South Africa

South Africa comprises the southern tip of the African continent, with coasts on both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. These coastal plains rise to a broad interior plateau, and the source of the Limpopo River lies in the northeast. Most of the country is used for human activities, in its majority by rangeland. South Africa has high biodiversity rarity of terrestrial land vertebrates at a global scale. When analysed as single taxons, the rarity of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles is also high. The rarity of marine fish and mammals is also high. Challenges to biodiversity include severe water insecurity; water pollution; air pollution; acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; and desertification.