Efforts to address South Africa’s past and present injustices are advancing through embracing a duty of care approach in the white paper on conservation and sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity that can improve conditions for nature and people alike Communities in Africa do not always have fair opportunities to benefit from wildlife. For instance,…
In addition to biological heritage, SANParks is active in protecting cultural heritage. The past year had many highlights, like the ongoing excavations at Letaba, implementation of the SANParks electronic cultural heritage collections system, restoration of stonewalls at the Thulamela site, and starting the process to declare two sites in Kruger as national heritage sites Progress…
Although some people travel from far, participation in SANParks week in Kruger National Park is mostly local, with many repeat visitors. People come to see animals and meet new people, and despite concerns to the contrary, the increase in visitor numbers during SANParks week does not negatively impact overnight guests SANParks Week started in 2007…
Elephant dung harvested from Kruger is distributed to traditional healers living adjacent to the park to share benefits and to build positive relationships and connections. Elephant dung is a popular ingredient of traditional medicine, healing a variety of ailments Elephant dung is widely used in Southern Africa to treat headaches, nose bleeds and assist young…
A corridor for the safe movement of species between Tankwa Karoo National Park and the Cederberg Wilderness Area has been created The goal of the SANParks land acquisition framework is to acquire conservation-worthy land through purchase or other means to conserve ecological systems and patterns. In the Tankwa Karoo there is a vision to create…
Much of the rich natural history of the Kruger National Park has been inventoried in the Skukuza Museum-Herbarium facility, which houses ~25 000 biological specimens. The reference collection serves as an invaluable and indispensable asset to the Kruger National Park and all those who visit. Post-covid, the Skukuza Biological Reference Collection has received substantial attention…
Fire is a widespread and natural disturbance in most sub-Saharan ecosystems. It can have positive and negative effects on an ecosystem. The disturbance caused by fire can lead to nutrient cycling and cause positive changes in vegetation structure and composition. However, when fire is mismanaged or uncontrolled, it can be detrimental to the ecosystem. In…
SANParks scientists are dedicated to engaging and communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including the general public and various local interest groups SANParks scientists are dedicated to engaging and communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including the general public and various local interest groups. This communication is essential in sharing scientific evidence as well as…
SANParks scientists need and want to communicate more of their science to the public in a suitable way. This requires building capacity and collaborating with communication experts For some, doing our jobs in support of SANParks’ mandate can lead to hefty criticism from members of the public on social media and other forums. Some colleagues…
SANParks is developing best practice procedures to make the most of visual data from camera traps, baited remote underwater videos, drones and fixed point photographs Have you ever wondered how ecologists and conservationists uncover the hidden lives of plants and animals in fynbos, forests, grasslands, savannas, and the deep blue sea? The answer lies in…
A unified strategy of biodiversity data management is urgently needed as concerns over climate change, land use change, pollution and natural resource exploitation rise and the global crisis for biodiversity conservation continues. The Mathematical Sciences Hub (BioMath; https://www0.sun.ac.za/biomath/) at Stellenbosch University is exploring innovative new ways to synthesise and analyse vast amounts of ecological data…
Wonderful holidays in National Parks can create the impression that people working there experience no stress. However, a recent global online study found that almost a quarter of those working in conservation experience moderate to severe distress at work. You are having a crack-of-dawn coffee in your pin-neat khaki-outfit before jumping into a rugged 4×4…