News

After missing out on hosting a meeting in 2020-21 due to COVID 19 restrictions on travel, the Kruger National Park (KNP) will once again host scientists, researchers and Protected Area managers from around the world at the 19th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting. The meeting is taking place from 7 – 10 March 2022 at Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre in Skukuza.

“Due to some countries and institutions still having travel bans in place, the meeting will be slightly smaller than previous years, but will still host 155 delegates representing 60 different scientific and conservation organisations from 14 countries. In keeping with the new hybrid conferencing formats, the meeting will also be streamed live on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAoSDuzEtcGtTyZGa5EXBE9cgEmy8VMz. The programme will include 101 platform presentations and 18 poster presentations,” said the spokesperson of Kruger National Park, Isaac Phaahla.

The meeting has grown from one encouraging scientific networking and knowledge sharing with academic partners working on ecological research in the Kruger National Park, to it now being the premier international savanna science conference covering socio-ecological research taking place in savannas across the globe. The conference format allows for dialogue and discussion on ecological science and conservation matters, both formally and informally in a spectacular venue, shaping our collective understanding and seeding future research collaborations and projects to fill key knowledge gaps.

Many topical issues in ecological and social sciences will be covered during the week’s presentations as follows:

• Ecological themes like studying ecological patterns (e.g. animal space-use patterns, large-scale biodiversity patterns),
• Understanding ecological processes (e.g. erosion, predation, plant recruitment, herbivory, fire, disease, decomposition),
• Presentations on cultural heritage, tourism, social media, environmental management and policy as well as using technology like artificial intelligence and drones in conservation.

The above reflects the incorporation of expertise from diverse fields of expertise to assist in attaining conservation goals. In order to provide a sound scientific platform from which to address the knowledge needs to manage biodiversity and protected areas in a changing world, SANParks scientists engage and collaborate with a wide range of national and international scientists, research partners and funders. A mix of basic and applied research, spanning the biophysical and social domains strengthens research and monitoring efforts as well as capacity building.

“The close interactions between academics and park authorities facilitated by this meeting are key to promoting pro-active evidence-based decision-making and directing research to address priority conservation management needs. The meeting has always valued capacity building, and as such students share the platform with world-renowned savanna scientists from across the globe. We look forward to hosting this year’s delegates of the Savanna Science Network Meeting,” concluded Phaahla.

Information on the SANParks Scientific Services is found on the link https://www.sanparks.org/conservation/scientific_new/

Issued By

South African National Parks – Kruger National Park

Media enquiries:
Ike Phaahla
GM: Communications and Marketing – KNP
Tel: 013 735; Cell: 083 673 6974
Email: [email protected]