Professor at Dept of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland sciences, University of the Free State

Nico Smit obtained the degree B.Sc.Agric-Hons (Grassland Science) (1983) from the University of the Free State. His professional career started in 1986 with his appointment as Agricultural Scientist in service of the Department of Agriculture in the Limpopo Province (Towoomba Agricultural Development Centre). His research involves bush thickening, savanna dynamics, rangeland management and the game ranching industry. During this period he obtained the degrees M.Sc.Agric (Plant Production, Grassland Science) (1988) and Ph.D (Plant Production, Grassland Science) (1994) from the University of Pretoria. He was appointed as associate professor in the Department of Grassland Science at the University of the Free State in 1996.  During January 2002 he was promoted to professor in the Dept. of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.  Nico is a member of various scientific societies, among which the South African Wildlife Management Association and the Grassland Society of Southern Africa where he served as assistant scientific editor as well as president of the society. He also received several awards from the society. He publishes regularly in scientific journals, is the author of two books on the Acacias of South Africa, is an NRF-evaluated researcher and presents numerous papers at national and international congresses.

Contact details
Postal Address:
Dept of Animal,
Wildlife and Grassland Sciences,
University of the Free State,
PO Box 339,
Bloemfontein
9300

051-401 21215 / smitgn@ufs.ac.za