereisour10 #uphiu10.
What makes this campaign fun is that it is based on the concept of searching for something, in this case – like a TREASURE HUNT as we figure out where the hidden gems of South Africa’s Ocean are – that could possibly make up our beautiful county’s immediate next step of 10% ocean protection.
We know the global ocean is in crisis and urgently needs at least 30% protection by 2030. South Africa can help by doubling our current 5.4% protection of the oceans around our country. Achieving 10% (or more) representative (of multiple habitats and species) protection around South Africa will help our ocean and our people – an important steppingstone to the protection needed to restore ocean health. #whereisour10 #uphiu10.
The South African government appears to be on track to announce the expansion of our ocean protection (in Marine Protected Areas – MPAs for short) from 5.4% to 10% (or more) soon and as the people of this beautiful country, we can let them know they have our support with #whereisour10 #uphiu10.
What makes this campaign fun is that it is based on the concept of searching for something, in this case – like a TREASURE HUNT as we figure out where the hidden gems of South Africa’s Ocean are – that could possibly make up our beautiful county’s immediate next step of 10% ocean protection.
Overfishing, damaging industrial activities, habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution are not letting up and by not protecting our ocean’s ability to keep giving what we take, we risk a biodiversity crisis, ocean collapse, and a subsequent economic catastrophe. Science tells us that we are facing widespread ecosystem collapse starting as early as 2030.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a critical tool in the ocean protection toolbox, playing a vital role in maintaining biological diversity and ecosystem functioning by controlling harmful activities in sensitive habitats and by preserving representative areas from unsustainable human development. MPAs are a vital instrument to combat the effects of climate change and to prevent impacts from escalating further.
South Africa needs to join the global community and contribute its share towards the global target of 30% of the world’s ocean protected within MPAs by 2030. Read more here: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People — HAC for Nature and People
WHAT SOUTH AFRICA HAS ACHIEVED THUS FAR
Preliminary assessment of South Africa’s MPA network making up 5.4% of our mainland waters (which is representative of multiple species and habitats) against the global MPA Guide tool, shows that most MPAs in our network are implemented or actively managed with many that are highly and fully protected which lends to supporting high levels of biodiversity protection in the future.
While it is undoubtable that South Africa still has a way to go, our successes in systematic conservation planning and institution an effective MPA network under very tough conditions, in a developing country, just shows the possibilities for other nations within Africa (and beyond) to replicate our model.
The OCEAN iMPAct Campaign
The OCEAN iMPAct campaign (www.oceanimpact.co.za) is underwriting a 4 and a half-year project driving advanced protection of South Africa’s oceans within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Launched in 2018 by WILDTRUST supported by Oceans 5, the OCEAN iMPAct campaign hopes to support the establishment of more MPAs in South Africa’s mainland waters and to pave the way for African states to support a global target of 30% strongly protected areas by 2030.
There is an urgent need to increase the protection of the ocean space around South Africa. We believe that a large percentage of South Africans do not know what Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are, that they exist, what benefits they bring, and why we need them. This is important to communicate so that South Africans know there is hope for our ocean, that we can contribute to the solution as a country, and to motivate the government to do just that – by shifting our MPA footprint from 5% to 10%.