CapeNature was again very well represented at this year’s Conservation Symposium and staff presented a range of informative talks showcasing our work in the conservation sector. Hosted in hybrid form this international event saw over 400 delegates registered from all over the world. CapeNature is a proud sponsor and partner of the event and values the opportunity that was provided to share examples of our work in the conservation sector at a provincial level and to participate in the many lively virtual Q&A sessions and chat rooms which facilitated high levels of interaction across provinces and organizations and continents!

The Conservation Symposium is a platform to facilitate the sharing of ideas and lessons, and for the co-creation of solutions to contemporary conservation issues in Africa. It serves as a bridge between conservation practitioners, scientists, and policymakers to solve real-world problems and integrates a broad range of disciplines in a meaningful way, creating and strengthening connections both within and between disciplines. The Symposium allows for researchers to demonstrate the relevance of their work in addressing real-world conservation problems, and to identify new applied research opportunities and directions. It also provides a platform for training and skills development for conservation science and monitoring. The accessibility to the event included Virtual Hubs which enabled access for those in remote areas with limited internet connectivity.

CapeNature staff contributed several talks including a focus on the Western Cape State of Conservation Report of 2021, the new Western Cape Protected Area Expansion Strategy, Integrated Planning in Freshwater Ecosystems, CapeNature’s newly developed Species Prioritisation Framework and new information on a little-known species of beetle.

The website for the Conservation Symposium is: www.conservationsymposium.com.