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Professor Timm Hoffman (left) shares some insight on the Kokerboom (Aloe dichotoma) forests of the region (Pictures: Claire Davis)
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View of the Hantamberge from the Avontuur Conservancy (Picture: Emma Archer)
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Igshaan Samuels (left) and Claire Davis (right), winners of the best paper and poster presentations, with Dr Ute Schmiedel (Picture: Clement Cupido)
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Claire Davis, CSIR Natural Resources & the Environment
The annual Arid Zone Ecology Forum brings together scientists, students, conservationists, agricultural managers, local government, NGOs, the private sector, and land owners. |
The Bokkeveld Plateau, an area in the northwest Cape that includes Cape Fynbos, Mountain Renosterveld and Succulent Karoo vegetation types, has been described as a hot-spot of plant diversity and was the scene of this year's Arid Zone Ecology Forum.
Through the broad theme "Interactions in the Arid Zone", keynote speakers, presenters as well as posters highlighted the underlying complexity and inter-dependence of ecological and well as social systems in the semi-arid and arid areas of southern Africa.
More than half of southern Africa is either arid or semi-arid, encompassing a diversity of biotic ecosystems. As a very rough guideline, southern Africa's "Arid Zone" is considered to include all areas with a mean annual rainfall of 400 mm or less. An awareness of potential environmental concerns - such as erosion, land degradation, plant and animal species extinctions, and global climate change, among many others - has already substantially influenced agricultural and management policies and research activities in these regions.
The Arid Zone Ecology Forum was initiated to focus attention on these problems and the possible solutions. In order to achieve this goal the annual meetings play a critical role in the evaluation of research and scientific knowledge and on co-learning and networking between scientists, students, and land-owners.
Each day the talks were boosted by a keynote speaker, which added value and insight to the forum discussions. Some of the exciting speakers were Dr Justin O'Riain (well-known mammalian behavioural ecologist), Sarah Frazee (Director Conservation South Africa), Dr Bob Scholes (CSIR Fellow, and well-known ecologist), Dr Michel Verstraete (European Commission), Professor Tim O'Connor (SAEON scientist and grazing expert), Professor Wijnand Swart (University of Free State), Quinton Martins (ace leopard researcher), and Dr Alan Ellis (pollination biologist).
The highlight of the Forum is always the field trip programme. This year proved no exception with six field trips scheduled for the day. Delegates had to choose between a visit to the Hantam National Botanical Garden to see newly identified species, the Kokerboom Forest, the newly proclaimed Knersvlakte Nature Reserve, Papkuilsfontein Farm (including the waterfall and rock art paintings), and lastly the Avontuur Conservancy area, north of Nieuwoudtville, with its innovative restoration areas. The evening field trip with Christy Bragg to see the very shy porcupines of the area also proved to be a real treat.
A good take-home message for delegates was the extent to which ecologists and land managers working within the Arid Zone need to engage each other on a consistent and regular basis, given some of the clear mutual misunderstandings evidenced on very critical issues. The issue of 'problem animals' comprises one, but by no means the only topic in this regard.
The forum is facilitated by the National Research Foundation (NRF - who supported the attendance of eight students this year) and by SAEON's Arid Lands Node and is an informal network of people from a wide variety of research fields.
By becoming a member of AZEF you have the opportunity to become part of the network and share expertise and knowledge, share common problems and develop solutions. For more information visit www.azef.co.za or contact Wendy Paisley at azef.sa@gmail.com.
The announcement of AZEF 2012 dates and venue will be made shortly.
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