Building Biodiversity - The man tasked with protecting South Africa's natural wealth

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

There is a new face of South Africa’s mission to preserve its biodiversity - and the newly appointed CEO of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) holds the responsibility of protecting some of the country’s richest ecosystems.

Shonisani Munzhedzi has been newly appointed as CEO of SANBI, bringing with him a wealth of expertise in conservation and biodiversity management. In April, Cabinet approved the Board’s decision to appoint Munzhedzi as CEO, with both the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister, Makhotso Sotyu, welcoming the appointment. Dedicated to conservation, The SANBI is an entity of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. It contributes to South Africa’s sustainable development by facilitating access to biodiversity data, generating information and knowledge, building capacity, providing policy advice, showcasing and conserving biodiversity in its national botanical and zoological gardens.

Munzhedzi has been appointed amid a key public consultation process. The Revised National Biodiversity Framework 2019 to 2024, is an important policy instrument for the management and protection of species and ecosystems, is currently under public consultation, and SANBI is closely involved in the preparation of the Framework and a bioregional or biodiversity management plan. The new CEO brings a wealth of experience to SANBI. He most recently held the position of Deputy DirectorGeneral: Biodiversity and Conservation in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. He has held positions in various public service environment and conservation portfolios for more than 26 years, including in areas of Climate Change Adaptation, Conservation and Biodiversity Management.

Munzhedzi’s experience includes the post of Senior General Manager responsible for Environment and Tourism in the Limpopo Province, where he was responsible for the strategic management of disciplines such as conservation, protected areas management, waste management, scientific services, integrated environmental management, environmental impact management, enforcement and compliance, regulatory services and tourism planning. He has also held management positions at Joburg City Parks. He serves on the boards of the South Africa National Parks (SANParks), the African World Heritage Fund and the South African Wildlife College.

But Munzhedzi’s role will have a much bigger impact than simply managing a government department. SANBI’s work is key to the survival of the country’s immeasurable natural wealth. The organisation plays a key role in providing knowledge and information, giving policy support and advice, and engaging in ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation programmes and best practice models to manage biodiversity better.

Protecting SA’s natural splendour

South Africa boasts exceptional biodiversity – it is home to as much as 10% of the world’s plant species and 7% of its reptile, bird and mammal species, despite occupying only 2% of the world’s land surface area. The country also harbours 15% of the world’s marine species. But despite scoring so high on the biodiversity scorecard, much of the country’s flora and fauna is under threat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has estimated that as much as 10% of South Africa’s birds and frogs, 20% of its mammals and 13% of its plants are under threat. According to SANBI’s National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, a large portion of river ecosystems, vegetation types and marine areas face threats.

At least 16% of South Africa’s plants are threatened with extinction, the National Spatial Biodiversity Assessment has also found. One example is the Cape Floral Kingdom. Hosting just short of 40% of the country’s plant species, this region is both the smallest and most threatened of the world’s six floral kingdoms. An estimated 20% of all the plant species in this floral kingdom are threatened with extinction. It’s this natural splendour that SANBI works to protect. SANBI was established in 2004 under the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act. The organisation plays a leading role in South Africa’s national commitment to biodiversity management and works in partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the biodiversity sector, to lead the biodiversity research agenda.

Research remains central to SANBI’s work, especially relating to climate change and bioadaptation. The research arm of the organisation is aimed at informing climate change policy development and decision making by increasing access to appropriate scientific knowledge.

As South Africa re-evaluates its response to climate change over the coming decades, this research will be vital in not only protecting South Africa’s natural heritage, but potentially that of many other nations.