South Africa’s Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategy for Biodiversity

Anchor was commissioned by GIZ to support the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in (a) reviewing the past adaptation plans in terms of progress made and challenges experienced, (b) updating the estimates of biome-level climate impacts and vulnerability, (c) assess the implications for land use and (d) updating the new biome-scale adaptation plan for the biodiversity and ecosystems sector. The climate change vulnerability assessment involved a detailed collation of climate data and spatial analyses, identification of indicator species, and detailed vegetation modelling which was undertaken in collaboration with the University of Bayreuth in Germany. The vulnerability assessment was then used to update the Adaptation Strategy and identify climate adaptation priorities in each of the nine biomes. The work was validated through a national stakeholder workshop.