Southern African transboundary sustainable biodiversity and water resources management programme in the Incomati Basin 2023-2025
Water Research Commission, Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency, University of Mpumalanga
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Partnership
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#SDGAction50848
Description
Important shared, transboundary water resources in southern Africa are limited, usually over utilized and unsustainable. These shared resources are dynamic and difficult to manage in a developing regions of the world where human and financial resources, technical capacity and knowledge of dynamic socio-ecological systems is limited.
While we are developing these resources, the vulnerable ecosystems and the human communities, biodiversity and ecosystem processes that depend on these systems are threatened and suffer from poorly managed multiple stressors. Fortunately, in many parts of the developing world as is the case in the shared Incomati Basin in southern Africa, the availability of ecosystem services and the willingness of stakeholders to come together towards sustainable management of our resources is available.
In the Incomati Basin, from South Africa with Mozambique and Eswatini partners we have established a transboundary sustainable water resources management programme titled: Risk framework for multiple stressors and integrated sustainability management of the trans-boundary water resources of the Inkomati Basin. We aim to establish a probabilistic, risk based water resources management framework that represents causal risk pathways between sources of stressors or anthropogenic activities, water quantity, quality, habitat, disturbance to wildlife and climate change stressors and socio-ecological endpoints that represent what stakeholders care about on a regional spatial scale. This programme has been established to align regional policies, strategies and legislation in the approximately 50 000 km2 Incomati Basin that is home to >4 million people and provide an adaptable trans-boundary socio-ecological management framework. This framework will identify and quantify stressors on multiple spatial scales and provide an evidence based probabilistic risk of the stressors affecting social and ecological endpoints that is both spatially appropriate and liked to represent ecological connections of the shared water resources. The outcomes will include the characterization of sustainability targets, or resource quality objectives, evidence based risk assessment outcomes of past, present and future risk of multiple stressors to these targets or objectives and sustainability requirements that inform sources of stressors to allow stakeholders to implement resource directed measure legislation in the region.
This programme is the first of its kind in southern Africa and has the potential to contribute to the sustainable management of important social and ecological attributes of the Incomati shared river basin and the region.
We propose to:commit to:
• Characterise the socio-ecological dynamism of the water resources in the basin. This includes a project on the risk of multiple anthropogenic stressors (flow alteration, water quality pollution, habitat alteration/loss, alien invasive species, over utilisation/harvesting and climate change for example) to the ecosystem services (including supporting services that explicitly considers biodiversity including research on aquatic and riparian plants, invertebrates and fish) on multiple spatial scales throughout the basin. We can commit to the risk assessment outcome by 2025.
• Establish a risk assessment framework for the sustainable trans-boundary management of the vulnerable water resources, biodiversity and livelihoods of vulnerable human communities in the Incomati Basin. This framework will be integrated into existing South African, Mozambican and Eswatini policy/legislation where the requirements for holistic sustainable water resource management will inform sustainability targets or Resource Quality Objectives and their implementation and or monitoring in the region. We can commit to the establishment of the framework and the integration of the sustainability requirements into resource management and monitoring by 2026. This will include implementation plans by the three countries to protect and or rehabilitate important ecosystem attributes.
• Establish trans-boundary sustainable water resource management and conservation plans/policies through the government of South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique and the regional trans-boundary commission being established, the Incomati-Maputo Commission. We can commit to this by 2026.
Partners: Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency, Rivers of Life Research Programme at the University of Mpumalanga, South African National Parks, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Department of Water and Sanitation, South Africa, ARA SUL Mozambqie, Department of Water Affairs, Eswatini. Incomati and Maputo Watercourse Commission.
Please contact us for more information. Please contact the programme PI Prof. Gordon O'Brien (gordon.obrien@ump.ac.za).
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Goal 15
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
15.1
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.1.1
15.1.2
15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.2.1
15.3
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.3.1
15.4
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
15.4.1
15.4.2
15.5
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.5.1
15.6
Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
15.6.1
15.7
Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
15.7.1
15.8
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
15.8.1
15.9
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
15.9.1
(a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting
15.a
Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
15.a.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.b
Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
15.b.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.c
Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
15.c.1
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
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Region
- Africa
Other beneficiaries
We have additional stakeholders and funders who are working with us on our transboundary study between South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. The basin is home to >4 million Africans, many of whom are vulnerable and directly dependent on the water resources of the Incomati Basin for ecosystem services that supports their livelihoods. The basin is also recognised as a biodiversity hotspot for aquatic and riparian wildlife where many of the world’s prominent wildlife reserves occur (Incl. the Kruger National Park) and dominated by freshwater ecosystem priority areas, but the water resources of the basin are generally being used excessively and potentially unsustainable
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Contact Information
Gordon, Professor