This report investigates the economic case for ecosystem management and restoration interventions in the Thukela river basin in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It weighs the benefits of ecosystem restoration in terms of the monetary value of improved provision of selected ecosystem services against the costs of interventions.
Following consultation and exploration of spatial data, the focus of the study was narrowed down to that of land degradation, specifically in relation to South Africa’s land degradation neutrality commitments. In KwaZulu-Natal, land degradation mainly takes the form of loss of biomass cover leading to bare areas and erosion, increased indigenous woody biomass and encroachment of invasive alien plants. The aim of the study was to estimate the costs and benefits of achieving or surpassing land degradation neutrality in 2030 relative to 2015, based on a scenario analysis which takes some of the uncertainties into account. Secondary aims were to provide insights into conceptualizing and planning for land degradation neutrality, and to demonstrate the potential usefulness of natural capital accounting in this regard.
The study forms part of the Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (NCAVES) project and builds on the compilation of pilot physical and monetary ecosystem services accounts for KwaZulu-Natal for 2005-2011. The analysis demonstrates the utility of ecosystem accounts – consistent with the System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) framework – to inform policymaking.