KNP hosts the Annual Savanna Meeting
Many researchers rate this meeting as the leading Savanna meeting in the world.
The Kruger National Park (KNP) hosted a scientists, researchers and managers from around the world for the 17th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting which started on Monday, March 04, and set to go until Saturday, March 09 at the Skukuza Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre.
The meeting will host 201 delegates representing 92 different scientific and conservation organisations from most continents for a programme which includes 126 presentations and 26 poster presentations.
This meeting has grown from one encouraging scientific dialogue around biological research in KNP, to one encouraging a broader social-ecological savanna focus from across different continents.
The platform provides an opportunity for scientists to share their latest research findings conducted in national parks and other conservation areas within the savanna biome.
This includes numerous research projects from conservation areas mostly within South Africa (with Kruger National Park the best represented), and also drawing in relevant research and understanding from other savanna protected areas across the globe, including Australia, South America, North America and Asia.
The conference is also an important forum for dialogue and debate about ecological science and conservation matters and a pivotal point for future research collaborations.
This year an additional morning session had been added to stimulate discussion and co-learning between the managers and researchers around topics relevant to management of the Greater KNP.
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Many topical issues in ecological and social sciences will be covered during the four day presentations. This year there is a particular focus on climate change and the effects thereof on protected areas.
Linked to that is a session reflecting on lessons learned during the recent drought that KNP and surrounding areas experienced.
Bush encroachment, as another symptom of climate change, governance and management of rivers in the complex Lowveld socio-ecological system, and perspectives on the upcoming global CITES meeting are some of the other keynote talks delegates can look forward to.
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 interaction between academics and park authorities facilitated by this meeting is key to promoting pro-active evidence-based decision-making, and directing research into priority conservation management needs.
Many researchers rate this meeting as the leading Savanna meeting in the world.
