Science in SANParks | Stef Freitag-Ronaldson
Stef Freitag-Ronaldson is the head of SANParks Savanna and Arid Research group. Her job is to oversee and provide broad direction to work being done by a team of in house scientists, biotechnicians and support staff across parks such as Kruger, Mapungubwe, Marakele, Karoo, Mountain Zebra, Kalahari and Addo Elephant National Parks
These parks are really diverse ecologically, but also in terms of their key threats, challenges and opportunities, and they are spread over a huge geographical area. We chat to her about her unique occupation.
Stef Freitag-Ronaldson – Head of SANParks Savannah and Arid Research group
How does being a SANParks scientist differ from other fields of science?
As a scientist working for a National Park, you are constantly bridging the gap between pure and applied science. The research that is generated is used to inform management decisions and underpin policy making. It also has to take into account the complexities of a National Park, issues such ecosystem behaviours, the balance between human and wildlife requirements and ethical considerations.
So while we need to ensure that we are producing credible science that is peer reviewed and published as you would in an academic setting, it also needs to be credible in the eyes of park managers and other stakeholders to whom we are accountable and address the real on-the-ground need and challenges.
What are the best aspects of your job?
That’s hard to answer, as almost every aspect is great!
I really get a kick out of facilitating others to produce cutting edge research and then see this research improve the way that we manage our National Parks.
I also enjoy the challenge of “de-jargonising” the science we are generating and translating it into an accessible format that park managers, decision-makers, stakeholders and the wider public will understand.
Being based in Kruger is a dream come true for any scientist, Kruger attracts great minds from all over the world, meaning we get to collaborate on some of the most exciting and cutting edge projects in conservation. Plus, I get to raise my family in one of the most incredible environments on earth surrounded by wonderful people.
Have there been any stand out moments?
I have worked here for 18 years so there have been many!
I guess being here to witness how the park copes and adapts to natural phenomena like the 2000 floods stands out. Along with watching Kruger’s Science Network Meeting grow from very humble beginnings into an internationally acclaimed Scientific Conference. Then having our group involved in cutting edge projects like the LIDAR work has revolutionized the way that we can monitor vegetation change in our parks by allowing us to conduct studies on a massive scale through remote sensing.
If you didn’t work as a scientist for SANParks, what would you do?
I don’t think I would be a scientist, certainly not in academia.
I would work with young people, as they are our future and the next custodians of our planet. Perhaps helping them prepare for the future challenges they will face. Teaching the leadership skills they will need in order to deal with the conservation decisions that will have to be made in the future if we are to be a sustainable society.
Is there anything left for you to see in Kruger, or have you seen it all?
There is always something new and exciting waiting to be discovered. The same place under slightly different conditions changes dramatically and it is this unpredictability that ensures you will constantly have different experiences when you visit or even live in Kruger.
For instance, it looks like we could be moving into a drought cycle. This is one of those natural phenomena that will have a dramatic impact and something I have not witnessed. It is hard to imagine the magnitude of change there will be, both ecologically and in the level of public pressure created by the inevitable animal die-offs. It is something which will affect the Park dramatically and we simply have to learn from these changes, recognising that they are natural cycles.
Do you have a favourite getaway in the park?
We recently did our first wilderness trail in the park and it was incredible. We chose the Mpongolo River in the north of the Park. While this is not an incredibly game-rich area, the environment, with its massive riparian trees along the river is simply incredible. There is a feeling of isolation, where you can leave all your cares behind, which makes these trails special and good for the soul. It was such a privilege to be walking through a wilderness area and something we will definitely do again.
Finally, what makes the Lowveld so special?
The Lowveld gets into your soul and doesn’t let you go. The second you leave the Highveld you know you have come home. The amazing vistas, that unique Lowveld smell and the incredible array of plant and animal species. There is something truly African and very liberating about the Lowveld.
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