South Africa is well known for its iconic terrestrial species such as elephants, giraffes, and lions; after all, the country has more than 290 conservation parks and is home to almost 300 mammal species, about 860 bird species and 8,000 plant species.
But the country’s waters also teem with life, from the great white shark to the hemichordate, a worm-like invertebrate that’s found only in South African waters and could be a game-changer in the fight against cancer. Encompassing one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world, South African waters harbor approximately 15% of the world’s marine species and are the site of the biggest annual migration on the planet, the annual sardine run.
Ambassador Mathu Joyini, the first woman to serve as South Africa’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, is working to ensure that science and equity remain front and center as negotiations for a high seas treaty at the U.N. near completion.
