Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany 

The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot unites three, enchanting and diverse centers of endemism (Maputaland, Pondoland and Albany) culminating six of South Africa's eight biomes in an area of nearly 275,000 km² along the east coast of southern Africa, below the Great Escarpment.

The hotspot is the second richest floristic region in southern Africa (after the Cape Floristic Region) and also the second richest floristic region in Africa for its size. At a habitat level, one type of forest where at least 598 tree species occur, three types of endemic subtropical thicket, six types of bushveld and five types of grasslands are unique to the hotspot. The coastal waters of this hotspot, which encompass three of South Africa’s six marine bioregions, are also significant at the global level for their diversity of marine species.

The loss and degradation of habitat as well as degradation of marine and estuarine resources continue to occur due to major threats, which include commercial and subsistence farming, timber production, urban development and the increasing threat of mining impacting the region. The unsustainable use of natural resources, the spread of invasive alien species and human-wildlife conflict are also placing pressure on the hotspot’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

CEPF’s niche in the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot will be to support civil society in applying innovative approaches to conservation in undercapacitated protected areas, key biodiversity areas and priority corridors, thereby enabling changes in policy
and building resilience in the region’s ecosystems and economy to sustain biodiversity in the long term.  

The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot is one of the most biologically important regions on the planet, but it is under serious threat from various forms of encroachment such as investments in infrastructure development and tourism, unsustainable land and water use, and habitat loss and degradation from agriculture.

Historically, investment in this region has flowed to state conservation agencies and governments for protected area management, which is also geared toward poverty alleviation and economic growth.

The private sector is realizing more and more that its financial success and viability are highly dependent on the surrounding natural resources and ecosystem services. Civil society is well placed to offer innovation and new approaches to address both immediate threats to biodiversity and their underlying causes. Civil society can strategically address top priorities, complement existing programs and leverage donor and government funds for innovative activities.

Guided by an ecosystem profile developed with stakeholders, our investment will focus on supporting civil society in applying innovative approaches to conservation in undercapacitated protected areas, key biodiversity areas and priority corridors, thereby enabling changes in policy and building resilience in the region’s ecosystems and economy to sustain biodiversity in the long term.

We expect to launch the award of grants later this year, beginning with the appointment of a regional implementation team.

Five strategic directions will guide our approach:

1. Strengthen protection and management in undercapacitated and emerging protected
    areas in three priority key biodiversity areas
2. Expand conservation areas and improve land use in 19 key biodiversity areas through
     innovative approaches
3. Maintain and restore ecosystem function and integrity in the Highland Grasslands and
     Pondoland corridors
4. Create an enabling environment to improve conservation and management of
     Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany priority sites
5. Provide strategic leadership and effective coordination of CEPF investment through a 
    regional implementation team

Priority Corridors and Key Biodiversity Areas for CEPF Investment