Kirsti Nghidinwa appointed as Alternate Representative for CITES Plants Committee, Africa

Kirsti Nghidinwa, Conservation Scientist with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia and PhD Candidate at the Plant Conservation Unit (PCU), has recently been appointed as the Alternate Representative of the CITES Plants Committee in Africa (https://cites.org/eng/com/pc/member.php). Nominees were selected at CITES CoP17, which was held from 24 September to 5 October 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As an Alternate Representative, Kirsti would be working alongside Dr Beatrice Khayota (Kenya) to assist Prof. Ali Mahamane (Niger) and Dr Aurélie Koumba Pambo (Gabon) for the next few years. The Plants Committee deals with pressing challenges, including the regulation of cross-border trade in African tropical timber species, such as Big-Leaf Mahogany, and the ornamental trade in Malagasy succulents. These issues relate closely to Kirsti’s PhD research into the ecology of, and threats facing, Halfmens (Pachypodium namaquanum), an iconic succulent tree from the south western desert of Africa (read more at: http://www.pcu.uct.ac.za/kirsti-nghidinwa and http://www.pcu.uct.ac.za/news/trail-early-photographs-halfmens).

Kirsti says that she, “feels humbled by the confidence of the Namibian delegation in her to carry out this important task, and their decision at CoP17 to put her name forward as a candidate. Although the appointment feels like she is being thrown in the deep end of the ocean, this is an opportunity to develop her career and, more importantly, to contribute to the conservation of Africa's biodiversity”.

The PCU would like to congratulate Kirsti on this appointment. It is a wonderful achievement and we know that Kirsti’s dedication and enthusiasm will assist her greatly in this endeavour.