Our dedicated team of researchers and practitioners aims to protect biodiversity across the African continent. The team combines expertise in ecology, zoology, genetics/genomics, field research, and policy to study wildlife species. From the vast savannas to dense rainforests, they collaborate with local communities, wildlife organisations, and governments to develop innovative, science-driven solutions that ensure a sustainable future for Africa’s iconic wildlife.
If you would like to join the team to help advance genetic management for species within your country or simply to find out more, please contact us – Click here.
Isa-Rita is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University (United Kingdom). Her interests are in evolutionary genetics and understanding how landscape and environmental features influence patterns of genetic diversity and structure, primarily in mammals. She also works at the policy-science interface aiming to incorporate genetic information into conservation decisions and management of wildlife. Isa-Rita is one of the coordinators of the African node of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Genetics Specialist Group (CGSG). She also holds an extraordinary lecturing position at the University of Pretoria (South Africa).
Tiffany is an Integrated Masters student supervised by Isa-Rita in the Department of Biosciences, Cardiff University (United Kingdom). She is currently focusing on integrating genetic indicators into conservation management and developing guidelines in collaboration with others. She has a background in conservation genetics and ecology.
Paulette is a Professor of Genetics in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). She has led the Molecular Ecology and Evolution Programme since 1999 and her main interest is in phylogeography of vertebrates, especially mammals, birds, freshwater and marine fish. She enjoys translational research in partnership with conservation organisations. She is a member of the African node of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group.
Deon is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). He is using ancient DNA to investigate how the genetic diversity of different African antelope and buffalo species has changed over the last 20,000 years or so, in relation to climate change and human activities. He obtained his PhD at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) in conservation genetics and is therefore keen to incorporate genetics into conservation practice and policies. He is a member of the of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group.
Anri is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pretoria, focusing on conservation genetics and genomics of terrestrial mammals. Her work is dedicated to preserving genetic diversity and safeguarding the genetic integrity of species. Ultimately, her research seeks to inform improved management strategies and conservation practices to protect the rich biodiversity of this megadiverse country.
Arrie is a researcher at the University of Pretoria. As a dedicated naturalist, he has a deep passion for nature and biodiversity. His primary focus is on vertebrates, particularly birds. As a geneticist, he is driven by a curiosity to explore variation at and below the species level, with a strong emphasis on genetic diversity. Through the study of genetics and genomics, he seeks to uncover the processes that have shaped the patterns observed in nature, contributing to a deeper understanding of evolutionary and ecological dynamics.
Jessica is a Principal Scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute. She focuses on applying evolutionary genetics and genomics to wildlife management and policy, especially genetic monitoring and landscape genetics, often using multidisciplinary approaches to study species adaptation and evolution. In recent years, she has concentrated on integrating genetic diversity into national and global policy. She also serves as the Genetic Lead for South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment, the main tool for tracking and reporting on the country’s biodiversity.
Ian is a career nature conservationist, based in the Scientific Services division of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as a Scientific Manager responsible for ecological advice. He serves on numerous conservation committees and is a member of several IUCN commissions and working groups. While having limited expertise in genetic methods, he uses genetic information daily to inform permit decision-making and species recovery programmes. Simplifying complex scientific understanding and publications into easy-to-understand guidelines for practitioners has been a passion for Ian.
Julia is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Freiburg (Germany) and her research focuses on conservation genetics and genomics of different taxa (e.g., bumble bees, birds and trees). Her projects range from local adaptation and comparative and landscape genomics to conservation genomics with a more applied conservation focus and their implementation into policy. She has recently become increasingly involved in the science-policy interface, especially focusing on the incorporation of genetic diversity in global species conservation assessments.
ConGen Africa is an initiative dedicated to the conservation and genetic management of African wildlife. Formed by the African section of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Specialist Group (CGSG), we aim to bring together researchers and conservation authorities from across the continent to develop and implement genetic guidelines to preserve biodiversity.
Our core mission revolves around safeguarding the genetic diversity of wildlife species to ensure their long-term health and survival. We recognise that genetic diversity is a fundamental part of biodiversity, influencing species resilience, adaptation, and evolutionary potential. Through our work, we aim to fill the gap that has often existed in conservation efforts – the oversight of genetics in translocation and management decisions for wildlife. By ensuring the preservation of genetic variation within and between populations, we help protect species from extinction and maintain their ability to adapt to environmental changes.
1. Developing species-specific guidelines that inform wildlife translocations while maintaining natural processes (e.g., gene flow). The guidelines ensure that translocation events mimic natural evolutionary processes, thereby avoiding genetic mixing that could harm species resilience and disrupt natural speciation processes, or mimic natural connectivity and gene flow where human-mediated habitat fragmentation and fenced reserves have disrupted such connections.
2. Working with conservation authorities and researchers to utilise genetic/genomic data to identify Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) within species. By identifying these units, we help inform decisions that maintain species diversity and long-term resilience.
3. Providing training to various stakeholders, including conservation practitioners and decision-makers, to describe and emphasise the importance of genetic diversity in wildlife management. Our goal is to ensure that all conservation efforts consider the genetic structure within species and the genetic diversity of populations. This will contribute to the long-term sustainability of populations and species.
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