Fifty years of Koedoe: Current status and future directions

Llewellyn C Foxcroft

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v50i1.124

Abstract

Koedoe has reached a milestone in its history in producing this, the 50th volume. Published annually since 1958 by the then National Parks Board and biannually since 1989, more than 845 articles have been published in the journal. There has also been one monograph, The reptile fauna of the Kruger National Park (1966), and there have been two supplementary issues, Proceedings of a symposium on the status of nature conservation in Southern Africa (1977) and Proceedings of a symposium on the Kalahari ecosystem (1984). The Scientific bibliography on the national parks of South Africa (1994) has also been published.

Highlights

Koedoe has covered a variety of fields, producing baseline information on which management plans and monitoring programmes rest today
Koedoe has spread its reach over the years, too, and early concentration on scientific research in the Kruger, Kalahari Gemsbok and Addo Elephant national parks has adapted to include all South Africa’s national parks as well as conservation areas under other structures and even those protected elsewhere in Southern Africa
In order to be successful, a scholarly journal should firmly establish itself in a specific niche. It needs to distinguish itself from the large number of other journals on related subjects and to gain a reputation for African Protected Area Conservation and Science

Summary

Introduction

Koedoe has covered a variety of fields, producing baseline information on which management plans and monitoring programmes rest today. Articles in Koedoe have stimulated research and added immeasurably to our knowledge of South Africa’s biodiversity and appropriate management. Articles in Koedoe have included a number of checklists and reports of species new to science.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion