In September 2019, a dead humpback whale washed ashore in South Africa’s Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area (MPA), a hotspot for both tourism and conservation. The stranding highlighted the complexities of managing whale carcasses within protected areas but provided a learning opportunity to further our understanding of public perception, monitor decomposition, and ultimately offer insights into…
A course that brought together researchers from all corners of the globe meant uniting a rich tapestry of diverse backgrounds, each shaped by unique contexts, cultures, and histories. As we gathered to explore social-ecological systems (SES) challenges, this diversity became both our strength and our puzzle. The central question we faced was, “How can we,…
The annual Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) symposium again brought together a global mix of researchers and practitioners to share learnings and generate new insights on protected areas, inclusive conservation and sustainability. Held at Villa Castollini, between Knysna and Brenton-on-Sea, this is a partnership between SANParks, Nelson Mandela University’s Sustainability Research Unit, the French…
Dr. Ian Russell, Senior Scientist: Aquatic Ecology, retired after a long and impactful career in conservation science at SANParks at the end of July 2024. Ian was based in Rondevlei in the Garden Route National Park for over three decades, and leaves a legacy of dedication to aquatic conservation. His time in SANParks spans many…
When asked about my prospective career during my foundational grades, my response was definitive and assured: “I want to be a teacher”. Growing up, we were taught that to ensure stability, one should pursue professions such as nursing, medicine, or education. Stability was emphasised as the primary focus by our parents and teachers to the…
The iNaturalist City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a global bioblitz event that happens once a year where cities from around the world flood iNaturalist with observations of nature in green spaces in and around their cities. The first CNC, in 2016, was an eight-day competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco where they made 20…
The staff of Scientific Services don’t spend enough time on data management. This is important because good data management is fundamental to the success of South African National Parks. Scientific Services is mandated to inform biodiversity conservation. With a goal to achieve this, SANParks invests substantial amounts on funding staff to conduct monitoring and research….
In May 2019 South Africa declared 20 new MPAs in the South African Economic Exclusive Zone. This increased South Africa’s marine protection levels from 0.4 to 5%. SANParks was assigned to manage three of the new MPAs, more than doubling the extent of MPA’s under SANParks’ responsibility from 147 540 to almost 370,000 hectares at…
Scientific Services consists of an array of diverse skills, job functions and individuals, with many projects and outcomes depending on teamwork and interaction of these components and people. Recognition of those that consistently go above and beyond hard work, and valuing exceptional individual and team accomplishments and contributions, expresses appreciation and celebrates outstanding achievements. This…
This year we celebrate the achievements and graduation of three colleagues from the Arid and Northern Node of Scientific Services! Dr Mahlomola Ernest Daemane, General Manager of the Node, completed his PhD through University of the Free State in the Faculty of Natural and Agriculture Sciences. His PhD thesis entitled “The spatial distribution of the…
After four years of studying, I left Cape Town at the beginning of 2018 with two qualifications, a dream, and high hopes of kick starting my journey as an environmentalist. However, with high unemployment rates in South Africa and many graduates looking for work, finding a job after completing an Honours degree in Geography and…
Getting to know Erin Crowhurst I have been frequenting the Kruger National Park since I was quite young, which is where my passion for nature began. I chose to study Botany and Chemistry to avoid dissecting animals, but later changed my field to Botany and Zoology. In 2022, I completed my MSc Zoology at the…