The NGO - CASABIO

Constitution for CASABIO

Rationale: South Africa has extraordinary biological diversity but many species are threatened with extinction due to anthropogenic changes and activities. In order to better conserve species, we need information on their abundances and distributions, but current information is scattered, outdated, inaccurate and insufficient. We also need to increase the value that South Africans place upon our remaining natural areas and the species that inhabit them by educating people about our biodiversity, encouraging them to visit and enjoy our natural areas and allowing them to actively contribute to the conservation of our biodiversity.

Our Goal: CASABIO aims to create an Internet database where photographs and information about South African biological species can be stored and made available to scientists, conservationists and the public. Any organization or individual with useful photographs or information will be able to submit this to the database. As well as acting as a central location for the safe storage of valuable photos, locality information and other data, the database will serve as an educational resource for learners and the public and will collect useful locality and other information for conservation and scientific research. In support of the database, CASABIO aims to collect new photos and locality information, train future field biologists and tour guides through employing them in the running of the project and the management of the database, and establish public outreach projects relating to the database, such as inter-school competitions and photographic competitions.

Primary Aims:

• To collect and database digital photographs and associated information about biological species, including submissions from the public or other persons / organizations.
• To facilitate conservation and scientific research through the dissemination of information and photographs and collaboration with appropriate organisations and authorities.
• To foster an interest in biological species and the environment by involving learners and the public in participation in CASABIO projects.
• To create an internet resource which will present biological photos and information to the public in a user-friendly way and allow interested people to share their information and expertise.
• To train field biologists / guides to document and identify species by employing them to populate and maintain the database.

These statements incorporate:
databasing; capturing information; storing information; disseminating information; public participation; conservation; research; training; employment.

The aims of CASABIO fit in with the following approved public benefit activities of Section 30 of the PBO Act:

• 1) (q) The promotion of access to media and a free press.
• 4) Education and development
  • (e) Training for unemployed persons with the purpose of enabling them to obtain employment.
  • (n) Educational enrichment, academic support, supplementary tuition or outreach programmes for the poor and needy.
• 7) Conservation, environment and animal welfare
  • (a) Engaging in the conservation, rehabilitation or protection of the natural environment, including flora, fauna or the biosphere.
  • (c) The promotion of, and education and training programmes relating to, environmental awareness, greening, clean-up or sustainable development projects
• 8) Research and consumer rights
  • (a) Research including agricultural, economic, educational, industrial, medical, political, social, scientific and technological research.
• 11) General
  • (a) The provision of support services to, or promotion of the common interests of public benefit organisations contemplated in section 30 or institutions, boards or bodies contemplated in section 10(1)(cA)(i), which conduct one or more public benefit activities contemplated in this part.

  If you would like to find out more about the board members of CASABIO, click here.