Dr Stefanie Freitag-Ronaldson
GM: Garden Route and Frontier Research Unit, Garden Route & Frontier Research Unit
Education
- BSc, 1988, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg)
- BSc Honours (Genetics, cum laude), 1989, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg)
- MSc (Zoology, cum laude), 1992, University of Pretoria, focused on using genetic markers to inform conservation decisions and policy for ostrich translocations in South Africa
- PhD (Zoology), 1996, University of Pretoria, titled “An assessment of mammalian diversity in the Transvaal: Consequences for conservation evaluation and planning”
- One year post-doc at University of Pretoria (1996-97) and joined SANParks as database analyst in Scientific Services, Kruger NP in 1997
Research Focus and Interest
Within SANParks I have spent time in both research and conservation management over more than 20 years, embedded within a complexity and broad social-ecological systems framework.
My passion is bridging between research and management, facilitating a shared understanding and common rationality for decision-making. This requires ongoing dialogue, multiple perspectives and embracing and integrating different ways of knowing and learning.
I am interested in the changing notions and evolution of strategic adaptive management approaches within protected area management and governance and how this relates to and is influenced by human capital, group dynamics and enabling environments.
More recently I also have been involved in stimulating work at the human-nature interface and its role in supporting wellbeing in fast-paced modern times.
Publications
Journal Articles
Roux, D.J., Smith, M.K.S., Smit, I.P.J., Freitag, S., Slabbert, L., Mokhatla, M.M., Hayes, J. and Mpapane, N.P. (2020) Cultural ecosystem services as complex outcomes of people–nature interactions in protected areas. Ecosystem Services 43 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101111
Roux D, Clements H, Currie B, Fritz H, Gordon P, Kruger N and Freitag, S. (2020). The GRIN Meeting: A ‘third place’ for managers and scholars of social-ecological systems. S Afr J Sci. 116(3/4), Art. #7598, 2 pages. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/7598
Swemmer, L., Grant, R., Annecke, W. and Freitag-Ronaldson, S. (2015). Toward More Effective Benefit Sharing in South African National Parks. Society & Natural Resources doi: 10.1080/08941920.2014.945055.
Freitag, S., Biggs, H. and Breen, C. (2014). The spread and maturation of strategic adaptive management within and beyond South African National Parks. Ecology and Society 19(3): 25. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-06338-190325.
Biggs, D., Swemmer, L., Phillips, G., Stevens, J., Freitag, S., and Grant, R. (2014). The development of a tourism research framework by South African National Parks to inform Strategic Adaptive Management. Koedoe 56(2). doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v56i2.1164.
Biggs, H., Breen, C., Slotow, R., Freitag, S. and Hockings, M. (2011). How assessment and reflection relate to more effective learning in adaptive management. Koedoe 53(2): Art. #1001. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v53i2.1001.
Biggs, H., Ferreira, S., Freitag-Ronaldson, S. and Grant-Biggs, R. (2011). Taking stock after a decade: Does the ‘thresholds of potential concern’ concept need a socio-ecological revamp? Koedoe 53(2): Art. #1002. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v53i2.1002.
McGeoch, M.A., Dopolo, M., Novellie, P., Hendriks, H., Freitag, S., Ferreira, S., Grant, R., Kruger, J., Bezuidenhout, H., Randall, R.M., Vermeulen, W., Kraaij, T., Russell, I.A., Knight, M.H., Holness, S. and Oosthuizen, A. (2011). A strategic framework for biodiversity monitoring in South African National Parks. Koedoe 53(2): Art. #991. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v53i2.991.
Rebelo, T.G., Freitag, S., Cheney, C. and McGeoch, M.A. (2011). Prioritising species of special concern for monitoring in Table Mountain National Parks: The challenge of a species-rich threatened ecosystem. Koedoe 53(2): Art. #1019. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v53i2.1019.
Strickland-Munro, J.K., Moore, S.A. and Freitag-Ronaldson, S. (2010). The impacts of tourism on two communities adjacent to the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Development Southern Africa 27(5): 663 -678. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2010.522829.
Foxcroft, L.C. and Freitag-Ronaldson, S. (2007). Seven decades of institutional learning: Managing alien plant invasions in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Oryx 41(2): 160-167.
Chown, S.L. and Freitag-Ronaldson, S. (2002). Survey site selection for data deficient arthropod taxa: From R.A.G.S. to richness. African Entomology 10: 345-349.
Erasmus, B.F.N., Freitag, S., Gaston, K.J., Erasmus, B.H. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1999). Scale and conservation planning in the real world. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 266: 315-319.
Wessels, K.J., Freitag, S. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1999). The use of land facets as biodiversity surrogates during reserve selection at a local scale. Biological Conservation 89: 21-38.
Freitag, S., Hobson, C., Biggs, H.C. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1998). Testing for potential survey bias: The effect of roads, urban areas and nature reserves on a southern African mammal data set. Animal Conservation 1: 119-127.
Freitag, S., Nicholls, A.O. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1998). Dealing with established reserve networks and incomplete distribution data sets in conservation planning. South African Journal of Science 94: 79-86.
Freitag, S. (1998). The Kruger National Park and the analysis of historic data sets: Where are we going? South African Journal of Science 94: 146.
Freitag, S. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1998). Sensitivity of selection procedures for priority conservation areas to survey extent, survey intensity and taxonomic knowledge. Proceedings of the Royal Society London B 265: 1475-1482.
Hull, H., Freitag, S., Chown, S.L. and Bellamy, C.L. (1998). Identification and evaluation of priority conservation areas for Buprestidae (Coleoptera) in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia. African Entomology 6: 265-274.
van Jaarsveld, A.S., Gaston, K.J., Chown, S.L. and Freitag, S. (1998). Throwing biodiversity out with the binary data? South African Journal of Science 94: 210-214.
van Jaarsveld, A.S., Freitag, S., Chown, S.L., Muller, C., Koch, S., Hull, H., Bellamy, C., Krüger, M., Endrödy-Younga, S., Mansell, M.W. and Scoltz, C.H. (1998). Biodiversity congruence, surrogacy and conservation strategies. Science 279: 2106-2108.
Freitag, S. and Mansell, M.W. (1997). The distribution and protection status of selected antlion species (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in South Africa. African Entomology 5: 205-216.
Freitag, S. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1997). Relative occupancy, endemism, taxonomic distinctiveness and vulnerability: Prioritizing regional species conservation actions. Biodiversity and Conservation 6: 211-232.
Freitag, S., van Jaarsveld, A.S. and Biggs, H.C. (1997). Ranking priority biodiversity areas: An iterative conservation value-based approach. Biological Conservation 82: 263-272.
Muller, C., Freitag, S., Scholtz, C.H. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1997). Termite (Isoptera) distributions, endemism, species richness and priority conservation areas: Consequences for land-use planning in South Africa. African Entomology 5: 261-271.
Freitag, S., Nicholls, A.O. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1996). Nature reserve selection in the Transvaal, South Africa: What data should we be using? Biodiversity and Conservation 5: 685-698.
Freitag, S. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (1995). Towards conserving regional mammalian species diversity: A case study and data critique. South African Journal of Zoology 30: 136-144.
Freitag, S. and Robinson, T.J. (1993). Phylogeographic patterns in mitochondrial DNA of the ostrich, Struthio camelus. Auk 110: 614-622.
Book or Book Chapters
Freitag-Ronaldson, S. and Foxcroft, L.C. (2003). Anthropogenic influences at the ecosystem level. In: J.T. du Toit, K.H. Rogers and H.C. Biggs (eds), The Kruger Experience – Ecology and management of savanna heterogeneity. Washington DC: Island Press. Pp 391-421.
Freitag-Ronaldson, S., Kalwa, R.H., Badenhorst, J.C., Erasmus, J.P., Venter, F.J. and Nel, F.J. (2003). Wilderness, wilderness quality management and recreational opportunities zoning within the Kruger National Park, South Africa. In: Watson, Alan; Sproul, Janet, comps. Seventh World Wilderness Congress symposium: Science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values, 2001 November 2-8, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Proc. RMRS-P-27. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Pp 39-49.
Mills, M.G.L., Freitag, S. and van Jaarsveld, A.S. (2001). Geographic priorities for carnivore conservation in Africa. In: J.L. Gittelman, S.M. Funk, D. Macdonald and R.K. Wayne (Eds), Carnivore Conservation. Cambridge University Press: Zoological Society of London. Pp 467-483.