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Maps of Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) and Ecological Support Areas (ESA), referred to as CBA Maps, are developed using systematic biodiversity planning principles (representation, persistence, connectivity, setting quantitative biodiversity targets and conflict avoidance). These maps identify important biodiversity priority areas within the respective administrative boundaries and in the country all the provinces have developed the maps of Critical Biodiversity Areas. The maps of Critical Biodiversity Areas identify both terrestrial and aquatic themes. However, not all provinces have identified and distinguish both terrestrial and aquatic CBA. The Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, and North West provinces as well as Ekurhuleni municipality, have identified and developed the aquatic CBA Maps. The maps identify important freshwater biodiversity priority areas. They also identify CBA Map subcategories that distinguish features used (i.e., wetlands, rivers, FEPA sub catchment, etc.). During the merging of the provincial CBA Map to create a single wall-to-wall layer further analysis were performed. The analysis undertaken standardized CBA Map categories identified within the attribute table. This was due to inconsistency observed from various plans developed when it comes to reporting the information within the attribute table. The final layer developed represented was a wall-to-wall aquatic CBA Map that show all the CBA Map categories and subcategories as identified by the various provinces. The composite map of Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) and Ecological Support Areas (ESA) for aquatic theme. The map was created from merging all the provincial aquatic CBA Maps. |