Let's celebrate our biodiversity and save it for future generations
The global havoc brought by Covid-19 has exposed not only the triple challenge of inequality, poverty and unemployment in SA, but how slowly we are acting to fix them. As painful and rapid as it is, the coronavirus has taught us several lessons — the most important one being that united we can conquer.
Many countries, including SA, reacted swiftly to the outbreak by shutting down virtually all services, except the bare essentials. The immediate actions by a united people of SA and political leadership helped save lives. Scientists have made it clear that were it not for these swift measures the situation we are now in could have been far worse.
SA’s economy is strongly based on the exploitation of natural resources such as land, water and biodiversity. In fact, SA is number three in the world biodiversity rankings. It is these extraordinarily beautiful landscapes that attract tourists, making SA the top international tourist destination in subSaharan Africa and the second most popular in Africa after Morocco.
The tourism sector contributed R375bn to the GDP in 2015 and was projected to contribute R941bn by 2026. Employment in the sector was expected to rise from 1.56 million to 2.2 million. Earlier this year, the predictions were that tourist figures would jump to 21 million by 2030. However, we must begin to ask how attainable this is post-Covid-19.
The sector is based on a complex value chain with significant contributions by SMMEs, which explains why almost 10% of the SA workforce can be linked to tourism. Its successful future is subject to local and international trends that influence how tourists make decisions, including socioeconomic disasters like Covid-19 and the health status of natural resources like water quality and biodiversity. Covid-19 is already seriously impacting the tourism sector.
It is adding to long-term biodiversity threats already posed by the escalating rate of natural ecosystems degradation, especially due to climate change, the spread of invasive alien species and pollution of limited water resources.
Celebrated on June 5 every year since 1974 by close to 143 nations, World Environment Day will this year be observed under Covid-19 lockdown conditions. Thanks to technology, millions will still access an event hosted by Colombia through virtual means. The theme for 2020 is Celebrate Biodiversity. This day is marked annually to bring to the attention of global citizens drivers of biodiversity loss (species extinctions) and impacts of environmental degradation.
This is a global call for action and sustainable use of natural resources. While some experts search tirelessly for a Covid-19 vaccine, it is critical to point out that biodiversity plays a central role as it has always done. A case in point is the medicinal potential of
Artemisia afra (umhlonyane), which is currently under investigation for global validation. The plant is common in Africa and has been used mainly as a traditional medicine for many years. Currently is neither
Artemisia afra listed nor threatened.
The WHO is working with research institutions to select traditional medicine products that can be investigated for clinical efficacy and safety for Covid-19 treatment. The global health body continues to support countries as they explore the role of traditional health practitioners in prevention, control and early detection of the virus as well as case referral to health facilities.
The national biodiversity assessment reported that wetlands and estuarine ecosystems face the most severe threat. Among the worst impacted species are is freshwater fish, which is worrying as this is a staple source of protein to many. In fact, even the ecosystems within national parks are not safe because of the dependence on rivers originating in now polluted catchments. Kruger National Park, a biodiversity icon, could easily lose 30% of its revenue if its river water quality is allowed to deteriorate further. More than 180 crocodiles suddenly died in the Olifants Gorge, Kruger National Park, in 2008-9 from water pollution originating mainly outside the park.
Another case reported recently by the Water Research Commission is the projected (towards 2030) worsening of the uMngeni-Dusi river water quality and quantity, including the estuary, due to escalating pollution levels. This is supported by the declining number of Dusi canoe marathon participants. This marathon is worth an estimated annual R30m in equipment and accommodation and R10m in marketing. This must have a huge impact on many livelihoods.
To manage natural resources well requires data, which must be gathered through investing in monitoring, particularly through technology such as remote sensing, fish biotelemetry, drones and cellphone apps. The paucity of environmental ground data in Africa and many developing countries is a major constraint for proper management of natural resources. Fortunately, drivers of natural ecosystems degradation are anthropogenic, which means in theory they are preventable. However, sadly, this is not happening.
Delays in engaging technology for monitoring have been exposed during the Covid-19 lockdown, where fieldwork has been brought to a standstill. Even before the pandemic, monitoring was hard-hit by a crisis of our own making. The fieldwork part of research will never be the same again postlockdown. New procedures incorporating safety protocols have to be developed and strictly adhered to.
It is extremely important that fieldwork is limited mainly to verification, while technological approaches critical in realtime data collection are embraced for the sake of better natural resource management in support of socioeconomic developments. So, let us celebrate our biodiversity and save it for current and future generations.
Bonani Madikizela is a research manager at the Water Research Commission. He writes in his personal capacity.
While some experts search tirelessly for a Covid-19 vaccine, it is critical to point out that biodiversity plays a central role as it has always done