A desert puff adder. Image: Pexels: Elina Emeleeva A new African-led study has revealed that sub-Saharan Africa has already lost nearly a quarter of its biodiversity since pre-industrial times. Published in Nature, the research is the most comprehensive assessment of biodiversity intactness ever produced for the region, drawing on the expertise of 200 African specialists.
Among them is Associate Prof Bryan Maritz of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Dr Hayley Clements, from the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) at Stellenbosch University. Together with the research team, they assessed reptiles and amphibians — groups often overlooked in global conservation debates.
Large mammals have suffered declines of more than 75%, but reptiles and amphibians face significant challenges as well. Data on these species are notoriously scarce, making them difficult to monitor and track. Prof Maritz led a continent?wide network of experts to evaluate the status of 799 amphibian species and 1,481 reptile species.
The study’s methodology was distinctive: contributors independently estimated how human activities — cropland expansion, livestock grazing, and urbanisation — affected species abundance, before refining their insights collectively. This bottom-up approach produced a continent-wide Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), providing policymakers with a tool grounded in African ecological knowledge. For reptiles and amphibians, Prof. Maritz’s coordination provided the first credible evidence base of their status at a global scale.
The findings highlight that over 80% of remaining wild plants and animals live outside formally protected areas, in working landscapes where people and nature coexist. For Maritz, this shifts the conservation conversation. Protected areas remain vital, but the sustainable management of rangelands, community-led conservancies, and biodiversity-positive farming practices are equally critical.
“This study showcases the depth of ecological expertise across Africa,” said Prof Maritz. “By grounding biodiversity measurement in local knowledge, we now have a more credible evidence base to support strategies that sustain both nature and people.”
By facilitating the inclusion of reptiles and amphibians in this project, Prof Maritz has broadened Africa’s biodiversity narrative. His work ensures that conservation strategies are inclusive, evidence-based, and responsive to local realities — reminding us that safeguarding the continent’s future means protecting not only its iconic species, but also the hidden ones that knit ecosystems together.
