WHY?

Understanding is the foundation of effective management. In an era where natural environments, ecosystems, and species face growing and unprecedented threats, our research aims to uncover how these systems function and how they are impacted. By generating data-driven insights, we help develop practical, economically viable solutions for conservation challenges.

Our research provides evidence-based tools for decision-makers—ensuring that policies and management practices are grounded in science and produce the greatest possible positive impact.

WHAT?

Our research focuses on how ecosystems respond to different land-use and management strategies. We:

• Investigate the ecological impacts of human activities
• Explore effective methods for reducing human-wildlife conflict
• Test tools and approaches for expanding conservation beyond protected areas
• Develop and promote ethical and sustainable land-use practices

Ultimately, our work informs best practices for biodiversity conservation on both private and public lands.

WHERE?

We operate across a vast and diverse region—over 7 million hectares—spanning across the rainforest of the Eastern Cape, to the semi-arid  desert of the Northern Cape, through the fynbos mountains of the Western Cape. Our fieldwork covers some of the most ecologically significant and threatened landscapes in South Africa.

This extensive range allows us to study biodiversity across varied ecosystems, land uses, and conservation contexts—making our research both comprehensive and highly applicable.