Given the rich concentration of wildlife reserves in the Eastern Cape, the appropriate management of the environment and our wildlife resources in the province as a whole is of prime importance.
The third Eastern Cape Wildlife Colloquium convenes on 25 June 2009 at 10am in the Rhodes University Biological Sciences Building. This annual event is a joint initiative of the Association of Eastern Cape Private Nature Reserves (Indalo) and the Wildlife and Reserve Management Research Group (WRMRG) at the University’s Zoology and Entomology Department. The colloquium is open to all stakeholders in the field of wildlife management and natural resource conservation in the Eastern Cape and wildlife managers, scientists, farmers and other decision makers will attend.
“The aim of the colloquium is to promote dialogue between all stakeholders,” explains Dr Daniel Parker of the Zoology and Entomology Department, whose academic research is conducted in many of these reserves. “Scientists and farmers, researchers and managers are encouraged to attend,” he adds how the role played by Rhodes scientists and researchers is to assist with ways of approaching or tackling pertinent management issues on the ground.
The speakers have been drawn from a variety of disciplines and address diverse issues relating to conservation, use of the land, and management of the environment. They include research scientists from Rhodes, research staff from the attending Indalo reserves and students on the WRMRG programme.
• Professor Adrian Craig is an ornithologist at the Rhodes Zoology & Entomology Department who will speak about oxpeckers and wildlife in the Eastern Cape.
• Dr Wendy Popplewell, a post-doctoral fellow in the Rhodes Chemistry Department, will speak about the chemistry of Euphorbia bothae and its role in the diet of black rhinos.
• Dr Ayanda Sigwela, an environmental consultant who has previously worked fro SANparks, will speak about carbon sequestration in the Eastern Cape.
• Mr Andrew Muir and Mr Andrew Skowno will talk about tax incentives in support of protected areas expansion and securing threatened ecosystems.
• Mr Nelis Wolmarans will talk about anti-poaching efforts in the Eastern Cape.
• Dr Jenn Gush will give an Amakhala Game Reserve research update.
• Dr William Fowlds, a qualified wildlife veterinarian from Amakhala, will speak about wildlife disease management in the Eastern Cape.
• Ms Jeannine McManus will look at leopard spatial ecology in the Baviaanskloof.
• Professor Nigel Barker of the University’s Botany Department will present the Great Escarpment Research Programme.