Regional Atlas Committees


Eleven Regional Atlas Committees (RACs) have been set up for SABAP2, nine in South Africa, which operate on a provincial level, and one each in Lesotho and Swaziland.

They have two defined roles:
  1. To ensure quality of data for SABAP2


    2. Data quality is important for the project as we want to ensure that the records that finally get used in the production of the atlas are as accurate as possible. The RACs primary responsibility, therefore, involves the vetting (verification) of any out-of-range records that get flagged during the submission process.

    The committees are made up of a small team (usually 4-5 people) of selected experts, with a nominated chairperson, who have an intimate knowledge of the region's (province's) birds and who therefore have the ability to assess and adjudicate any rare or out-of-range sightings that are recorded as part of the atlas.

  2. To coordinate atlasing efforts in each region and to fill gaps in the coverage


    3. Getting the best possible coverage is going to be hugely beneficial to the way in which the data will be interpreted. The better the coverage the better our analyses will be and the better the conservation outcomes of the project.

    RACs, in conjunction with bird clubs, will play a pivitol role in trying, as much s possible, to promote the atlas as far and as wide as possible in each province and coordinating activities (e.g. atlas days, workshops) to assist atlasers with field protocols, data submission and identification of gap areas.

RAC contact details  (last updated 12/12/2009)


Below are the contact details of the relevant chairpersons for the eleven RACs. Should you have any queries regarding an out-of-range record or would like to discuss an atlasing related issue in your region please contact them directly.

Province/Country
 Chairperson(s)
 Email and Tel. No.
Eastern Cape
 Mr Albert Schultz (BirdLife Eastern Cape) Vetting
Mr Gerrie Horn (Birdlife Eastern Cape) Coordination and training 		albert@agnet.co.za  Tel. 041 585 1245
gerriehorn@gmail.com Tel. 041 374 0373
Free State and Lesotho
 Mr Dawie De Swardt (BirdLife Free State) Vetting
Mr Rick Nuttall (BirdLife Free State) Coordination and training 		dawie@nasmus.co.za Tel. 051 447 9609
ornito@nasmus.co.za   Tel. 051 447 9609
Gauteng
 Mr André Marx (BirdLife Northern Gauteng) Vetting
Mr Ernst Retief (BirdLife Northern Gauteng) Coordination and training 		turaco@telkomsa.net   Tel. 083 411 7674
ernst.retief@gmail.com   Tel. 012 301 1013 (a/h)
North West
 Mr Stuart Groom Vetting & Coordination and training
 stuartgroom@xsinet.co.za Tel. 083 258 5751
KwaZulu-Natal
 Mr David Allan (BirdLife Port Natal) Vetting
Mrs Trish Strachan (BirdLife Sisonke) Coordination and training		 alland@durban.gov.za  Tel. 031 305 4165
sabap2.kzn@futurenet.co.za  Tel. 082 411 2708
Limpopo
 Prof. Derek Engelbrecht (University of Limpopo) Vetting
Mr Koos du Plessis (Polokwane Bird Club) Coordination and training		 fauna.pburg@mindsmail.co.za Tel. 082 200 5277
jkdp@vodamail.co.za Tel. 082 772 5293
Mpumalanga
 Dr Duncan Christie (Birdlife Lowveld) Vetting
Mr Peter Lawson (BirdLife Lowveld) Coordination and training		 duncan.christie@nelvet.co.za Tel. 083 630 3729
peter@lawsons.co.za  Tel. 013 741 2257
Northern Cape
 Mr Mark Anderson (BirdLife SA) Vetting
Mr Andrew Stainthorpe Coordination and training		 torgos.t@gmail.com Tel. 082 788 0961
andrew.stainthorpe@debeersgroup.com  Tel. 079 491 1366
Swaziland
 Prof. Ara Monadjem (University of Swaziland) Vetting
 ara@uniswacc.uniswa.sz Tel. (+268) 518 4011
Western Cape
 Mr Michael Buckham (Cape Bird Club) Vetting
Mr Peter Nupen (Tygerberg Bird Club) Coordination and training		 mike@prescient.co.za Tel. 083 462 9220
sabap2.wc@iafrica.com  Tel. 021 930 4244