NEWS
The consequences for biological research are proving to be dire .
What needs to be done
If current levels of bureaucracy persist , we believe that the impact on biodiversity research in South Africa will be debilitating .
We highlight several relatively simple solutions . These include :
• Legislation should be assessed by an independent expert panel with input from researchers and legislators .
• Provincial and national permitting bodies should provide blanket research permits to accredited research institutions . Permission for individual research projects should then be devolved to each institution ’ s ethics committee .
• Where permits are required for individual research projects , they should be issued for the expected duration of the project – not on an annual basis as is the current norm .
• Multiple separate permits should be replaced with a single integrated permit inclusive of all aspects of the relevant research in a research proposal .
• Permitting procedures should be streamlined . Turnaround times are far longer than promised and appear to be due to unwieldy systems and procedures .
• Clearance from an accredited ethics committee should be valid nationally .
• Universities and national research institutes should support researchers more directly , for example , with the provision of compliance officers familiar with the pertinent legislation to assist with compliance issues .
The progress of science needs to be facilitated – not hindered .
The government needs to adopt a more reasonable and fair interpretation of existing legislation so that scientific endeavour is facilitated and promoted , rather than impeded and blocked .
Figure 1 . The banded rubber frog . Biodiversity research is heavily regulated in South Africa . ( Photo by Robin Maritz )
29 Grassroots Vol 21 No 4 December 2021