The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is responsible for exploring, revealing, celebrating and championing biodiversity for the benefit and enjoyment of all of South Africa’s people.

Although SANBI is perhaps best known for being the custodian of the nine National Botanical Gardens in South Africa, the Institute is also a respected authority in research, boasting an unmatched research record in the indigenous, naturalised and alien flora of South and southern Africa, and beyond.

The Institute's knowledge management and planning branch, strives to make biodiversity science more available and accessible through various 'mainstreaming' projects and initiatives. SANBI is also responsible for ensuring that biodiversity knowledge influences policy, management and decision-making.

SANBI also enables a host of biome programmes which focus on South Africa’s biodiversity hotspots, and aim to ensure that the country’s most important biodiversity regions, such as the Grasslands, Wetlands, Succulent Karoo etc., are protected in a sustainable and beneficial way.