IN CONVERSATION WITH HLENGIWE MTSHALI ON SCIENCE WISE

Hlengiwe Mtshali is a Red List Scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, where she works within the Threatened Species Programme. Her work focuses on assessing the risk of extinction for South Africa’s plant species using internationally recognised IUCN Red List standards, helping guide national conservation priorities and biodiversity policy. Hlengiwe has built an extensive career in biodiversity science, having held several roles at SANBI, including Conservation Officer and Coordinator for the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers programme. Through this work, she has contributed directly to the monitoring and protection of some of South Africa’s most vulnerable plant species. She holds a Master’s degree in Botany from the University of the Free State, along with an Honours and undergraduate degree in Plant Sciences, and has a strong research background in vegetation ecology, particularly wetland ecosystems. Her contributions to scientific research and national biodiversity assessments play a key role in shaping how South Africa understands and responds to biodiversity loss.