At the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, global ocean stakeholders came together to discuss urgent marine challenges. Representing South African National Parks (SANParks), I had the honour of contributing to three official side events focused on marine governance, international cooperation, and ocean innovation. The first event, Marine Protected Areas: Success Stories…
As an early-career marine researcher, I recently had the privilege of participating in an immersive deep-sea training workshop hosted by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), under the umbrella of the South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) – a Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) programme. The workshop focused on developing hands-on…
Over the past few decades, the global emphasis on fostering innovation has been driven by the constant evolution of technology, as new advancements continuously replace older ones with more efficient alternatives. Innovation has been directed towards the youth, because their fresh thinking often goes beyond what past generations envisioned. In South Africa, this spirit is…
It is well-known that plants give us oxygen and transpire water, and the little organisms within our soils release carbon dioxide. We also know that these gases are also available from the atmosphere. But do we know much about how they move between the ground and the sky above it? Thanks to a quarter of…
If rhinos had PR teams, they’d probably campaign for something like: “Love me for my wrinkles, not my horn.” Unfortunately, their iconic horns—made of the same stuff as our fingernails—have become one of the most sought-after wildlife products on the planet. And that has turned them into prime targets in a high-stakes, global crime saga….
Initially, the students stood in awe of a bird in the hand. Watching closely, University of Mpumalanga (UMP) students were guided through the process of bird capture and ringing; starting with how and where to set up mist nets to trap small passerine birds; safely removing caught birds from the nets; how to handle a…
Alien species are organisms not native to an area, often out-compete indigenous species, for food and space, and usually have no natural predators. Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area (MPA), located within the West Coast National Park (WCNP), is susceptible to the introduction of marine invasive alien species, due to a combination of ecological, environmental, and…
The seed for a Grow and Groom event for the Garden Route, Frontier & Marine Research Unit was planted and watered in 2024 and finally germinated in mid-February 2025. The lingering effects of Covid-19 on staff, the geographically distributed nature of our unit, and the need to collectively energise each other and plan for 2025…
Kruger National Park in South Africa is famous for its wildlife and is a key part of the country’s natural heritage. Managing wildlife is important to protect biodiversity while also supporting the economy. In most years, the South African National Parks (SANParks) conducts surveys to count animals in Kruger. These surveys help park managers make…
Kruger National Park in South Africa is famous for its wildlife and is a key part of the country’s natural heritage. Managing wildlife is important to protect biodiversity while also supporting the economy. In most years, the South African National Parks (SANParks) conducts surveys to count animals in Kruger. These surveys help park managers make…
As part of the South Africa-France partnership, SANParks hosted a bilateral exchange from March 10th to 14th at West Coast National Park (WCNP). This collaboration, supported by the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), brought together six French delegates and SANParks representatives to share knowledge on the management and monitoring…
From January 30th to the 23rd of February, OceanXplorer and OceanQuest hosted 18 visiting scientists from nine different nations on the first Science Leg of the “Around Africa Expedition.” Led by a South African scientist from the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON), Dr Lara Atkinson, this expedition aimed to improve our understanding of seamount…