Riaan has 36 years of biodiversity conservation experience in the Cape Fold Ecoregion. He was employed by CapeNature for 25 years as a conservation manager, where he was also responsible for invasive alien fauna projects within the Western Cape. During this period, he managed the first successful manual eradication alien fish project and was also the manager for the second rotenone treatment of the Rondegat River. Riaan is one of the founding trustees of the Fynbos Fish Trust and has been involved in fynbos fish research and conservation projects since 2010.
He obtained his master’s degree in nature conservation (Cum Laude) from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He is a registered professional natural scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). He has presented at two international conferences and has authored various research papers relating to the conservation of Fynbos fish. His areas of expertise include the biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom, especially the flora and freshwater fish.
Formal education
MTech, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013
BTech, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010
Nas. Dip. Nature Conservation, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 1992
Specialisations
Freshwater fish conservation, impacts of invasive fishes, education and awareness of fish conservation issues, fynbos flora.