Fifth Kruger National Park Science Network Meeting

The South African National Parks web site recently reported the Fifth Kruger National Park Science Network Meeting held in mid-April in in Skukuza. The meeting provides an opportunity for South African National Parks (SANParks) to gauge effectiveness of research programmes are to assess progress in meeting SANParks’ biodiversity conservation objectives. Scientific Services, based in Skukuza, has a team of specialist scientists working in different fields who, together with external scientists – mainly from academic institutions – conduct research in biodiversity monitoring, population studies, fire behaviour, vegetation monitoring and aerial game census techniques. The meetings also include field rangers and managers. This year, the KNP Science Network Meeting was largely sponsored by the United States-based Andrew W Mellon Foundation, which currently supports the Kruger River/Savannah Boundary Project and SANParks’ Junior Scientist Programme.