Biological invasions pose a significant and growing threat to South Africa's ecosystems and livelihoods. In light of that, B-Cubed’s partner institution the South African National Biodiversity Institute has taken the lead in producing regular reports on their status, as well as the effectiveness of initiatives responding to the problem. These reports are produced with support from a wide range of entities within national, provincial and local government, as well as the private sector. 

South Africa is the only country globally that regularly reports on the threat of biological invasions, and their management at a national level. The latest report follows the September 2023 launch of IPBES's Thematic assessment report on invasive alien species and their control, strategically aligning South Africa to learn from IPBES and support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The report reveals a sobering reality: South Africa is confronted with a multitude of invasive species, altering native habitats, outcompeting indigenous species, and disrupting ecological processes. Within the context of B-Cubed, these findings hold particular significance for the project’s case study on Biological invasions in South Africa. Here, the project’s data cubes, models and indicators will be used to feed into the status reports, helping address identified gaps and assisting the automation and standardisation of the process and how reports are communicated.

Read the full report here.