In a new study, researchers from SANParks and their collaborators from the Centre for Invasion Biology put a theoretical commonness framework to the test to demonstrate how changing the resolution of data used in alien species management can revolutionize how we manage them. Alien plants are those that are introduced by people from other parts…
When comparing three invasive alien plants (IAP) in South Africa to their native counterparts in the United States, a clear increase in phytochemical diversity in the invaded region was found, highlighting the role of secondary metabolites in plant invasions.
A gillnet is a wall or curtain of netting that hangs vertically in the water column and is typically made from monofilament or multifilament nylon. They are generally weighted on the bottom and have a series of floats along the surface line. The size of fish caught will depend on the size of the mesh…
I was going about my day when I got a message on Facebook, from a young lady who attended two consecutive years of SANParks outreach programmes. She told me she is in Matric and is now considering a career in Environmental Sciences & Geography after being inspired by our ‘Scientist for a day’ as well…
With the emergence of the novel Corona Virus 2 (SARS- CoV2), many conservationists and scientists have purported that human transformation of landscapes, allows for zoonotic disease to emerge. However, there are only a few papers with empirical evidence that support it, go on to propose potential mechanisms, or offer risk mitigation options; suffice to say that just excluding people from these “natural landscapes” is often not practical.
This month Dr Louise Swemmer’s research on social impacts of Mopane Worm harvesting in the Kruger National Park is featured in the Africa Geographic Magazine. Small scale, sustainable resource use projects allow for meaningful engagement between National Parks and its neighbours, always more than just the rands and cents value of the resource being shared,…
I started early, took my dog, And visited the sea; The mermaids in the basement Came out to look at me. This is the first stanza of Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘By the sea’ and I think that almost everyone who lives along the Garden Route can identify with it. How many of us make regular,…
As every good savanna ecologist knows, fire is a very important tool to promote ecosystem health, improve grazing quality and manipulate where and how animals use space. However, when it comes to using fires around tourism infrastructure and residential areas, managers and scientists tend to be a little more “cautious”, resulting in build-up of moribund…
Shortly before the national lockdown was implemented in South Africa, SANParks Scientific Services hosted the 18th annual International Savanna Science Networking Meeting (1 – 5 March 2020). Close to 200 delegates representing 88 different scientific and conservation organizations, and representing all continents with savannas, registered for the meeting. Many old-timers were greeted back (some having…
Listen to the narrated version of the Abstract below. Anyone clicking on this link before September 09, 2020 will be taken directly to the final version of the article on ScienceDirect, which they are welcome to read or download. No sign up, registration or fees are required.
On 8 June 2020, SANParks celebrated World Oceans Day. This is a day first honoured in 1992 by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and designated officially in 2009, to raise awareness of the vital importance of the world’s oceans. It is a day to honour and reflect on our relationship with the ocean and provides an opportunity to promote protection and conservation initiatives that help sustain the important resources and services that oceans provide to humankind.
The Covid-19 virus has been a shock to the system, that’s for sure. Especially for the health workers across the world that are working day and night to save lives. However, its not just western medicine practitioners at the front line, SANParks acknowledges the hard work of over 3000 traditional healers, working as primary health…