Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004

1 September 2004

National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act No. 2 of 2022 (date of commencement for certain sections proclaimed to be 30 June 2023)
National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act 14 of 2013

National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill, 2017; see also the latest version of this Bill, adopted by the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on 19 June 2018

Regulations Pertaining to Threatened or Protected Terrestrial Species and Freshwater Species (GN 3009 in GG 47984 of 3 February 2023) – note these Regulations were withdrawn on 31 March 2023 in GN 3238 in GG 48349
List of Terrestrial and Freshwater Species that are Threatened or Protected, Restricted Activities that are Prohibited, and Restricted Activities that are Exempted (GN 3012 in GG 47984 of 3 February 2023) – note this List was withdrawn on 31 March 2023 in GN 3238 in GG 48349
List of Marine Species that are Threatened or Protected, Restricted Activities that are Prohibited and Exempted from Restriction (30 May 2017)
Threatened or Protected Marine Species Regulations (30 May 2017)

List of Ecosystems that are Threatened or in need of Protection (18 November 2022)

2014 Alien and Invasive Species Regulations (in force until 28 February 2021) (30 September 2014)
Guideline for Monitoring, Control and Eradication Plans (30 September 2015)
2020 Alien and Invasive Species Regulations (25 September 2020) – in force from 1 March 2021 (see Commencement Notice of 16 October 2020)
2020 Alien and Invasive Species Lists (in force from 1 March 2021)

National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004): Inclusion of seventeen succulent plant species and one succulent plant genus in appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1 Dec 2022)
Moratorium on the Trade of Individual Rhinoceros Horns and Any Derivatives or Products of the Horns (13 February 2009)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Regulations (5 March 2010) (see also amendments to Appendices I and II of 5 June 2017)
Prohibition of trade in Certain Encephalartos (Cycad) Species (14 May 2012)
Notice regarding trade in white and black rhinoceros specimens (13 June 2014)

Species

Norms and Standards for Biodiversity Management Plans for Species (2 March 2009)
Biodiversity Management Plan for Albany Cycad, Encephalartos Latifrons(24 June 2011)
Biodiversity Management Plan for Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis) in South Africa for 2011 to 2020 (25 January 2013)
Biodiversity Management Plan for Pelargonium Sidoides (26 April 2013)
Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Penguin (31 October 2013)
Biodiversity Management Plan for the bearded vulture (Gypaetus Barbatus Merdidionalis) (8 May 2014)
Shark Biodiversity Management Plan (25 March 2015)
Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Lion (2 December 2015)
Biodiversity Management Plan for the White Rhinoceros (2 December 2015)
Biodiversity Management Plan for the Clanwilliam Sandfish (1 April 2016) – WITHDRAWN (7 February 2017)
Biodiversity Management Plan for 11 critically endangered and 4 endangered encephalartos cycad species (21 April 2017) (see also the notice of 24 April 2017)
Biodiversity Management Plan for the Cape Mountain Zebra (9 March 2018) (published for implementation on 16 March 2018)

Ecosystems

Norms and standards for Biodiversity Management Plans for ecosystems (7 February 2014)

Guideline Regarding the Determination of Bioregions and the Preparation of and Publication of Bioregional Plans (2 March 2009)
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Bioregional Plan (30 March 2015)
Determination of Bioregions and the publication of Bioregional Plans for the West Rand and Ekurhuleni Municipalities in Gauteng (2 September 2015)
Waterberg District Municipality and Mopani District Municipality Bioregional Plans (4 January 2019)

National Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa (GN 3010 in GG 47984 of 3 February 2023) – note these Norms and Standards were withdrawn on 31 March 2023 in GN 3238 in GG 48349
Norms and Standards for the Trophy Hunting of Leopard in South Africa (GN 3011 in GG 47984 of 3 February 2023) – note these Norms and Standards were withdrawn on 31 March 2023 in GN 3238 in GG 48349
Marking Rhinoceros Horn and Hunting of White Rhinoceros for Trophy Hunting Purposes (21 September 2018)

Fan Aloe, Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, African Lion and Leopard (10 September 2015)
Various species of Cycads and White Rhinoceros (27 May 2016)
African Lion (23 January 2018)

Intention to publish bioregional plans for the Waterberg and Mopani Districts (12 January 2018)
Intention to publish bioregional plans for the Waterberg and Mopani Districts (19 January 2018)
Draft Alien and Invasive Species Regulations (16 February 2018)
Draft amendments to the alien and invasive species lists (16 February 2018)
Draft regulations relating to domestic trade in rhinoceros horn (21 September 2018)
Draft notice prohibiting the carrying out of certain restricted activities involving rhinoceros (21 September 2018)
Proposed amendments the alien and invasive species list and list of critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and protected species (21 September 2018)
Draft National Biodiversity Framework (19 October 2018)
Draft National Biodiversity Framework (26 October 2018)
Draft Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa (2 November 2018)
Draft non-detriment findings for (22 August 2019):
- The black rhinoceros
- The white rhinoceros
- Aloe ferox