MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Great Brak River Conservancy’s chairperson, Scott Thomson, recently attended a workshop in George held by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS), an academic research group from the University of Oxford’s biology department.

The ICCS hosts the Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN) each year, providing researchers with an opportunity to hone their skills and build networks.

This year’s ICN was held at the George Campus of the Nelson Mandela University and the Wilderness Hotel between 6 and 10 October.

Thomson said he was invited to attend along with researchers from across the globe who all spoke on various topics over the four days.

According to the ICCS’s website, the ICN focused on three different research themes. 

The first theme was advancing inclusive conservation through intersectionality and interdisciplinary research, and that “the biodiversity crisis demands interdisciplinary research addressing the complex socio-ecological dynamics of conservation challenges and how to address them”.

The second theme looked at navigating conflicts in area-based conservation. 

The second theme looked at navigating conflicts in area-based conservation, which, according to the ICCS’s website, sought to critically examine the “multiple dimensions of conflicts in area-based conservation: from the politics of territory and access to the lived experiences of communities on the ground”.

The final theme was just conservation: reimagining equity, diversity and inclusion in conservation careers. This is the topic on which Thomson was one of the speakers.

He said he also spoke about how people on the ground can give input into conservation research. 

He added that the Great Brak River Conservancy was also able to lead its ICN group on the Wolwedans Dam Trail for an outdoor activity.

To read more about the ICN and its themes, visit its website. 

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