Over the past decade, South Africa has developed maps of Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) for all parts of the country. These CBA Maps identify a set of biodiversity priority areas to inform planning, action and decision-making in support of sustainable development. In collaboration with the provincial conservation authorities, SANBI has developed the Technical Guidelines for CBA Maps: Guidelines for developing a map of Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas using systematic biodiversity planning (Link to NBIS equivalent of planning-and-assessment/technical-guidelines-for-cba-maps/ on Wordpress Biodiversity Advisor) which were launched at the 14th Biodiversity Planning Forum in June 2017. These technical guidelines set out the rationale for CBA Maps, and provide minimum technical requirements as well as recommended good practice for developing these maps, based on the collective experience of the biodiversity planning community in South Africa over more than a decade.
Please click here for the 2017 Biodiversity Planning Forum programme.