Land cover change in and around South African protected areas

Land cover change and habitat loss are major threats to biodiversity, with protected areas (PAs) playing a crucial role in mitigation. This study compares the natural cover remaining within South Africa's PA network to a 5-km buffer zone around PAs. This comparison acts as an indicator of the imminent threats posed to PAs by nearby land use changes and as a measure of the integrity of natural land cover within them. This is done by comparing satellite-derived land cover classes (natural/semi-natural; agriculture; built-up/mining) collected over three decades within PAs and buffers across various PA sizes, in different biomes and across a rainfall gradient. Results show that South Africa's PAs, which cover nearly 10 % of the country, have more natural land cover than their associated buffer zones. Larger and low-rainfall PAs retain the highest natural cover. However, natural cover drops by 14.8 % just 1 km outside PAs, mirroring the national average natural cover outside PAs. Significant land cover change occurs within the 5-km buffer, especially in high-rainfall areas and around smaller PAs, with the most pronounced changes in the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Fynbos, and Grassland biomes. These changes in the buffer limit PA expansion opportunities and pose risks to their integrity. To meet global conservation targets and human needs, setting land aside for conservation must be complemented by additional initiatives. Beyond protecting natural landscapes within, PAs should promote sustainable land use beyond their boundaries. We argue for new area-based conservation measures that balance ecological, social, and financial goals, fostering better integration of conservation and production landscapes. • Protected areas (PA) in South Africa retain significant natural cover within their boundaries. • Land cover directly neighbouring these PAs are more transformed. • Areas neighbouring PAs in high rainfall areas and certain biomes are especially vulnerable to land cover change. • Integrating PAs with surrounding areas requires a social-ecological systems approach.