Biography
Mahlodi Tau is the Director of Biodiversity Mainstreaming at the South African National Biodiversity Institute. His responsibility involves championing the mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecological infrastructure into a range of developmental sectors including rural development, agriculture, biodiversity economy, and at the nexus of water and ecosystems. Key activities includes implementation of biodiversity conservation-compatible inclusive rural economic development; Strategic leadership on biodiversity stewardship portfolio; Making the case for biodiversity, ecological infrastructure in development; Knowledge brokering at the interface of science-policy-people-practice through convening of transdisciplinary social learning spaces; Strengthening the enabling environment for land governance (landscapes and livelihoods); Addressing global societal challenges through the promotion of sustainable land management practices at various landscapes. His current research interest is on advancing the social-ecological understanding of conservation and how does this drive interventions oriented towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Mahlodi holds an Msc in Grassland Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.