The Western Cape’s biological diversity (Biodiversity) and vast natural resources are under threat from global warming, pollution and escalating development.
Particular threats include:
- population growth
- pollution (industrial emissions that cause acid rain)
- global climate change (the greenhouse effect and destruction of the ozone layer)
- habitat destruction (burning or felling of old-growth forests)
- overexploitation of natural resources (illegal trade of fauna and flora)
- invasion by introduced species
These and other human activities cause species to become extinct and thus threaten biodiversity. Once species and habitats are lost they can never be replaced.
