Natural capital allows ecosystem vulnerability and biodiversity communities in rural and urban environments to build sustainable livelihoods over the long-term. Rural communities rely on biodiversity for food, fuel, shelter, and medicine for their livelihoods. Urban communities rely on biodiversity to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, and provide for a variety of 'ecosystem services'. *
The loss of biodiversity impairs the functioning of ecosystems, which can limit the extent and quality of the 'ecosystem services' they provide to society.
SANBI, 2010
Ecological Support Areas (ESAs) are green areas in the landscape that are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity. ESAs include natural features such as dolomitic land, rivers, wetlands and ridges.
Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) contain irreplaceable, important and protected areas. These areas are classified by flora and fauna that are important and diverse, and may include endangered species.
