South Africa’s water security depends on more than dams, pipelines and treatment plants. Protecting the natural landscapes that supply the country’s rivers and dams is equally important, according to a new report published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa.
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Released on 10 November 2026, the report identifies the country’s 22 strategic water source areas (SWSAs) and outlines a plan to protect and restore these critical landscapes. These areas supply approximately 50% of South Africa’s surface freshwater, despite covering just 10% of the country’s land area.
Titled Prioritising a Water-Secure Future for South Africa: A Plan to Protect Each Strategic Water Source Area, the report was commissioned by WWF South Africa and prepared by Conservation Outcomes. It builds on the national identification of strategic water source areas completed in 2021, which covered more than 10 million hectares across the country.
The plan aims to guide coordinated conservation, restoration and management efforts as South Africa faces growing pressure from climate change, environmental degradation and increasing water demand.
For each of the 22 strategic water source areas, the report identifies targeted interventions, investment priorities and governance measures needed to secure their long-term sustainability. It also highlights the most critical 50% of each area for protecting biodiversity, freshwater resources and human well-being.
Only a fraction of South Africa’s water source areas are protected
One of the report’s key findings is that just 19.3% of South Africa’s strategic water source areas, equivalent to approximately 2.5 million hectares, currently fall under formal protection.
However, there are opportunities to significantly expand conservation efforts through biodiversity stewardship agreements and other land-management initiatives.
The report identifies the potential to bring close to another 50% of these landscapes under improved conservation measures. This includes opportunities for private landowner stewardship (28%), community stewardship (12.8%) and the recognition of a further 8.8% through other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).
These approaches could strengthen the protection of important water-producing landscapes beyond the country’s traditional network of formally protected areas.
The Eastern Cape Drakensberg and Amathole strategic water source areas are also highlighted as priority landscapes requiring additional protection and long-term conservation. Strengthening these areas is considered important for maintaining freshwater ecosystems, securing water supplies and supporting the communities and economic activities that depend on them.
Protecting natural landscapes is essential for water security
WWF South Africa says the country’s water challenges cannot be addressed through infrastructure investment alone. Natural ecosystems also play a fundamental role in maintaining reliable freshwater supplies.
“South Africa’s water crisis cannot be solved through infrastructure investment alone. As a water scarce country, now more than ever, we must actively restore and protect the natural places where our water comes from,” says Silindile Mtshali, WWF South Africa’s Senior Freshwater Technical Specialist.
Mtshali describes strategic water source areas as the country’s natural water factories, warning that the degradation of these landscapes could compromise the rivers and dams millions of people rely on.
The report’s release comes as South Africa advances several national water initiatives, including the government’s 2026 National Water Action Plan and the development of a national framework for securing strategic water source areas.
Together, these initiatives highlight the need for a broader approach to water security that combines infrastructure improvements with the conservation of natural ecosystems.
Beyond environmental protection, the report emphasises the social and economic importance of reliable access to clean water. Water security supports public health, food production, economic growth and social development, while vulnerable communities are often most affected when water systems fail.
The plan therefore calls for greater collaboration between government, communities, landowners, businesses and environmental organisations. Through coordinated management, targeted investment and restoration efforts, WWF hopes to strengthen the protection of South Africa’s most important water-producing landscapes for future generations.
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