ACDB Highlights from the 51st SAAB Annual Conference
Members of the African Centre for DNA Barcoding (ACDB) attended the 51st South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) Annual Conference, held from 6–9 July 2026 at the University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela Campus. The conference, themed “Biodiversity and Resilience for Future Livelihoods and Health,” brought together researchers and students from across South Africa and abroad to share the latest advances in plant science and biodiversity research.
The ACDB was proudly represented by postgraduate students who delivered oral and poster presentations on a range of research topics. Mr. Kabo Sebaetse (PhD) presented on Climate Warming May Disrupt Plant–Insect Phenological Synchrony. Mr. Lesibana Sedibana (PhD) presented on Extending Island Biogeography Theory to Urban Systems: City Area Drives Global Patterns of Alien Species Richness. Mr. Bahati Kandolo (PhD) presented on Climate-Driven Shifts in Flowering Phenology Across the Congo Basin: Evidence from Historical Records. Ms. Palesa Mohlopi (Honours) presented on Phylogeny, Biomes, and Space Jointly Structure Plant-Use Diversity Across Eurasia. During the poster session, Ms. Balbine Alindekon (MSc) presented a poster on Urban Vegetation Mediates Thermal Environments and Human Well-being Across Africa, while Ms. Inga Boqwana (Honours) presented a poster on A Conditional Link Between Biodiversity and Formal Economic Activity in South Africa.
The conference also brought notable recognition to the ACDB. Mr. Lesibana Sedibana was elected as the chairperson of the South African Association of Botanists Student Council for the 2026/27 term, and Ms. Palesa Mohlopi received the Best Honours Oral Presentation Award for 2026.
