Programme

Domitilla Raimondo is the Threatened Species Programme Manager at the South African National Biodiversity Institute. She is responsible for the species assessments for South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment. Domitilla has extensive experience assessing the threat status for South Africa’s animal and plant species, is the lead author of the “Red List of South African Plants” (2009) and has coordinated the Red List assessments for many animal groups. She is dedicated to ensuring that species information feeds into land use decision making. Domitilla is also involved in species conservation work internationally and Chairs the IUCN Species Survival Commissions’ Plant Conservation Committee. She is passionate about mainstreaming species information into development work and works across Africa to ensure technical transfer and capacity development takes place to mobilise biodiversity information needed to inform decision making.

Suvarna Parbhoo leads the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) citizen science programme in South Africa and is interested in expanding the citizen science network and partnerships. Currently, she is co-Chairs the IUCN Species Survival Commission southern African Plant Specialist Group for the 2021-2024 quadrennium and chairs the Botanical Society KZN Coastal Branch since 2017. She also assists with setting up the iNaturalist southern African citizen science community on behalf of SANBI.

Abstract

National Plant monitoring programme celebrates 20 years of inclusive citizen science participation

South Africa boasts three globally recognized biodiversity hotspots each hosting exceptional species richness – approximately 21,000 plant species, 60% of which are endemic. South Africa has received consistent investment in plant taxonomic research. In 2002, a comprehensive assessment of the threat status of its flora indicated that despite the high record of species documented, there was a lack of data required to accurately assess the rate of extinction of the flora. In response, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Botanical Society of South Africa partnered to establish a dedicated citizen science initiative, the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) programme, to train non-specialists to gather information on range restricted endemic and threatened species. The CREW programme provides an authentic set of objectives and has a variety of benefits for the citizen scientist – access to protected and undisturbed natural areas, plant collecting permits, plant identification workshops, scientific material and publications. CREW is probably the only citizen science programme globally that informs national resource governance by contributing to national plant conservation strategy targets, providing data to the national Red List of plants dataset, mainstreaming data into decision making, as well as conducting in situ and ex situ conservation practices. The programme supports Biodiversity Stewardship with site assessments and ongoing site surveys in both private and communal owned land. We collaborate with a host of partners to encourage the sustainable use of plants with focus on the medicinal plant trade and illegal trade of succulent species. Just before the pandemic, our data collection migrated from paper format to digital, using the iNaturalist application. This has allowed us to streamline our data management system as well as attract citizen scientists who observe threatened species in areas where we have not worked in. The migration was not an easy changeover for our mostly retired citizen scientists though we do host regular tutorials and have produced how-to videos to guide the process. Also, data has become the most valuable resource globally yet is still at a high cost in South Africa, making connectivity, especially but not limited to rural areas, a challenge for citizen
scientists. We have tested a few options have but not yet overcome this challenge.There is much discussion nationally about citizen scientists receiving a stipend for the hours contributed, we occasionally contribute to mileage costs for selected fieldtrips and provide 2-annual 3-day lesson-exchange workshops at no cost to our citizen scientists. As we celebrate our 20 th year, the CREW Programme maintains its identity and it will continue to be a mirror of the passionate people we are connected to as we monitor South Africa’s plants. CREW has made citizen science, and particularly, citizen botany, a reality for so many people and with so many direct benefits to the field of botany.