However, the skills required to realise the job potential in the sector are scarce and students with relevant qualifications are often unable to bridge the gap between education and employment requirements. The incubation method that we will use in the sector for the very first time is a unique way of bridging this gap. Through the SA National Biodiversity Institute, Sanbi, we will manage the process of placing a maximum of 800 unemployed school-leavers and graduates, mostly from the rural areas, in biodiversity jobs for an incubation period of two and a half years. Sanbi will assist in ensuring that participants are mentored and receive the relevant skills and experience to gain employability and access to permanent jobs in biodiversity and ecosystem services.