The start of the year also the new head of CapeNature assume his role and responsibilities.
Dr Ashley Naidoo, Chief Executive Officer, was appointed after a rigorous and extensive recruitment process conducted by the board.
He joined the entity after serving as the Chief Director for Oceans and Coasts Research at the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
Naidoo commenced his duties on 1 January.
He succeeded Dr Razeena Omar, who retired at the end of last year after serving in the role for a decade.
In his previous role Naidoo managed comprehensive ocean-science programmes encompassing biology, physics and chemistry, with a focus on the South African coastal and deep-sea ecosystems. He also previously served on the board of the South African National Space Agency, focusing on Earth-observation applications for the ocean environment.
Naidoo’s vision for CapeNature is deeply rooted in his belief in the essential transition from environmental science to policy and implementation. With a keen focus on governance, he acknowledges the entity’s exemplary procedures, stakeholders and connection with the people of the Western Cape.
Expressing his eagerness to delve into it, the new CEO envisions enhancing CapeNature’s relevance to the Western Cape community.
CapeNature has various reserves on the West Coast, including the Lambert’s Bay Bird Island Nature Reserve, Groot Wintershoek Wilderness area, Cederberg Wilderness area and the Rocherpan Nature Reserve.
He aspires to position the protected areas managed by the entity as more than just holiday destinations, but continuous conservation, educational and scientific resources, emphasising their potential to contribute significantly to climate change studies.
