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111 Pages·2011·2.74 MB·English

SANBI
Biodiversity for Life i

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SANBI
Biodiversity for Life
For submission in terms of the Public Finance
Management Act, No. 1 of 1999
August 2011
ISSN 0121-7460
We acknowledge the photographic contributions of
SANBI staff, fellow researchers and conservationists
with appreciation.
Copies of this report are available from:
SANBI
Private Bag X7, Claremont, 7735
Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
or
Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001
Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Visit our website at www.sanbi.org
Compiled and edited by Liesa Jossel
www.madeplain.co.za
Designed by David Davidson
www.davidsdesign.co.za
Printed by Shumani Print World on recycled paper
SANBI
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL
BIODIVERSIT Y INSTITUTE
Biodiversity for Life
ANNUAL
REPORT
2010|11
SOME USEFUL Acronyms

ABRD Applied Biodiversity Research Division IDP Integrated Development Plan
BCSD Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development IYB International Year of Biodiversity
BGCI Botanic Gardens Conservation International M & E Monitoring and Evaluation
BGIS Biodiversity Geographic Information System MoA Memorandum of Agreement
BHCD Biodiversity Human Capital Development MoU Memorandum of Understanding
BHCDS Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy NAMBAF Namakwa Biodiversity Advisory Forum
BIM Biodiversity Information Management Directorate NBA National Biodiversity Assessment
BotSoc Botanical Society of South Africa NBG National Botanical Garden
CAPE Cape Action for People and the Environment NDF non detriment findings
CBO Community Based Organisation NEHAWU National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (South Africa)
CCBA Climate Change and Bioadaptation Division NEMBA National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act
CFR Cape Floristic Region NEMPAA National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora NFEPA National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas
CoCT City of Cape Town NRF National Research Foundation
CoJ City of Johannesburg NRM Natural Resource Management
COP Conference of the Parties NWCS National Wetland Classification System
CREW Custodians for Rare and Endangered Wildflowers OHS Occupational Health and Safety
DEA Department of Environmental Affairs PES Payment for Ecosystem Services
DEA & DP Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning POSA Plants of Southern Africa
DG Director General PRECIS PRE (code for National Herbarium, Pretoria) Computer Information System
DHE Department of Higher Education SABIF South African Biodiversity Information Facility
DoA Department of Agriculture SAEOL South African Encyclopaedia of Life
DPW Department of Public Works SAEON South African Earth Observation Network
DST Department: Science and Technology (South Africa) SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute
DWA Department of Water Affairs SATOL South African Tree of Life
EAP Employee Assistance Programme SDF Spatial Development Framework
ECPB Eastern Cape Parks Board SEDA Small Enterprise Development Agency
ECPTA Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency SETA Sector Education and Training Authority
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment SK Succulent Karoo
EPWP Expanded Public Works Programme SKEP Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme
GBIF Global Biodiversity Information Facility SUPAR Sustainable Use and Protection Agricultural Resources
GCP Gardens Conservation Programme TMF Table Mountain Fund
GDARD Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development TOPS Threatened or Protected Species
GEF Global Environment Facility UNEP-WCMC United Nations Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring
HCD Human Capital Development Centre
HDI Historically Disadvantaged Individual WRC Water Research Commission
HRD Human Resources Development WWD World Wetlands Day
IAIAsa International Association for Impact Assessment (South Africa) WWF-SA World Wildlife Fund-South Africa
SANBI
Biodiversity for Life
s Our Vision, Mission and Values 1
Report of the Chairperson 2
t
Report of the Chief Executive Officer 3
n
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION 4
Understanding biodiversity and bio-adaptation to climate change
e
through research 5
Creating models for integrated biodiversity management 9
t
Conserving biodiversity through our National Botanical Gardens 13
n
Providing policy advice and support to government 15
Building capacity and sharing information 18
o Developing effective systems and processes and building our
human resources 22
C KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 25
Partners 46
Donors 47
Branches, Divisions and Directorates 48
Organogram 49
FINANCIAL INFORMATION 50
Statement of Responsibility of the Board 50
Report of the Accounting Authority 51
Corporate Governance Statement 53
Report of the Audit Committee 57
Report of the Auditor-General 58
Annual Financial Statements 60
Notes to the Annual Financial Statements 65
Materiality and Significance Framework 104
OUR Mandate
SANBI’s mandate comes from the (h) must establish, maintain, protect and preserve (ii) the identification of bioregions and the contents
collections of plants in national botanical gardens and of any bioregional plans;
National Environmental
in herbaria; (iii) other aspects of biodiversity planning;
Management Biodiversity Act (i) may establish, maintain, protect and preserve (iv) the management and conservation of biological
collections of animals and micro-organisms in diversity; and
No. 10 of 2004: appropriate enclosures; (v) the sustainable use of indigenous biological
(j) must collect, generate, process, coordinate and resources;
disseminate information about biodiversity and the (q) on the Minister’s request, must advise him or her
Section 11. Functions
sustainable use of indigenous biological resources on the declaration and the management of, and
(1) The Institute
and establish and maintain databases in this regard; development in, national protected areas;
(a) must monitor and report regularly to the Minister on
(k) must allow, regulate or prohibit access by the public (r) must perform any other duties
(i) the status of the Republic’s biodiversity
to national botanical gardens, herbaria and other (i) assigned to it in terms of this Act; or
(ii) the conservation status of all listed threatened or
places under the control of the Institute and supply (ii) as may be prescribed.
protected species and listed ecosystems; and
plants, information, meals or refreshments or render (2) When the Institute in terms of subsection (1) gives advice
(iii) the status of all listed invasive species; other services to visitors; on a scientific matter, it may consult any appropriate
(b) must monitor and report regularly to the Minister on (l) must undertake and promote research on organ of state or other institution which has expertise in
the impact of any genetically modified organism that indigenous biodiversity and the sustainable use of that matter.
has been released into the environment including indigenous biological resources; 48. (3) The Institute must
the impact on non-target organisms and ecological
(m) must coordinate and implement programmes for (a) assist the Minister and others involved in the
processes, indigenous biological resources and the
(i) the rehabilitation of ecosystems; and preparation of the National Biodiversity Framework, a
biological diversity of species used for agriculture;
(ii) the prevention, control or eradication of listed bioregional plan or a biodiversity management plan
(c) must act as an advisory and consultative body on invasive species; to comply with subsection (1); and
matters relating to biodiversity to organs of state and (b) make recommendations to organs of state or
(n) must coordinate programmes to involve civil society in
other biodiversity stakeholders; municipalities referred to in subsection (2); align
(i) the conservation and sustainable use of
(d) must coordinate and promote the taxonomy of their plans referred to in that subsection with the
indigenous biological resources; and
South Africa’s biodiversity; National Biodiversity Framework and any applicable
(ii) the rehabilitation of ecosystems;
(e) must manage, control and maintain all national bioregional plan.
(o) on the Minister’s request, must assist him or her
botanical gardens; 60. (2) The Institute must provide logistical, administrative
in the performance of duties and the exercise of
(f) must manage, control and maintain powers assigned to the Minister in terms of this Act; and financial support for the proper functioning of
(i) herbaria; and the scientific authority.
(p) on the Minister’s request, must advise him or her on
(ii) collections of dead animals that may exist; any matter regulated in terms of this Act, including
(g) must establish facilities for horticulture display, (i) the implementation of this Act and any
environmental education, visitor amenities and international agreements affecting biodiversity
research; which are binding on the Republic;
Biodiversity richness for all South Africans OUR Vision
1
Ukunotha kweZemvelo (Biodiversity) kwabo
Biodiversity richness for all South Africans.
bonke abantu baseNingizimu neAfrika
OUR Mission
Bohumi bja hlago go ma-Afrika Borwa
’n Biodiversiteitsrykdom vir alle
To champion the exploration, conservation, sustainable use,
Suid-Afrikaners
appreciation and enjoyment of South Africa’s exceptionally rich
Upfumesa ha thangalelano ya zwitshilaho biodiversity for all people.
swa va-Africa Tshipembe OUR Values

Ubuntu – Harnessing, caring, sharing and being at one with all
creation
Growth – Nurturing and empowering teams and individuals to
grow and reach their true potential
Respect and Tolerance – Creating open, honest relationships built
on trust, mutual respect, dignity and fairness and valuing and
accepting individuals and diversity
Excellence – Providing service excellence through passion and
professionalism
Accountability – Taking pride and responsibility in our work and
caring for our environment and communities
Togetherness – Through collaboration we change the world.
Report of the Chairperson
2
The International Year of Biodiversity 2010 saw SANBI’s the Second National Communication for Climate Change Appreciation for an interesting and challenging
core business make significant inroads into mainstream shows the detrimental impact of climate change and the
term
discourse and it has been encouraging to see SANBI’s behavioural adaptations we need to make to ensure the
profile grow significantly over the past 12 months. survival of the planet. It has been a pleasure to serve on the Board. My term has
been an interesting one, filled with highlights, challenges
As the Chairperson of the Board, it has been rewarding Furthermore, the very real contributions that biodiversity
and opportunities. SANBI is an institute that performs
to be involved in the Institute’s transformation from can make to job creation, food security, the delivery of
consistently well, and its excellent work can – if fully
a narrow botanical focus to a broader biodiversity services such as clean water and air need to be highlighted
harnessed – benefit the nation in many worthwhile ways.
mandate. In the year under review, this transformation, and communicated by the sector in a way that is deeply
building on the foundation laid down over the past compelling and that stimulates positive action. This is a tall
three years, was very clearly evidenced by SANBI’s order, but if not achieved, biodiversity will continue to be a
various outputs. vague and distant concept for most of our people.
Sharing lessons in biodiversity to conserve this
Mr Thamsanqa Sokutu, Chairperson of the Board, South
invaluable asset
African National Biodiversity Institute
Biodiversity is such a broad term. It encompasses all life,
including species, ecosystems, and landscapes. It also
importantly includes people and our daily interactions,
inherent connections with our immediate environments, and
the social, spiritual and economic value we obtain from the
natural world.
Some of SANBI’s most interesting work in the past year has
been in sharing valuable lessons on what we – humanity
– can do to conserve our biodiversity, and in appreciating
what a valuable natural capital asset we have. The Institute’s
research findings, tools (such as maps and lists), policy advice
and expertise all contribute to the pool of knowledge and
information required to ensure that our nation’s biodiversity
is safeguarded in a sustainable way for the benefit of present
and future generations.
Bringing biodiversity issues to the notice of
decision makers
SANBI and the biodiversity sector as a whole still have much
to do by way of ensuring that conservation biodiversity
becomes recognised by decision makers as a national
Members of the Board of SANBI, left to right: Prof. P Omara-Ojungu, Mr S Somyo, Mr F Mketeni, Mr T Frost, Dr T Abrahamse (CEO), Mr T Sokutu
imperative. For instance, the work that SANBI has done in (Chairperson), Dr P Hanekom. Not present, inset, left to right: Ms K Montgomery, Ms M Pyoos, Ms T Dingaan.
Report of the CEO
3
This year has been busy, productive and exciting. It was a process, and setting up a management committee. We Products such as the Biodiversity Advisor website represent
year in which we performed extremely well despite some ended the year with a combined Relationship Building years of collaborative research, knowledge management and
very real challenges. We learnt to do ‘more with less’, Exercise and Sustainable Transformation Action Plan. consultation.
adapted when necessary, showed great resourcefulness,
Financial constraints meant budget deficit management The launch of the Biodiversity for Development publication
and delivered on our broad and complex mandate,
and continued austerity measures, with a downsizing of the was attended by Minister Edna Molewa, who had been in
which includes giving support in a number of ways to the
top structure of the organogram, a voluntary retirement office for just 12 days at the time.
Department of Environmental Affairs.
opportunity given, moving permanent staff to projects, the
The many checklists and publications we produced are an
Spreading the biodiversity message downsizing of education and absorbing Urban Conservation
indication that SANBI has transformed into a biodiversity
into the national mainstreaming programme.
2010 was declared the International Year of Biodiversity by Institute.
the United Nations, a wonderful opportunity for us, as a Some of SANBI’s highlights
Growing the organisation and respecting our
biodiversity institute, to get involved and bring awareness
mandate with limited resources
to a wide range of people. Our participation began with This year saw the positive effects of the groundwork done
a national launch in SANBI’s Pretoria Garden with the then in previous years in terms of organisational development, The demands and pressures on public entities increase on
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, and continued evidenced by a growth in knowledge management, a yearly basis and SANBI is no exception. The expectation
with many events hosted throughout our nine Gardens, managed network, mandate driven research and policy is to be all things to all people with not much increase in
which over a million visitors enjoyed during the year. guidance. Some signature events included: resources. The trick is to try and serve expectations as much
as possible while keeping within our legal mandate and
Our work was brought to the attention of the public through • the Human Capital Development Skills Summit, which
agreed corporate strategic plan.
extensive media coverage on a number of stories, such as brought together a large number of key practitioners,
the discovery of Moraea vuvuzela, (so named during the FIFA institutions and organisations to deepen the SANBI I would like to acknowledge the SANBI Board for their
World Cup!), our work in protecting cycads from the threat of mandate driven strategy for the sector support, the senior management team who have shown
extinction, and the launch of a very important book on the great leadership and maturity during this year, and of course
environmental impacts of GM Maize in South Africa. • our role in the Report on the Natural History Collections the clever and hardworking staff of SANBI.
of South Africa process, for which we assessed almost
Finding solutions to internal and budget I end with a new catch phrase which was inspired by our
100 biodiversity collections
new values . . .
challenges
• publication of the first monitoring framework for uSANBI, uGREAT!
Internally, the challenges of the previous year subsided,
genetically modified maize, the culmination of a five-
and union relations normalised. The Technical Assistance
year collaboration between South Africa and Norway
Unit of the National Treasury helped us finish our first and
second phases of SANBI’s Sustainable Transformation • finalisation of the Second National Communications
Initiative and identified leadership, shared vision and values, report for the United Nations Framework Convention
and communication and consultation as key challenges for on Climate Change, which is the foundation for the
us to continue addressing. We invested much energy into
White Paper on Climate Change in South Africa
receiving feedback from our employees on solutions to Dr Tanya Abrahamse
these challenges, and implemented changes accordingly, • growing international recognition from a host of Chief Executive Officer
including leadership training, a shared vision and values prestigious international organisations. South African National Biodiversity Institute
4
Performance
Information