Namibia and KAZA: Conservation Without Borders

World Wildlife Fund is coming to

The Twin Cities!

Despite continued reports of poaching from around the world, stories of hope are emerging from southern Africa. Learn from WWF lead wildlife scientist, Dr. Robin Naidoo, about our work to help Namibia conserve half of its land and safeguard its species. He will also discuss Africa's longest land mammal migration and explain how WWF is using scientific analysis in the planning for the world's largest transboundary conservation area, the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Robin Naidoo, PhD
As lead wildlife scientist, Robin investigates the ecological and economic issues that impact wildlife conservation. His work, from mapping ecosystem services to monitoring animal migrations, places nature at the center of sustainable development and supports a future where species and people coexist.

Robin’s current research is largely focused on understanding how wildlife contributes to Namibia’s Community-Based Natural Resources Management program. In partnership with this highly successful program, Robin conducts research on whether and how healthy wildlife populations support the economic growth of local communities. This involves collaborations with the Namibian government and other partners on wildlife research and conservation, as well as on the economics of community-based conservation. In 2013, Robin led a team of researchers that discovered what is now thought to be Africa’s longest land mammal migration. Their groundbreaking study used satellite collars to document a migration of Burchell’s Zebra across Namibia and Botswana, highlighting the importance of transboundary conservation in this region.

Robin has conducted field work on various aspects of biodiversity conservation in North America, Asia and Africa, as well as in South America, where he was the director of research for a non-governmental organization in Paraguay. Following a Master’s degree focused on forest ecology, Robin pursued an interdisciplinary PhD in conservation biology and environmental economics where his field work integrated both ecological and economic angles in Uganda. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Paraguay, focusing on mapping the opportunity costs of conservation due to deforestation in the highly threatened Atlantic Forest ecoregion. His work is published widely in a variety of academic journals, including those devoted to conservation, ecology, economics and interdisciplinary issues.