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Biodiversity
Durban is in the centre of a global hotspot for biodiversity. Climate change is expected to have substantial impacts on biodiversity, which range from effects on genetic resources to disturbing the viability of populations of species. Changes in biodiversity affect the flow of ecosystem services on which humans depend. The protection and management of biodiversity is an important and cost-effective way of protecting ourselves from many of the impacts of climate change. The key responses to be adopted by the Municipality include the promotion of Community Ecosystem Based Adaptation (CEBA) approaches, thus placing communities at the centre of efforts to adapt. The City plans to adopt and enforce planning approaches that protect ecosystems to ensure maximum supply of ecosystem services to withstand climate change impacts.
Goal
Durban’s biodiversity and associated natural capital are protected and enhanced to deliver ecosystem services that facilitate protection from and mitigation of climate change.
Objectives
• Ecosystem functioning and connectivity are enhanced through integrated planning and effective action to reduce climate change impacts on biodiversity and maximise the delivery of ecosystem services.
• Current understanding of climate change impacts on biodiversity is improved through knowledge generation and stakeholder participation.
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY 17
DCCS THEMES, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES