The following reports and scientific papers are available for download (most recent first):
- Prioritisation of City Wetlands report more »
- Baboon Expert Workshop proceedings report more »
- Methodology to value the natural and environmental resources of the City of Cape Town more »
- State of the Environment Report 2008 more »
- City Wetlands Map: Phase 5 - Ground-truthing and map update more »
- 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Host City: Cape Town Green Goal Action Plan more »
- City of Cape Town BioNet - Terrestrial Systematic Conservation Plan Re-Analysis: Methods and Results more »
- City of Cape Town Biodiversity Report 2008 more »
- State of Energy Report for the City of Cape Town 2007 more »
- State of Energy Report for Cape Town 2003 more »
- Global Climate Change: Coastal Climate Change and Adaptation - A Sea-Level Rise Risk Assessment for the City of Cape Town, 2008 more »
- The Identification and Prioritisation of a Biodiversity Network for the city of Cape Town - Final Report, Feb 2007 more »
- Sustainability Report 2006 more »
- Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change in the city of Cape Town (FAC4T) more »
- City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Management Review and State of the Coast Summary Report, Year 3: Nov 2005 – Oct 2006 more »
- Sustainability Report 2005 more »
- Sustainability Indicators Report 2004 more »
- City of Cape Town Portfolio of Sustainability Best Practice 2005/2006 more »
- City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Management Review and State of the Coast Summary Report, Year 2: Nov 2004 – Oct 2005 more »
- Finding a Balance – White Shark Conservation and Recreational Safety in the Inshore Waters of Cape Town, South Africa (Specialist Report) more »
Prioritisation of City Wetlands report, Aug 2009 [PDF 1.1MB]
This report describes the methods used for the ranking of wetlands, according to a set of criteria that assess overall biodiversity 'value' within each of the 54 wetland types found in Cape Town.
Baboon Expert Workshop proceedings report, Jul 2009 [PDF 1.2MB]
The City of Cape Town, in conjunction with CapeNature and SANParks, hosted a Baboon Expert Workshop on 2 July 2009 involving a number of stakeholders from the three governmental spheres, civil society and scientists. This report details the proceedings of the workshop, which served as a platform to present the latest research on the Peninsula’s Chacma baboon population, and to discuss the various options for baboon management.
Methodology to value the natural and environmental resources of the City of Cape Town, May 2009 [PDF 772KB]
This report focuses on the value of the City of Cape Town's natural assets and how they yield a flow of ecosystem goods and services (EGS) that support municipal service delivery and enhance the wellbeing of the city’s inhabitants. The broad objectives of this project are to develop a coherent natural resource economics model and methodology for the City of Cape Town that can be used to guide the generation of a business case for the environment.
State of the Environment Report 2008 [PDF 3MB]
The first City of Cape Town State of the Environment Report (SoER) was published in 1998, and provided the City with a baseline from which to measure and record changes in Cape Town’s environmental state. Since then, the report has been through a variety of incarnations, and has grown into a widely used and respected document. This report focuses on the 2007/8 financial year (July 2007 - June 2008). View the 2005 and 2006 Sustainability Reports on this page and previous State of the Environment reports here.
City Wetlands Map: Phase 5 - Ground-truthing and map update, Feb 2009 [PDF 1.3MB]
This report gives details on the 36 natural wetland types identified in the Cape Town and the accuracy of the desktop mapping based on the ground-truthing results.
2010 FIFA World Cup™ Host City: Cape Town Green Goal Action Plan
The Green Goal Action Plan has been developed as a concise, practical tool for the implementation of event greening principles for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The Action Plan identifies nine target areas and defines 41 specific implementable projects linked to these target areas.
City of Cape Town BioNet - Terrestrial Systematic Conservation Plan Re-Analysis: Methods and Results, Aug 2008 [PDF 4.7MB]
This report serves as a record of the methods and key results from the 2008 re-analysis of the City of Cape Town’s Terrestrial Biodiversity Network (BioNet). The re-analysis was requested due to the recent availability of information on the condition of the habitat remnants in the BioNet.
City of Cape Town Biodiversity Report 2008 [PDF 2.8MB]
This report forms part of a set of biodiversity reports produced by participant cities of the Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) Project worldwide. It represents a critical starting point: a status quo assessment of biodiversity and its management in each LAB city.
State of Energy Report for the City of Cape Town 2007 [PDF 4.2MB]
A report providing Cape Town's energy profile. It gives an overview of the policy context; of energy demand and of the energy supply options to the metropolitan area.
State of Energy Report for Cape Town 2003 [PDF 2.6MB]
This report provides the ‘energy picture’ for the Cape Town metropolitan area. It gives the background and direction for the development of the City's Energy Strategy, which is a component of the City's Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy (IMEP).
Global Climate Change: Coastal Climate Change and Adaptation - A Sea-Level Rise Risk Assessment for Cape Town
Phase 1 - Sea-Level Rise Model, Mar 2008 [PDF 358KB]
A description of the methods and data used to create the GIS inundation model. The model addresses three sea-level rise scenarios outlined below:
1) Present-day very worst case scenario i.e. high tide simultaneous with storm events;
2) The scenario by the end of the next decade (what is anticipated to be 'the norm');
3) The permanent water inundation level predictions resulting from the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets melting.
Phase 2 - Risk and Impact Identification, May 2008 [PDF 1.1MB]
A report pertaining to areas in Cape Town that are potentially under risk of sea-level rise in storm events and permanent water inundation of areas as a result of possible melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets.
Phase 3 - A Sea-Level Rise Risk Assessment, Jun 2008 [PDF 1MB]
An assessment report concerning the probability and the risks associated with the three scenarios (see Phase 1) and their potential inundation by the sea; whilst understanding the associated impacts on existing coastal systems, infrastructure and property.
Phase 4 - Sea-Level Rise Adaptation+Risk Mitigation Measures, Jul 2008 [PDF 420KB]
An assessment report providing options for adaptation and risk mitigation strategies in preparation and/or response to the three sea-level rise scenarios (see Phase 1).
The Identification and Prioritisation of a Biodiversity Network for the City of Cape Town - Final Report, Feb 2007 [PDF 5.9MB]
This report specifically presents the results of the revised identification and prioritisation analyses of the City's Biodiversity Network. Detailed descriptions of the concepts of nodes, corridors and the conservation planning methodology processes followed since 2001 are provided as appendices to this report (below). An Executive Summary of the Final Report is also given.
Appendix A [PDF 191KB]
Appendix B [PDF 396KB]
Appendix C [PDF 628KB]
Final Report Executive Summary [PDF 5.6MB]
Sustainability Report 2006 [PDF 3.46MB]
Previously called a 'State of the Environment Report', this annually produced report describes pressures on the city’s environment, the current state of the environment and the City’s progress towards its goal of sustainability. View previous State of the Environment reports for Cape Town.
Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change in the City of Cape Town (FAC4T) [PDF 1.8MB]
An Adaptation Framework in response to the potential short- to medium-term impacts of climate change in the metropolitan area. Comprising an overarching framework for a city-wide consolidated and coordinated approach to reducing vulnerability to climate impacts. By following this framework, a City Adaptation Plan of Action (CAPA) for the City of Cape Town will be developed and the necessary resources mobilised for its implementation.
City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Management Review and State of the Coast Summary Report, Year 3: November 2005 – October 2006 [PDF 1.4MB]
A summary report about the management of Cape Town’s coastal zone with information on a range of qualitative and quantitative indicators. This presents an integrated and holistic view of the coast.
Sustainability Report 2005 [PDF 4.1MB]
Previously called a 'State of the Environment Report', this annually produced report describes pressures on the City’s environment, the current state of the environment and the City’s progress towards its goal of sustainability. View the previous State of the Environment reports for Cape Town.
Sustainability Indicators Report 2004 [PDF 2MB]
In order to conduct sustainability reporting, it is necessary to have some unit of measurement that remains constant over time in order to display trends or changes over time. This unit of measurement is more commonly known as an indicator. Sustainability indicators are measured on an annual basis and relate to the achievement of sustainable development. This report explains the indicators used in the Sustainability Report.
City of Cape Town Portfolio of Sustainability Best Practice 2005/2006 [PDF 2.9MB]
An annual portfolio that assesses the sustainability of approximately 25 projects within the City. Various criteria are used to assess the sustainability of the projects submitted, within four categories: Economic, Social, Ecological and Governance.
City of Cape Town Coastal Zone Management Review and State of the Coast Summary Report, Year 2: November 2004 – October 2005 [PDF 1.2MB]
A summary report about the management of Cape Town’s coastal zone with information on a range of qualitative and quantitative indicators. This presents an integrated and holistic view of the coast.
Finding a Balance – White Shark Conservation and Recreational Safety in the Inshore Waters of Cape Town, South Africa (Specialist Report) [ZIPPED PDF 3.4MB]
Proceedings of a specialist workshop to address white shark conservation and recreational safety in Cape Town. A number of highly regarded experts contributed fifteen scientific and background papers which were reviewed by the editors. Several key conclusions and recommendations were made based on the information presented. These recommendations have played a central role in informing the City’s Draft White Shark and Coastal Recreational Safety Policy and Strategy.