Under the theme “Re-imagining conservation: healthy, sustainable, climate-resilient savannas that benefit people”, this internationally acclaimed event will bring together leading scientists, researchers, conservationists and policymakers to address critical challenges facing savanna ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
The park will host 230 delegates representing 91 different scientific and conservation organisations from 21 countries. The meeting will also be streamed live on here for those who would like to take part online.
Many topical issues in ecological and social sciences will be covered during the four days’ presentations and posters. There is a range of sessions covering various topics and these include:
- Large and largely unexpected patterns in vegetation overtime;
- Savannah conservation in the age of artificial intelligence;
- From source to sea: integrated management of freshwater ecosystems;
- Building sustainable connections to natural and cultural heritage inside parks; and
- Walking the mammalian tightrope – balancing costs and benefits.
“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,” says SANParks spokesperson JP Louw.
The idea for the savanna science meeting came about when a small group of scientists working on river-related issues in KNP, reflecting on the impacts of the 2000 flood event, started thinking that a small meeting could be held annually to share research findings with park management. The scope and participation of these meetings grew quickly to include Savanna-related research and delegates from many countries and organisations.
“This meeting is now considered 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 address key knowledge gaps,” Louw says.
Information on the SANParks Scientific Services is found here.
