6 The National Strategy for Making the Case for Biodiversity

established biosphere reserve initiatives in the province (Waterberg, Kruger to Canyons and Vhembe); two transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA) (Mapungubwe and Greater Limpopo); and, six land reform PA initiatives. There is a well-established PAN in the province that makes a significant contribution towards meeting the states biodiversity conservation obligations. Despite this the existing PAN needs to more than double in area in order to fully achieve these obligations. In achieving these goals the state will need to develop more extensive partnerships with communities and the private sector. A more detailed summary of the status quo of Limpopo’s PAN is provided in the LPAES technical report2 .

6 The National Strategy for Making the Case for Biodiversity

In recognition of the resource constraints facing the conservation sector in South Africa the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) started a process in 2010 to try and understand why biodiversity is systematically undervalued and underfunded. This involved a detailed stakeholder analysis amongst senior government decision makers. The initial work revealed that the underlying issues is a communication issue – biodiversity is under valued and under funded because people don’t understand what it is, and therefore why it is important to broader society. It also emerged that those communications that do emerge focus on negative messages that do not inspire people to act in a positive way towards biodiversity conservation. It was also found that scientists struggle to communicate simple, clear messages and tend to confuse people about the value of biodiversity to society. In response to this stakeholder analysis, SANBI and DEA developed a national strategy for making the case for biodiversity. This strategy aims to unify the biodiversity sector to speak with a single voice on the value of biodiversity and to demystify the terms “biodiversity” and “protected area” so that people can better understand what they are and why they are important. In doing so, the national strategy aims to make direct links between biodiversity and society and form a clear conceptual link between species, ecosystems and people. This work is being supported by the collection of case studies to provide proof of why increased investment in biodiversity management and protected areas will improve the lives of all South Africans. The national strategy has developed a set of quantitative and qualitative targets. Qualitative targets aim to empower the biodiversity sector with a new language and set of communication tools with which to make the case for biodiversity; to inspire national government departments to take biodiversity and its role in society seriously; and to ensure that municipal governments make biodiversity a key consideration in the their development planning and decision making processes. Quantitative targets include a 30% increase in state funding to the biodiversity sector; significant new job creation in the biodiversity sector; and at least R1 billion of special funds captured by the biodiversity sector.

2 Desmet, P. G., Holness, S., Skowno, A.; Mphaphuli, D. and Ramatsae, M.C. (2014) Limpopo Protected Area Expansion Strategy Technical Report. Contract Number (EDET/QUT/2371/13). Report for Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET) by ECOSOL GIS.