Vulnerability of geoheritage sites in South Africa to climate change: Examples from the Eastern Cape Province

Abstract

Climate change and variability have potential to impact on all types of heritage sites globally, through increasing weathering and erosion of geological and built heritage, changes in biome and ecosystem viability, sea-level rise and coastal flooding, and increased climate hazard events. This study examines the most likely impacts of climate change on different heritage sites in South Africa, with a particular regional focus on sites of potential geoheritage interest in the Eastern Cape Province of the country. The diverse examples described in this study are: (1) Klasies River cave, which is a Middle Stone Age archaeological site; (2) different localities along the coast where faunal footprints are preserved within aeolianite that dates mainly to the last interglacial period; (3) different localities inland where rock art panels are present within caves or rock shelters; and (4) Cape St Francis, which is a coastal foreland where different phases of late Quaternary coastal dunes with archaeological interest are preserved. Results show that many of these very varied sites of geoheritage interest are not protected as National or Provincial Heritage Sites under current legislation, which is weak and inconsistently applied across the country. This means that no specific management plans, under national policy guidelines, are in place for mitigating against the impacts of present and future climate change and variability, either regionally or nationally. These climate changes include: sea-level rise and increased coastal storminess and wave attack; and changes in weathering and erosion regimes as a result of increased temperatures and likely decreased rainfall or higher rainfall variability. A better appreciation of the interconnections that exist between geology and natural and cultural heritage may lead to valuing landscape and site geoheritage more highly at the local, national and international level.