Ecosystem Services
latest news & developments
Investing in urban nature pays off
The Jukskei River catchment project highlights how green infrastructure can cut flood damage, manage invasive species and improve urban health
Every business depends on nature and most are helping destroy it, landmark report warns
Biodiversity loss has become a systemic risk to the global economy, as businesses continue to profit from nature while failing to pay for the damage
Sub-Sahara’s severe nature losses
Most of the continent’s wildlife survives outside of protected areas
Cape honey bees the guardians of South Africa’s food security
Honey bees are invaluable to the environment and the economy, and their protection is essential
Climate change drives marine species to new habitats despite emission reductions
Harmful effects associated with unsafe temperatures are largely in the tropics, rising rapidly after 2050. In the temperate and polar areas, changes are likely to arise from…
Draft white paper on sustaining the country’s biodiversity is a bold step but lacks details
The paper recognises the intrinsic value of all ecological systems and inter-relatedness of people and nature — but lacks details on how it will be implemented
We don’t have to ‘sell nature to save it’
Although South Africa no longer practices ‘fortress conservation’, the shift to to protecting resources for people is criticised for incorporating nature in a neoliberal…
South African cities must put green infrastructure firmly on the urban agenda
A green investment increases resilience and adapts cities to the harmful effects of climate change — and increases property prices and addresses issues such as health, water,…
It pays to save the Thukela River catchment
For each rand spent on rehabilitating the river system, the return is at least R1.70 if not more