Dr Donovan Kirkwood, esteemed botanist, dies tragically in Jonkershoek mountain

Stellenbosch University is mourning after Dr Donovan Kirkwood, curator of the university’s botanical gardens, fell in the Jonkershoek Mountains and died while he was on a trip with a team to survey and collect material of a critically endangered plant species.

His team was on a trip together with CapeNature officials and officials from the University of Cambridge to survey the Penaea formosa plant when the incident happened on Tuesday, August 26.

“Donovan was one of a kind, with a passion for conservation and education. He was a loved colleague and leader of his team. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues," said Hein Swanepoel, a former line manager of Mr Kirkwood.

Ms Anita Nel, the director of the innovation and commercialisation division, said under him,  the botanical gardens became a conservation hub for threatened Cape Flora, especially fynbos and renosterveld species.

“Donovan passionately pursued conservation of nearly extinct plant species and made an enormous contribution to preserve and restore rare plant species – particularly within the Cape Floristic Region, one of the world's greatest biodiversity hotspots. 

“Believing that the smallest garden can have a global impact, his commitment to innovation and conservation has set the benchmark for academic botanical gardens across the world," she said.

Stellenbosch University Botanical Gardens conserves multiple Marasmodes species, some of South Africa's most imperilled shrubs.

Starting in 2018 with water shortages in the Western Cape, he navigated the garden through a difficult period with “competence and a solid strategy,” the university said in a statement. 

Professors Léanne Dreyer and Nox Makunga of the Department of Botany and Zoology jointly said, "Don was enigmatic, enthusiastic, colourful, kind, and highly talented with an incredible passion for botany and conservation. Our hearts are sore, but we will be consoled by knowing that even in his final moments of living, he was doing what he absolutely loved with his whole heart.” 

The university requested that the privacy of Dr Kirkwood's family be respected.