# South African National Biodiversity Institute

> statutory body of South Africa

**Wikidata**: [Q30296386](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30296386)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_National_Biodiversity_Institute)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/south-african-national-biodiversity-institute

## Summary
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is a statutory body and research institute located in Pretoria, South Africa. Established in its current form in 2004, it serves as a database and research organization dedicated to the country's biodiversity. SANBI manages significant botanical assets, including the Compton Herbarium, and is a key contributor to global data consortia like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

## Key Facts
- **Establishment:** Founded in 2004.
- **Location:** Pretoria, South Africa (Coordinates: -25.737216, 28.275968).
- **Type:** Statutory corporation, research institute, and database.
- **Website:** http://www.sanbi.org/
- **Identifiers:**
    - **GRID ID:** grid.452736.1
    - **ROR ID:** 005r3tp02
    - **ISNI:** 0000000121665237
    - **VIAF ID:** 127023339
    - **Ringgold ID:** 56413
    - **Index Herbariorum Code:** PRE
- **Memberships:** Member of the Biodiversity Heritage Library and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
- **Subsidiaries:** Compton Herbarium.
- **Publication:** Publishes the journal *Bothalia*.
- **Aliases:** Formerly known as the National Botanical Institute, the Botanical Research Institute, and the Division of Botany, Department of Agriculture.

## FAQs
### Q: When was the South African National Biodiversity Institute established?
A: The institute was established in 2004. It succeeded earlier entities known as the National Botanical Institute and the Botanical Research Institute.

### Q: Where is SANBI located?
A: The institute is based in Pretoria, South Africa.

### Q: What is the primary role of SANBI?
A: SANBI operates as a statutory body and research institute. It functions as a database for biodiversity information and manages botanical collections, such as the Compton Herbarium.

### Q: Is SANBI involved in international collaboration?
A: Yes, SANBI is a member of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

## Why It Matters
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) serves as a critical infrastructure for the management and preservation of South Africa's natural heritage. As a statutory corporation and research institute, it bridges the gap between scientific research and governmental policy, acting as the primary database for the nation's biodiversity data.

SANBI's significance extends beyond national borders through its membership in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL). By contributing to these international consortia, SANBI ensures that South African biodiversity data is accessible to the global scientific community, facilitating worldwide research on conservation and ecology. The institute also preserves historical and scientific continuity through the management of the Compton Herbarium and the publication of its house journal, *Bothalia*, maintaining a record of botanical research that dates back to its predecessor organizations. Its evolution from earlier botanical divisions highlights its enduring role in the sector.

## Notable For
- **Legal Status:** Being a statutory corporation and statutory body of South Africa, mandated by national law.
- **Global Data Integration:** Serving as a participant in the Biodiversity Heritage Library and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
- **Scientific Publishing:** Publishing the scientific journal *Bothalia*.
- **Historical Continuity:** Evolving from previous entities such as the National Botanical Institute and the Division of Botany, Department of Agriculture.
- **Herbarium Management:** Being the parent organization of the Compton Herbarium and holding the Index Herbariorum code "PRE".

## Body

### Identity and Status
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is a statutory body and statutory corporation within South Africa. Classified as a research institute and a database, it operates with the mission of managing biodiversity knowledge. The institute is identified in the global research community through various persistent identifiers:
- **GRID ID:** grid.452736.1
- **ROR ID:** 005r3tp02
- **ISNI:** 0000000121665237
- **Ringgold ID:** 56413
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/11g_vqr0mz

### History and Nomenclature
While the current entity was established in **2004**, the organization has a complex history reflected in its numerous aliases. It has formerly operated under the names:
- National Botanical Institute
- Botanical Research Institute
- Division of Botany, Department of Agriculture
- Division of Botany, Ministry of Agriculture
- Herbarium PRE

### Location and Operations
SANBI is physically located in **Pretoria, South Africa**, at coordinates -25.737216 latitude and 28.275968 longitude. Its operations include:
- **Subsidiaries:** It manages the Compton Herbarium.
- **Publications:** It issues the house publication titled *Bothalia*.
- **Identifier Code:** It utilizes the Index Herbariorum code **PRE**.

### Global Affiliations
The institute is an active contributor to international scientific networks. It holds membership in:
- **Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL):** SANBI is listed as a creator (ID: 86368) and member of this consortium.
- **Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF):** Participates as a member organization.

### Library and Archive Identifiers
SANBI is indexed by major library and authority systems worldwide, including:
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no2004105129
- **KISTI ID:** K000216874
- **VIAF ID:** 127023339
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/42748b42-e005-43fa-9900-7a374f9d916b

The institute maintains an official website at http://www.sanbi.org/ (English).

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. [Source](http://biodivlib.wikispaces.com/BHL+Consortium#BHLparticipatingInstitutions)
3. [Source](https://about.biodiversitylibrary.org/about/bhl-consortium/)
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions