Marine Protected Areas are critical management tools for safeguarding coastal and ocean natural capital, supporting biodiversity, and protecting the ecosystems which many communities rely on for food security and livelihoods.
The uThukela Marine Protected Area in South Africa, situated on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal between the uMlalazi and Seteni estuaries, is rich in biodiversity and consists of a diverse range of ecosystems. These include the uThukela and Mlalazi estuaries, the shoreline with its salt marshes, dune and swamp forests and part of the offshore waters within the KZN Bight. The MPA stretches 37 km offshore in the north and 50 km offshore in south, to a depth of 500 m. The extent of coastline protected is about 80 km while the total size of the MPA itself is approximately 4 094 km2 and includes the substrata, seabed, subsoil and water column within its boundaries. With huge underwater dunes and deep reefs of soft coral, this marine ecosystem is home to incredible biodiversity; ancient tall black coral trees, the frilled nudibranch and hammerhead sharks.
"Providing important carbon sinks into undisturbed deep organic sediments, sequestration of blue carbon into soft corals and sponges on reefs and estuarine-associated habitats, and coastal protection with high vegetated dune cordons, this MPA is a valuable tool in the fight against climate change and mitigation of impacts on the people who depend on these natural assets for resilient livelihoods and diverse opportunities."
- WILDTRUST
The economic power of this region is explicit in the country’s dependance on uThukela for commercial fish stocks, and the ecosystem services provided by a healthy marine and coastal ecosystem. The MPA is managed by the provincial conservation authority, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
Conservation Strategy Fund is supporting our partner, WILDTRUST, in implementing the uThukela MPA Ecosystem Based Management Project, as part of their WildOceans Programme. The 5-year uThukela Marine Protected Area (MPA) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project seeks to improve the social and ecological resilience in and around uThukela MPA, addressing threats to both biodiversity and the people that depend on it.
CSF will be conducting an Economic Valuation of the services provided by the ecosystems and natural assets in the uThukela MPA and associated estuaries. Empowered with this economic value, local organizations can better prioritize sustainable outcomes in their planning and decision-making processes while managing the MPA. Furthermore, this research can help policy-makers and government officials justify the allocation of additional funding to support the valuable economic resources, thereby reducing climate-related socio-ecological risk, sustaining livelihoods and protecting biodiversity.
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Photo: A pair of double sash butterfly fish resting in the arms of a black coral tree at 50m off Mtunzi. (Source: www.marineprotectedareas.org.za)