Skip to main content

Nelsiwe Mpapane

Nelsiwe Mpapane is a junior scientist with SANParks in the Garden Route section. She holds a B-Tech qualification in Nature Conservation from the Nelson Mandela University, George Campus. 

Nelsiwe has a strong interest in human-nature interactions, environmental education and indigenous knowledge that flows within communities. She has been actively involved in spaces that educate about climate change, encourage science careers within the youth and brings awareness about ethical environmental relationships.     

Nelsiwe is also currently enrolled in her second year MSc degree, where her study is focused on exploring cultural ecosystem services that flow in Mountain Zebra National Park. Her interest are grounded in qualitative research techniques that allow for self-expression and promote learning and personal development. Her future research aspirations are embedded in broadening the thinking and scope about indigenous people’s relations with nature, she believes that some of the greatest environmental solutions are linked with acknowledging that people and nature are interlinked and should never be seen as mutually exclusive.  

Beyond work and studies, she also enjoys socializing, site seeing, photography and great meals! 

Nelsiwe Mpapane, MSc


Nelsiwe is currently enrolled in her second year MSc degree, where her study is focused on exploring cultural ecosystem services that flow in Mountain Zebra National Park.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Zaid Railoun

Zaid Railoun holds an MSc (Cum Laude) in Conservation Ecology from the University of Stellenbosch and a Honours in Environmental Science from the University of the Western Cape. His research focused on nutrient cycling and resorption efficiencies of invasive Acacia (Black Wattle) and co-occurring fynbos plants in riparian areas and the subsequent impacts on macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance. This research was done on a greater Water Research Commision project with his good friend (Kenwin Wiener, seen in the picture).  Zaid has previously worked at Stellenbosch University as a Scientific researcher in the Faculty of Natural Science by writing future proposals for the Department of Animal Science. He's current role is one of a "Research and Development Scientist" at Investment Fund Africa, where he writes and assists in project packaging as well as giving insight into business plans from a Scientific point of view.  Zaid, enjoys ideation and sees himself as a vision
1 comment
Read more

Megan Simons

Megan Simons holds a MSc (Cum Laude) in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from the University of the Western Cape. Her research focused on understanding the ecosystem functioning, fire and plant ecology within climatically sensitive with high biodiversity arid and semi-arid Mountain Renosterveld shrublands. She has as previously worked for SANParks as the West Coast National Park Buffer Zone Coordinator under the UNDP/GEF 5 project entitled "Improving Management Effectiveness of the Protected Areas Network"  project which focused expanding the Protected Areas Network and land-use planning to ensure ecological sustainability within the buffer zone. Thus, she was responsible for the consultation and declaration process of a Protected Environment, south of the national park. She recently started working for CapeNature as the Land Use Scientist in which she will provide scientific input on development applications, engage with relevant policy and planning, and identify applic
4 comments
Read more

Lindsay Lewis

My name is Lindsay Lewis from Wellington in the Western Cape, I am currently in my final year for an Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation at UNISA studying the fire regime of Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. I am a born nature lover and always wanted to live and learn in nature, I have been privileged to work as Conservation Services officer at Vrolijkheid Nature reserve, Section Ranger at Agulhas National Park and Marine Ranger at De Hoop Nature Reserve at. This helped me to gain diverse knowledge about theWestern Cape’s unique and magnificent biodiversity.  I currently work as a nature conservationist at Drakenstein Municipality focusing on management the Nature Reserve’s and natural landscapes. By enhancing the biodiversity value through projects like fire management and alien vegetation clearing projects. The Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve is my home and here I engage with local communities’ public schools, volunteers and environmental groups. Environmental education is key to ensu
3 comments
Read more