Dr Sershen Naidoo, Executive Director at the INR, recently contributed to a Scientific Advisory from the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE serves as a think-tank on current or potential emergencies and aims to provide advisories that are based on the best available evidence and data. Their most recent advisory, titled “SAGE Scientific Advisory on the Environmental and Heritage Implications of South Africa’s Makhado-Musina Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ)” was published on 18 January 2023. The MMSEZ is a proposed economic zone in Limpopo which includes light and heavy industry (such as primary steel manufacturing facilities). The advisory explains that the MMSEZ threatens the heritage integrity of the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (a UNESCO World Heritage site). It will degrade areas rich with biodiversity and threaten the conservation goals in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. The SAGE Advisory recommends that a temporary suspension should be placed on activities pursuant to the development of the proposed special economic zone in Limpopo. Further, it suggests that the relevant UNESCO officials should engage with appropriate South African national authorities to commission an independent assessment of the potential environmental and heritage implications of the proposed MMSEZ.