Table 4.
Reporting rate frequency and percentage of respondents reporting relevance, context, direction, timescale and scope of the four highest-ranking threats to conservation during the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa
| Biological resource use count (N) | Biological resource use % | Residential and commercial developments count (N) | Residential and commercial developments % | Human intrusion and disturbance count (N) | Human intrusion and disturbance % | Invasive species, genes and diseases count (N) | Invasive species, genes and diseases % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relevant threat | Yes | 63 | 70.0 | 50 | 55.6 | 42 | 46.7 | 42 | 46.7 |
| No | 27 | 30.0 | 40 | 44.4 | 48 | 53.3 | 48 | 53.3 | |
| Context of threat | National | 7 | 7.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 2 | 2.2 |
| Provincial | 3 | 3.3 | 10 | 11.1 | 6 | 6.7 | 3 | 3.3 | |
| Biome | 23 | 25.6 | 5 | 5.6 | 10 | 11.1 | 9 | 10.0 | |
| Region | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1.1 | |
| District | 4 | 4.4 | 10 | 11.1 | 3 | 3.3 | 8 | 8.9 | |
| Protected area | 9 | 10.0 | 17 | 18.9 | 15 | 16.7 | 11 | 12.2 | |
| Species level | 20 | 22.2 | 5 | 5.6 | 4 | 4.4 | 7 | 7.8 | |
| Not relevant | 24 | 26.7 | 40 | 44.4 | 49 | 54.4 | 49 | 54.4 | |
| Direction of threat during lockdown levels 3–5 | Threat increased | 34 | 37.8 | 22 | 24.4 | 16 | 17.8 | 24 | 26.7 |
| Threat stable | 5 | 5.6 | 4 | 4.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | |
| Threat reduced | 16 | 17.8 | 14 | 15.6 | 23 | 25.6 | 5 | 5.6 | |
| Threat suspected but unknown direction | 6 | 6.7 | 3 | 3.3 | 3 | 3.3 | 3 | 3.3 | |
| New threat | 1 | 1.1 | 2 | 2.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Not relevant | 28 | 31.1 | 45 | 50.0 | 48 | 53.3 | 55 | 61.1 | |
| Direction of threat during lockdown levels 1–2 | Threat increased | 36 | 40.0 | 19 | 21.1 | 21 | 23.3 | 19 | 21.1 |
| Threat stable | 8 | 8.9 | 10 | 11.1 | 11 | 12.2 | 4 | 4.4 | |
| Threat reduced | 8 | 8.9 | 11 | 12.2 | 6 | 6.7 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| Threat suspected but unknown direction | 8 | 8.9 | 5 | 5.6 | 4 | 4.4 | 6 | 6.7 | |
| New threat | 2 | 2.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Not relevant | 28 | 31.1 | 45 | 50.0 | 48 | 53.3 | 55 | 61.1 | |
| Timescale of threat during lockdown levels 3–5 | Long-term (> 5 years) | 12 | 13.3 | 17 | 18.9 | 3 | 3.3 | 8 | 8.9 |
| Medium-term (3–5 years) | 19 | 21.1 | 9 | 10.0 | 9 | 10.0 | 11 | 12.2 | |
| Short-term (duration of SoD) | 22 | 24.4 | 17 | 18.9 | 27 | 30.0 | 8 | 8.9 | |
| Unknown | 8 | 8.9 | 2 | 2.2 | 3 | 3.3 | 7 | 7.8 | |
| Not relevant | 29 | 32.2 | 45 | 50.0 | 48 | 53.3 | 56 | 62.2 | |
| Timescale of threat during lockdown levels 1–2 | Long-term (> 5 years) | 12 | 13.3 | 15 | 16.7 | 4 | 4.4 | 8 | 8.9 |
| Medium-term (3–5 years) | 18 | 20.0 | 9 | 10.0 | 15 | 16.7 | 8 | 8.9 | |
| Short-term (duration of SoD) | 19 | 21.1 | 14 | 15.6 | 15 | 16.7 | 10 | 11.1 | |
| Unknown | 12 | 13.3 | 5 | 5.6 | 3 | 3.3 | 8 | 8.9 | |
| Not relevant | 29 | 32.2 | 47 | 52.2 | 53 | 58.9 | 56 | 62.2 | |
| Scope of threat before lockdown | Affects the whole (> 90%) | 6 | 6.7 | 4 | 4.4 | 2 | 2.2 | 6 | 6.7 |
| Affects the majority (50–90%) | 20 | 22.2 | 12 | 13.3 | 15 | 16.7 | 10 | 11.1 | |
| Affects the minority (< 50%) | 32 | 35.6 | 21 | 23.3 | 21 | 23.3 | 14 | 15.6 | |
| Unknown | 4 | 4.4 | 8 | 8.9 | 4 | 4.4 | 5 | 5.6 | |
| Not relevant | 28 | 31.1 | 45 | 50.0 | 48 | 53.3 | 55 | 61.1 | |
| Scope of threat during lockdown levels 3–5 | Affects the whole (> 90%) | 8 | 8.9 | 10 | 11.1 | 4 | 4.4 | 7 | 7.8 |
| Affects the majority (50–90%) | 23 | 25.6 | 14 | 15.6 | 15 | 16.7 | 13 | 14.4 | |
| Affects the minority (< 50%) | 23 | 25.6 | 16 | 17.8 | 20 | 22.2 | 8 | 8.9 | |
| Unknown | 8 | 8.9 | 5 | 5.6 | 3 | 3.3 | 7 | 7.8 | |
| Not relevant | 28 | 31.1 | 45 | 50.0 | 48 | 53.3 | 55 | 61.1 | |
| Scope of threat during lockdown levels 1–2 | Affects the whole (> 90%) | 8 | 8.9 | 8 | 8.9 | 3 | 3.3 | 7 | 7.8 |
| Affects the majority (50–90%) | 24 | 26.7 | 18 | 20.0 | 16 | 17.8 | 11 | 12.2 | |
| Affects the minority (< 50%) | 23 | 25.6 | 11 | 12.2 | 16 | 17.8 | 9 | 10.0 | |
| Unknown | 7 | 7.8 | 8 | 8.9 | 7 | 7.8 | 8 | 8.9 | |
| Not relevant | 28 | 31.1 | 45 | 50.0 | 48 | 53.3 | 55 | 61.1 |