Conservation-conscious Developments: A New Era for South African Ecology
The push for conservation-conscious developments has reached a milestone with South Africa’s national Environmental Screening Tool. This digital platform, developed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), helps developers identify and protect sensitive ecosystems before breaking ground – a game-changer for biodiversity protection.
How the Tool Works
The web-based system cross-references proposed sites with:
- 4,633 plant species and 425 animal species data
- Cultural and archaeological heritage sites
- Priority habitats from SANBI and BirdLife South Africa
- Real-time sensitivity mapping across all provinces
“This prevents the oversight of threatened species that often disguise themselves or appear seasonally,” explains Dr Dominic Henry of EWT, who helped develop the tool.
Conservation-conscious developments: Standardising Environmental Assessments
New protocols (gazetted October 2020) now mandate:
- Minimum data requirements for specialist studies
- Consistent impact assessment methodologies
- Clear guidelines for reporting on Species of Conservation Concern
Why This Matters Now
With South Africa:
- Ranking as the 12th largest carbon emitter
- Accelerating renewable energy projects
- Facing increased rural development pressures
The tool balances economic growth with ecological protection – ensuring conservation-conscious developments become the norm rather than the exception.
Public Participation Encouraged
Citizens can use the open-access tool to:
- Identify local species of concern
- Submit informed comments on development proposals
- Advocate for better project siting
“This is a paradigm shift,” notes SANBI’s Domitilla Raimondo. “For the first time, everyone from developers to community members can access the same biodiversity data during planning stages.”