SANParks participating in the launch and forum of the Biodiversity Biobanks of South Africa
On 1 March 2023, for the first time in South Africa, a central repository, Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa (BBSA), was launched to conserve and manage biodiversity samples. BBSA brings together biobank managers from a diversity of fields to form a network of institutions dedicated to improving the quality of, and access to, samples from plants, animals, bacteria and fungi in one of the world’s most megadiverse regions.
After the opening and welcome, each institution presented their “Visions for the Future” in the context of biodiversity biobanks. I presented on behalf of SANParks, focussing on the draft strategy and overarching objective of being a centre of excellence in wildlife resources, the need for better facilities, a better way to collect and catalogue samples, and plans for ISO accreditation and a user-friendly laboratory information management system. It was reassuring that the visions were largely aligned between the 14 institutional biobanks involved, including those from Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
At the official launch SANBI Board member, Ms Beryl Ferguson , referred to the draft White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity which references key outcomes related to biobank/biorepositories, namely leveraging genetic and biological resources to benefit people, countries and the world, ecologically sustainable use of components of biodiversity to drive socio-economic growth and national GDP, and long-term preservation of selected samples on behalf of the nation. Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Innovation, Mr Imraan Patel, emphasised that evidence-based science should be used to improve conservation decision-making and recognised the value of biobanks as a service provider for information and products. SANParks’ Dr Peter Buss presented on the importance of using biobank samples for disease and animal management, illustrating this through two active projects, namely detection of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus in elephants in Kruger National Park and the rhino TB management plan.
Other presentations touched on important topics including biodiversity access and benefit sharing, digital sequence information, databasing and ensuring quality samples. The meeting ended with drafting critical steps for ensuring sample quality, gap analysis and expansion strategy projects. For more information and a video presented about the SANParks Biobank visit https://bbsa.org.za/news/
This article was written by Leana Freese and originally published in the 2022/2023 Research Report.
