Press Release: The Rotary Club of Umhlanga boosts capacity building for biodiversity conservation

“Developing southern hemisphere countries hold much of the world’s biodiversity, yet are sadly lacking well-trained conservation biologists who can advise on the management and conservation of these globally important resources.” That is the alarming message of Prof. Phil Hockey who is the Director of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town.

In response, the Rotary Club of Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, has committed bursary support for a Conservation Biology Masters student each year for the next two years at the FitzPatrick Institute.

The FitzPatrick Institute, which will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2010, recognized the need for building capacity in this field back in the early 1990s and, since 1993, has run a highly successful MSc Programme in Conservation Biology. Since its inception, the Programme has graduated some 200 students, of which 85% are employed in the conservation field. In the late 1990s, large numbers of African students were trained. Many of these ex students hold top jobs in the conservation arena.

The success of this programme was recognized in an analysis published in 2008 in the top journal Conservation Biology. This analysis identified the University of Cape Town as the leader in Conservation Science in the southern hemisphere, ranking equal with the fourth-rated university in the United States, and ahead of heavyweights such as Harvard, Stanford and Yale.

“The contribution of support for a Conservation Biology Masters student each year fits well with one of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga’s themes, ‘Save Planet Earth’ and thus we will value our partnership with the FitzPatrick Institute and ultimately want to help make a difference in securing South Africa’s precious natural assets,” says Greg Daniel, President Elect of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga.

Image: From left to right: Phil Hockey, Director of the FiztPatrick Institute & Greg Daniel, President Elect of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga. Photo: Jacqui Daniel.

Released 13 November 2009: Download Press Release