R3G MEMBERS (alphabetical order)
Professor Richard Cowling
Research Professor at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, is an A-rated National Research Foundation (NRF) scientist with over two decades of extensive experience in thicket and fynbos ecology and conservation. He has a keen interest in restoration and opportunities for payments for ecosystem services. He was instrumental in initiating research to make the case for carbon credits in thicket and pivotal in initiating the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Project (STRP).
Saskia Fourie
Coordinator of the Riparian Restoration Programme, she is a restoration ecologist, having worked for the past four years on the rehabilitation of degraded areas following clearing of alien invasive plants by WfW/DWAF. Her experience has helped pioneer the innovative riparian restoration project in the Kouga valley.
Dr. Anthony Mills
Soil scientist and ecologist. Anthony has conducted research on carbon sequestration, soil quality and ecology of African ecosystems since 1994, and is the primary author on 16 peer-reviewed scientific papers. His work has been crucial in identifying the potential link between thicket restoration and the carbon market. Because of his expertise in this field, he has been invited by the South African Designated National Authority (DNA) to become a member of the task group that advises the DNA on afforestation projects within the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Dr. Shirley Pierce Cowling
Communications, has co-authored and edited numerous books, scientific articles and reports. She developed the original Subtropical Thicket Ecological Ecosystem Programme (STEP) Handbook which integrated biodiversity into municipal spatial planning.
Professor Charlie Shackleton
Head of the Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University. Over the last three years he has been a member of the Annual Review Panel for the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme. He has considerable experience in large budget, multi-disciplinary programmes, resource valuation and rural livelihoods.
Dr. Ayanda Sigwela
Regional Ecologist, having worked for South African National Parks since 2003, he has gained broad experience in the restoration field. His work on thicket ecology led to an invitation for him to sit on the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Project Scientific Advisory Committee. He is key to ensuring engagement with government departments for the roll-out of restoration programmes. His particular focus is on initiating a programme for restoration of the coastal forests of Matiwane extending from the Mbashe River to Port St Johns.
