Trevor Govender, a lecturer from the Department of Nature Conservation in the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, has been officially appointed as an Honorary Officer at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Govender is the first MUT staff member to be appointed to such a position. Govender is Biodiversity and Research Coordinator for the North Durban entity of KZN Wildlife. Honorary officers form an integral part of KZN Wildlife as they work voluntarily to ensure that the conservation efforts of the province are met. These individuals come with various skills and professional qualifications to support Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in executing its function of preserving natural resources.
Govender has a BSc and Masters in Nature Conservation. He is a PhD candidate. Govender’s interests are in Nature Conservation and biotechnology. He has a special interest in carbon sequestration and sustainable mitigation for Climatic Change and Global Warming. He is very glad that he can have his feet in academia and scientific research, as well as knowing exactly what the industry needs so that he can help MUT students graduate with relevant knowledge and be equipped to handle the demands of the industry. “Being a conservation honorary officer, I am also an asset to the conservation of the natural resources of our country. The bilateral learning is a fabulous experience,” said Govender.
Govender’s official association with KZN Wildlife will facilitate the opening of many doors for MUT Nature Conservation students and graduates. Professor Alfred Msomi, Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, and Professor Akash Anandraj, Head of the Department of Nature Conservation, welcomed this development in the faculty.