Response to comments made by M Ngcobo and MC Mlambo on: Funke N and Nienaber S (2012), Promoting uptake and use of conservation science in South Africa by government

Abstract

This article is a response to comments made by Ngcobo and Mlambo on: Funke N and Nienaber S (2012), Promoting uptake and use of conservation science in South Africa by government. The three points of critique by Ngcobo and Mlambo are addressed, supplemented by an explanation of the intent of the original article, and a clarification on the target-audience and focus of the original article. The authors of the paper do not advocate a unidirectional view of science simply feeding into policy. Instead, they see the science-policy interface as being situated within a complex, multidirectional context where multiple actors compete to influence policy-making processes. They state that if science, as one voice in this context, hopes to have an impact on policy, scientists need to be equipped with insights about the complexity within policy-making and also need to actively engage and collaborate with a range of actors in and beyond government.