Insights from the G20 RIWG Seminar and Workshop in South Africa
On 28 and 29 of May 2025, the South African Node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (SANBI-GBIF) and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) hosted a 2-day seminar and workshop at the University of Mpumalanga in Mbombela, aimed at “Developing Global Collaborations to Support Museums and Natural History Collections”. This was crafted within the framework of the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group outcomes. This event brought together more than 60 global participants and was considered a timely and strategic opportunity to address one of the most foundational elements of biodiversity science: the collections that underpin our understanding of the natural world.
This year, the South African presidency is leading the G20. The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union, and the African Union (AU). It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. The inclusion of the AU (representing more than 50 countries) as a full G20 member is a turning point for amplifying Africa’s voice in global forums.
SANBI’s Leadership provided welcome and opening remarks at the Seminar and Workshop
This G20 Seminar and Workshop, at its core, is about partnerships. It’s about action. We recognise that some of the largest Natural History Collections (NHCs) and associated Research Infrastructures reside in the Global North, with much of the world’s high biodiversity regions occurring in the South, which remains a major barrier to connecting much of the world with its natural heritage, exacerbating the societal wrongs of colonial history in museum science. Through this Seminar aimed at Global Collaboration, we aimed to ensure that natural history collections – many of which reside in institutions across the Global South — are empowered, accessible, digitised, and integrated into the global scientific infrastructure. It was also an ideal opportunity to strengthen and elevate the challenges and opportunities in NHCs, which is at the heart of SANBI’s mandate, and a core focus of the Foundational Biodiversity Science Division, and to align our institutional responsibilities to the theme of the G20 “Science, Technology and Innovation for Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”.
This 2-day event brought together leading voices from South Africa, other African nations, and G20 countries, including Natural History Collections experts and Research Leaders, to spotlight the transformative role of Natural History Collections (NHCs) in science, innovation, and sustainable development. The organising team included representatives of SANBI-GBIF, the Natural Science Collections Facility, GBIF, Iziko South African Museum, and the Natural History Museum of London.
Panel discussions supporting conversations on the a. “The imperative for action from the perspective of science-policy & funders and b. Meeting 21st Century Challenges
SANBI CEO Mr. Shonisani Munzhedzi opened the Seminar by affirming South Africa’s commitment to strengthening NHCs as enablers of collaboration, research, and discovery, followed by Dr. Joe Miller, Executive Secretary of GBIF, who underscored the urgency of global data-sharing. Dr. Parker-Allie, who is leading the deliverable on “Biodiversity Information for Sustainable Development”, in collaboration with GBIF as a Knowledge Partner, as part of the G20 RIWG efforts, reinforced the value of open science and Biodiversity Informatics, indicating that “At the heart of biodiversity science lies data — the records, specimens, and knowledge that tell the story of life on Earth. Biodiversity informatics enables us to mobilise and share this data at scale, transforming static collections into dynamic infrastructure for science, innovation, and sustainable development. Developing Centres focused on Biodiversity Informatics is essential to build capacity and respond to the biodiversity crisis.”
The first day was marked by a series of informative presentations and panel discussions by experts in the NHCs field, shedding light on the different successes and challenges that institutions face. Discussions focused on building collaboration and rebalancing asymmetries between the Global North and South, and on the use of collections to advance innovative technological infrastructure while growing human capacity. The need for advancement in NHCs was reiterated by many who took to the podium, citing the socioeconomic impact they have and how they influence the science-policy interface; providing crucial data in understanding biodiversity and climate change impacts. The day concluded with a sunset-guided safari and braai at the Kruger National Park, providing an informal platform for cultural exchange and deepening global connections.
Group discussions supporting the development of the Mpumalanga Roadmap for Global Collaboration supporting Natural History Collections (NHCs)
Day two focused on deepening the conversations from the Seminar and went into a more purpose-driven, participatory Workshop, designed to identify short, medium, and long-term collaborative opportunities that will inform a strategic Roadmap for strengthening Museums and NHCs globally. Opened by Dr Theressa Frantz, SANBI’s Head of Branch, the workshop used a mix of keynote discussion starters, interactive formats, and collaborative reflection. Participants explored themes such as: 1. new roles for old institutions, 2. Developing networks to support biodiversity data mobilisation, and building inclusivity and transdisciplinary capacity. To further address aspects of inclusivity, and colonial legacies into biodiversity science, the agenda included a session dealing with Indigenous Knowledge. Here, Dr. Wendy Black from Iziko Museums of South Africa indicated “the inclusion of indigenous knowledge must go beyond simply adding it as an additional layer in scientific datasets, but rather that there needs to be an ethical integration of indigenous knowledge systems, which is not extractive. Responsible integration requires relationship-building, community consultation and consent, co-authorship, and the recognition of knowledge sovereignty and data ownership”. Dr. Joe Miller also reinforced that GBIF is taking key steps in supporting indigenous data governance and indicated that GBIF is establishing a Task Force on Indigenous Data Governance, which is represented by Dr. Wayne Florence from Iziko Museums of South Africa.
Keynote from Mr. Edwin van Huis, Director General, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, President, Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF)
A powerful keynote was delivered by Mr. Edwin van Huis on redefining the role of natural history institutions through policy and industry indicating that ”it’s through governments and the industrialized world that we can effectively fight a biodiversity crisis”. This talk highlighted the need for scientists to engage the business and banking sector to elevate biodiversity as part of the economy. A forward-looking session led by Dr. Vince Smith (Natural History Museum London) and Dr. Joe Miller explored the integration of e-infrastructure and shared platforms, partnerships, the use of artificial intelligence, and advances in data mobilisation mechanisms, to position NHCs towards a more digital future. The day culminated in a facilitated open space, collaborative prototyping, and a closing circle that captured key insights and commitments. The outcomes of this highly participatory process aimed to catalyse the development of the “Mpumalanga Roadmap for Advancing Global Collaboration in Natural History Collections”, anchored in equity, innovation, and shared global responsibility. The Roadmap will be presented at the G20 Research and Innovation Working Group Meeting and will be for inclusion in the Ministerial Meeting in September 2025. This will form part of the Pretoria Package and will be referenced in the Ministerial Declaration.
“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”
— Baba Dioum, Senegalese forestry engineer, 1968
Dr. Minoli Appalasamy, Mr. Khanya Ntondini, and Sibusiso Mkhulisi are thanked for their significant contributions to this meeting.
The SANBI-GBIF Team, Dr. Minoli Appalasamy, and Mr. Khanya Ntondini are thanked for their support and contributions to the meeting