Overview

South Africa has progressive freshwater protection policies, yet implementation remains a challenge. Organisations mandated to safeguard our rivers, wetlands, freshwater biodiversity and Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) are required to implement these policies, but they have little practical guidance or tools to support them. At the same time, they are often under‑resourced and under‑staffed, and this reality is unlikely to change. Reporting on ecological compliance can be fragmented and frequently disconnected from management action, leaving both staff and stakeholders uncertain about why targets matter.

Given these challenges, the Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) is working with mandated authorities in the Breede–Olifants Catchments to bridge this gap. Through a systemic social learning approach, we co‑develop practical tools and protocols that consider what staff need and can realistically do, even in the face of resource constraints. Most importantly, we seek to demonstrate how compliance with ecological targets directly supports biotic and human well‑being. This ensures that when staff report, stakeholders understand the tangible benefits of compliance.

Our Approach

• Practical tools and protocols: Designed with staff needs in mind, ensuring implementation is feasible within limited capacity.
• Acknowledging capacity limits: Recognising that organisations are under‑resourced, and tailoring solutions accordingly.
• Linking compliance to well‑being: Showing how ecological targets safeguard human health, livelihoods, biodiversity, and water security.
• Systemic learning: Integrating science, governance, and social collaboration to build shared responsibility and trust.
• Upscaling impact: Tested in the Breede–Olifants Catchments, with plans to roll out to incoming Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs).

Why It Matters

Freshwater biodiversity underpins food security, biotic and human health, climate resilience, and cultural values and Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) and their catchments supply the majority of South Africa’s usable water. Protecting these systems is not only an environmental imperative but a social one. By linking ecological compliance to human well‑being, we strengthen stakeholder buy‑in and ensure that freshwater protection is seen as essential to both people and nature.

Expected Outcomes

• Enabling implementation of policies
• Improved freshwater governance and compliance with ecological targets.
• Stronger stakeholder understanding of the link between biodiversity protection, SWSAs, and human health.
• Enhanced water security through the protection of critical source areas.
• Healthier ecosystems and socio‑economic benefits for communities.