Full scientific report: South Africa
Generated 13 November 2026, 03:28 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 114,918 mapped features and 38,220 observations in 47 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 2,001 ha in 458 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.157 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 85.0% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 458 | 2,001.5 | 100.0% | 4.37 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 458
- Mean / median / largest
- 4.37 / 0.157 / 659.2 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 280.6 ha
- Largest patch index
- 32.9%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.60
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.265 (z = 1.6, p = 0.110). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 6; cold-spot cells: 0.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| -28.8, 32 | 36 | 95 | 2.53 |
| -28.85, 32 | 70 | 877 | 2.53 |
| -28.85, 31.95 | 12 | 288 | 2.50 |
| -28.8, 31.95 | 4 | 3 | 2.50 |
| -28.8, 32.05 | 18 | 54 | 2.47 |
| -28.85, 32.05 | 1 | 16 | 2.47 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, South Africa | 622 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, South Africa | 961 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, South Africa | 736 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, South Africa | 641 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, South Africa | 646 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, South Africa | 477 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, South Africa | 458 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, South Africa | 440 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, South Africa | 401 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, South Africa | 419 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, South Africa | 423 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, South Africa | 378 | 0 | 100 |
| Fynbos | 1 | 0 | 95 |
| Heliport | 4 | 0 | 95 |
| Africa_Water_Towers | 7 | 0 | 95 |
| polygons | 11 | 0 | 95 |
| Biodiversity Hotspots | 12 | 0 | 95 |
| Air Flight Routes | 18 | 0 | 95 |
| Air_Flight_Routes | 18 | 0 | 95 |
| Main Towns | 22 | 0 | 95 |
| Large airport | 23 | 0 | 95 |
| Planned Major Roads and Rails | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| Development Corridors | 33 | 0 | 95 |
| SADC_TFCAs | 56 | 1 | 95 |
| Fibre Cable | 72 | 0 | 95 |
| Operational Landscape | 79 | 13 | 95 |
| Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape | 96 | 16 | 95 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Rivers | 228 | 0 | 95 |
| Trunk Roads N12 | 520 | 0 | 95 |
| towns and settlements | 611 | 0 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| AfricaPriority_River | 857 | 0 | 95 |
| Small airport | 1,979 | 0 | 95 |
| District Roads N12 | 2,158 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Populated_places | 8,149 | 0 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Divisions | 17,649 | 9 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | 25,791 | 17 | 95 |
| Carbon projects: South Africa | 28 | 0 | 90 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): South Africa | 26 | 0 | 90 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): South Africa | 77 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): South Africa | 13 | 0 | 90 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 622 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 961 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 736 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 641 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 646 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 477 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 458 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 440 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 401 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 419 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 423 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, South Africa | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 378 |
| Fynbos | WWF Kenya | 1 |
| Heliport | WWF Kenya | 4 |
| Africa_Water_Towers | WWF Kenya | 7 |
| polygons | WWF Kenya | 11 |
| Biodiversity Hotspots | WWF Kenya | 12 |
| Air Flight Routes | WWF Kenya | 18 |
| Air_Flight_Routes | WWF Kenya | 18 |
| Main Towns | WWF Kenya | 22 |
| Large airport | WWF Kenya | 23 |
| Planned Major Roads and Rails | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| Development Corridors | WWF Kenya | 33 |
| SADC_TFCAs | WWF Kenya | 56 |
| Fibre Cable | WWF Kenya | 72 |
| Operational Landscape | WWF Kenya | 79 |
| Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape | WWF Kenya | 96 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Rivers | WWF Kenya | 228 |
| Trunk Roads N12 | WWF Kenya | 520 |
| towns and settlements | WWF Kenya | 611 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| AfricaPriority_River | WWF Kenya | 857 |
| Small airport | WWF Kenya | 1,979 |
| District Roads N12 | WWF Kenya | 2,158 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Populated_places | WWF Kenya | 8,149 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Divisions | WWF Kenya | 17,649 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Agro-Ecological Zones | WWF Kenya | 25,791 |
| Carbon projects: South Africa | Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley | 28 |
| Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): South Africa | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 26 |
| Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): South Africa | UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT | 77 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): South Africa | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 13 |