Breakout sessions by themes  

After lunch, the programme director introduced the breakout sessions. The aim of these sessions was to continue the discussions from earlier in the day, but with a focused engagement on specific thematic areas.

The breakout session themes were Biogeochemistry and Hydrology, facilitated by Drs Sindi Ndara and Amukelani Maluleke, Biodiversity, facilitated by Tsumbedzo Ramalevha, and Socio-ecology, facilitated by Dr Neo Mathinya, a lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS) and a researcher with an active project in the EFTEON Lowveld landscape.

Feedback from the Biogeochemistry and Hydrology session  

The session opened with participant introductions to establish who was present and their areas of interest. Dr Sindi Ndara then raised a central question: given that organisations like the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) already monitor water quality in the Sabie–Sand catchment, how can EFTEON add value without duplicating their work? Participants suggested that EFTEON should concentrate on emerging or understudied contaminants, align its efforts with existing monitoring programmes, and prioritise less-studied areas within the landscape. They highlighted the importance of generating data that can support remote-sensing calibration and noted the limited number of streamflow gauging stations across the catchment.

To address gaps, they proposed incorporating citizen science in ungauged areas and exploring isotope analysis to trace pollution sources and improve understanding of groundwater–surface water interactions. The possibility of refurbishing certain boreholes within the landscape, installing level loggers, and conducting water quality monitoring in these boreholes was one of the suggested short-term interventions that EFTEON can explore.

Feedback from the Biodiversity session  

The Biodiversity session, which included representatives from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), SAEON’s Ndlovu Node, Organization for Tropical Studies, North-West University and the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), culminated in a firm commitment by participants to improve data sharing among relevant stakeholders, acknowledging that siloed information hinders effective biodiversity monitoring.

The participants indicated that wide-scale deployment of rapid assessment plots across the Lowveld landscape to accelerate data collection without sacrificing quality or coverage will require collaboration to tackle complex ecological challenges jointly. Crucially, the participants agreed that there is a need to expand our monitoring scope beyond just plants by including other taxa besides vegetation (such as insects, small mammals and birds). This multi-taxa approach will require standardising of survey methods for other taxa to ensure data comparability and methodological rigour across all sites in the Lowveld. Participants emphasised that stakeholders should sample on the same plots and that EFTEON should focus on detailed sampling.

The participants also suggested that EFTEON should create a spatial map on which all the plots across the landscape are indicated, as well as a spreadsheet where everyone could add the details of their plots and what they sample. EFTEON was also urged to compile a list of priority questions that can be shared with stakeholders so that they can assist in answering some of the questions.  

Feedback from the Socio-ecology session  

The session, facilitated by Dr Neo Mathinya (UFS) and attended by representatives from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), MTPA, HANS/UP and WITS, centred on several emerging themes: science communication, the ethics of participatory research, and the integration of ecological and sociological perspectives. Participants shared the types of data they are working on or are seeking, including community engagement ethics, perspectives on ecological phenomena, strategies for adaptation to ecological change, digital platforms for sustained collaboration, and partnerships that integrate scientific and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

Key questions raised concerned the urgency of climate change in the landscape, rapid urbanisation in Bushbuckridge, socio-economic drivers of natural resource use, environmental education for youth, resource competition and the observed variability in livelihood gradients in communities. The group emphasised the need to consolidate findings into guidelines for socio-ecological research – such as requiring stakeholder feedback sessions – and to establish a community of practice. They proposed that EFTEON initially adopt a facilitation role in the landscape, with the intention of later contributing directly to socio-ecological data collection and driving science engagement activities.

EFTEON Lowveld team supporting researchers in the landscape  

Following the workshop, the EFTEON team supported Prof. Fhumulani Mathiva and Dr Neo Mathinya from the University of Limpopo and the University of the Free State, respectively, who had planned community engagement activities for the remainder of the week. They aimed to introduce their research projects to community representatives and seek permission in preparation for planned data collection.