Through working on data management protocols, we have identified some of the most common issues that constrain data longevity to assist everyone involved in data collection and management in avoiding these. Metadata is often not recorded and data points are missing. Metadata is vital for others to interpret and use your data. Missing metadata and…
Peer-reviewed journal publications remain an important metric for robust research and scientific credibility. Although a couple of colleagues had a particularly productive year, with six SANParks colleagues producing five or more papers in 2021/2022, it was a team effort with 38 colleagues producing a total of 64 papers (13 papers as principal author and 51…
We suggest that when it comes to locally sourced conference gear, it’s not just about the bag, it is also the right thing to do. In the “doing”, positive social and economic opportunities are created locally, which we hope in the long run will also have positive impacts on conservation. Facilitating access for local SMMEs…
SANParks Scientific Services played a significant role in 2021/2022 in supervising post-graduate students. Twelve Scientific Services scientists supervised 25 students from 11 institutions during this period. The study topics were as diverse as the institutions represented. The number of students supervised per supervisor, ranged from one to four students. Thirteen were PhD candidates and the…
Our study highlighted areas around Kruger National Park where there are very few (as well as many) ranger staff employed, and we suggest that this should be a consideration when recruiting in the future in order to ensure fair employment opportunities for communities around the park. One of the first questions people ask one another…
The function of Veterinary Wildlife Services within SANParks ranges from hands-on treatment of animals to being involved in field studies, that cover fields in disease epidemiology, immobilisation drugs, development of diagnostic tests, and establishing blood reference values for wildlife species. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and the capture team in Kruger National Park (KNP) keep busy immobilising…
Brown locust outbreaks often follow good rainfall conditions in arid areas. Not always good news for people but locusts are a food source to various animals and its frass contain nutrients that are recycled into the soil. Stakeholders around national parks are starting to embrace outbreaks as a natural phenomenon and are adopting control measures…
On Wednesday the 18th of October, CapeNature, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) and SANParks colleagues met to discuss the management of marine biodiversity data. This workshop was pivotal to some of the workshop participants for numerous reasons….
Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) are a widely adopted, non-invasive, and highly effective methodology for exploring the depths of our vast seas. Over the past decade, researchers from around the world have harnessed the potential of BRUVS to unlock the mysteries of our oceans. On 17th October 2023, the Cape Research Centre, of South…
Helping local growers of rare plants to get permits, not only allows them to continue their important work legally, but ongoing positive engagement with traditional healers builds solid, relevant relationships with an influential stakeholder group, and leads to benefits for both people and biodiversity. This past year was a positive one for wild ginger (Siphonochilus…
By examining the recovery of fynbos in clear-felled pine plantations, the study observed that fynbos could be re-establish through natural regeneration, however, the potential for recovery decreased with the duration under plantation. Secondary invasion by nitrogen-fixing Acacias is a further barrier to the recovery of fynbos because of soil enrichment. Restoration has become an integral…
The Knysna estuary, also popularly known as Knysna lagoon, is managed as part of GRNP – the most biodiverse estuary of highest conservation importance in South Africa and the only natural estuarine bay on the subcontinent. It has a fascinating pre- and natural history, has been the subject of much research effort over a long…