Prof Klaus Kellner from the North-West University (NWU) was recently appointed by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, to serve on the Conservation Advisory Board.

With close to 40 years of experience in academia and in the field of natural and agricultural sciences, he has been described as the perfect man for the job.

Prof Kellner, who is a vegetation ecology lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences and a researcher at the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, will serve on the board from 2020 to 2025.

In this role he will study and possibly revise the Regulations and Amendment of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (CARA), 1983 (ACT No. 43 OF 1983).

 “I feel honoured for being acknowledged for all the hard work that I have done over the last couple of years at national and international level,” says Prof Kellner.

He says he aims to provide input on how to conserve South Africa’s natural resources and decrease any factors that may negatively impact or cause harm to the species and their environment. He also wants to focus on how the conservation of natural resources can be used to enhance the well-being of the people using it.

According to Prof Kellner this appointment will also help promote collaboration between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as private organisations and companies at national and international level.

“This will also help to secure funding to carry out projects in the arid- and semi-arid environments of South Africa in our quest to conserve our natural resources,” he adds.

Prof Klaus Kellner will serve on the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries’ Conservation Advisory Board from 2020 to 2025.