| Authorised form of name | Bond; William John (1948-2025); ecologist |
| Dates | 1948-2025 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Date of birth | 14 July 1948 |
| Place of death | South Africa |
| Date of death | 04 December 2025 |
| DatesAndPlaces | Funeral service: Christian Community Church, Timour Hall Road, Plumstead, South Africa (12 December 2025) |
| Occupation | Ecologist |
| Research field | Plant science |
| Environmental biology |
| Ecosystems |
| Evolution |
| Biogeography |
| Ecology |
| Activity | Education:
University of Exeter, B.Sc. (Hons.) 1970; University of Cape Town: Rondebosch, Western Cape, ZA, M.Sc.1981; UCLA Life Sciences: Los Angeles, CA, US, Ph.D 1987
Career:
Natural resource survey, Mozambique (Loxton, Hunting and Assoc) (1971-1974); Lake ecology, Cabora Bassa, Mozambique (Loxton, Hunting and Assoc) (1974-1976); undertook Ecological research, Cape mountain catchments, Forestry Department (1976-1982); Graduate studies, UCLA California Chaparral (1982-1986); Ecological research, Cape mountain catchments, Forestry Department (1986-1987); Lecturer Botany Department, University of Cape Town (1988-1993); Professor, Botany Department, UCT (1993-2013); Chief Scientist, SAEON, National Research Foundation (2014-2018); Emeritus Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town (2013-2025).
Memberships:
Royal Society of South Africa
Fellow of the University of Cape Town
Erskine Fellow, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Foreign Associate, National Academy of Sciences, USA (2013)
Awards/Medals:
Silver medal, South African Association of Botanists
Research Fellow, Land & Water Australia (2006)
Visiting Fellow, University of Tasmania, (2012) National Research Foundation of South Africa, A1 rating 4 cycles (latest 2014)
Gold medal, South African Association of Botanists, 2016 |
| Membership category | Fellow |
| Date of election | 21/04/2021 |
| Age at election | 72 |
| Relationships | Spouse: Winifred Bond
Children: Three. |
| OtherInfo | World authority on the ecology, biogeography, and evolution of open (non-forested) ecosystems. He helped show the ancient origins of these systems contradicting the notion that they are the result of deforestation.
Explored both physical and biotic controls on the distribution of these systems using a variety of tools, from remote sensing and global vegetation models, to field studies and glasshouse experiments. He revolutionized the basic conceptual framework of global biogeography by showing how animals and fire interact with climate to shape the distribution and structure of terrestrial ecosystems. His work had policy implications challenging global plans to afforest large areas of open ecosystems for carbon capture. |
| Source | Sources:
The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Professor William Bond FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/william-bond-35009/; last accessed: 17/12/2025]
University of Cape Town, Biological Sciences, Emeritus Professor William Bond [URL: https://science.uct.ac.za/department-biological-sciences/staff-academic-staff/emeritus-professor-william-bond; last accessed: 17/12/2025]
ORCID William Bond, [URL: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3441-2084; last accessed: 17/12/2025]
University of Cape Town News, Emeritus Professor William Bond (1948–2025), 9 December 2025, [URL: https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2025-12-09-emeritus-professor-william-bond; last accessed: 17/12/2025] |
| Virtual International Authority File | http://viaf.org/viaf/279051097 |
| Code | NA10364 |