These experts were then requested to make additional contributions towards the chapters of the strategy that deal with the protection of water resources (as legislated within the National Water Act to include rivers and wetlands). This was an important opportunity for biodiversity mainstreaming. An informal working group was set up, consisting of representatives from SANBI, South African National Parks (SANParks), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and WWF-SA. This core group was able to provide the necessary inputs promptly because of their existing relationships and the easily available scientific information resulting from the NFEPA project.