Friday 19 June 2020

Karoo BioGaps Project wraps up

The FBIP and SANBI is pleased to announce that the Karoo BigGaps Project has come to an end.
The aim of the Karoo BioGaps Project was to assemble foundational species data in the Karoo region.
This was done by undertaking new fieldwork, digitising and georeferencing historical data found in South Africa’s museums and herbaria.
It also involved sequencing tissue samples to obtain DNA barcodes, compiling information for species pages, and conducting Red List assessments for certain species.
Through this work a better understanding was gained on which species were widespread, and which were very rare and in need of protection.
Hence it was possible to determine which habitats in the Karoo would be sensitive to proposed future changes in land use and development.
The project’s Final Report has been submitted to the National Research Foundation (NRF) in accordance with the FBIP Framework guidelines.

Thank you’s

The Karoo BioGaps Project was undertaken from 2016 to 2019 and involved over 20 institutions led by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.
The Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) thanks all of the people who were involved in the Karoo BioGaps Project.
These include the landowners, scientists, specimen curators, digitisers, georeferencers and people who have liked our page and those who have interacted.
Articles reporting on findings and the highlights of the project will be published on the FBIP website and be shared on FBIP social media pages.