eNews

#03 2025

Arid Lands Node host iNaturalist Challenge for youth from the Ikhutseng Community

By Phumudzo Ragimana, Science Engagement Officer, Arid Lands Node

In celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity 2025, NRF-SAEON’s Arid Lands Node spearheaded a series of dynamic activities in the Ikhutseng area of Warrenton in the Northern Cape province to delve into the importance of biodiversity. The activities raised awareness about the current threats to biodiversity while advocating for action to protect the province’s wealth of biodiversity.

Boosting SAEON’s impact in communities 

The initiative was designed to engage local communities. On 14 May we conducted a training session to introduce community members to a citizen science tool and to launch our inaugural iNaturalist Challenge. This competition aims to inspire young people to explore and document their natural surroundings, fostering appreciation and a deeper understanding of the local biodiversity. The iNaturalist challenge took place from 15 to 19 May, providing a platform for community members to showcase the rich biodiversity of their area.

We hope this initiative will motivate the young people to learn about and engage with nature, taking the first steps towards living in harmony with it.

Phumudzo Ragimana, science engagement officer at the Arid Lands Node, introducing the iNaturalist Challenge. (Photo: Tshililo Ramaswiela)               

Participant recording her observations during iNaturalist training. (Photo: Phumudzo Ragimana)

Participant delivering a presentation on what it means to live in harmony with nature. (Photo: Phumudzo Ragimana)

The International Day for Biodiversity celebration with the Ikhutseng community members commenced on 23 May, with engaging discussions centred around this year’s theme – “Harmony with nature and sustainable development”. Participants shared their perspectives on what it means to live in harmony with nature, as well as the threats currently facing biodiversity in the Northern Cape and potential actions to preserve it.

Following these presentations, the science engagement officer of the Arid Lands Node, Phumudzo Ragimana, offered a response to the insights shared by the youth, emphasising the importance of biodiversity and addressing the challenges that hinder our ability to coexist harmoniously with nature.

Tshililo Ramaswiela, the Node’s field technician, showcased SAEON’s impactful work towards safeguarding the Northern Cape’s biodiversity, with the intention of sparking community interest and engagement towards planting hope, protecting our heritage and growing our legacy. This was followed by a lively dialogue around the important indigenous protected plants of the Northern Cape, such as the camel thorn tree (Vachellia erioloba).

The manager of the Arid Lands Node, Dr Zanele Ntshidi, brought a hydrological perspective to the workshop by looking at what is hindering the communities of the Northern Cape from living in harmony with nature. This discussion led to the active participation of attendees, who demonstrated a keen interest in understanding the intricate connections between land-based activities and our water systems. The discussion brought to light the concerning issue of inland pollution and its significant threat to the Vaal River, a crucial water source for the Northern Cape.

SAEON staff members engaging with the audience – Phumudzo Ragimana (left), Tshililo Ramaswiela (centre) and Dr Zanele Ntshidi. (Photos: Zanele Ntshidi and Phumudzo Ragimana)

Voices of the youth: responses to sustainable practices 

The production team from Green Colony, an awareness organisation that adopts public areas and turns them into meaningful spaces, exhibited some of their projects. Their exhibition showcased their work in collecting preloved clothing items, particularly jeans, and creatively transforming these into new outfits. To contribute to the theme of living in harmony with nature, one of the production team members stated, “these clothes could be thrown away and end up in rivers, but we make good use of them”. The goal of this project is to lessen land pollution and promote sustainable practices. Additionally, the initiative aims to generate employment and develop skills among young people in the Warrenton area.

Green Colony production team showcasing their “green” clothes. (Photos: Phumudzo Ragimana)

To conclude the day’s programme, the top three participants in the iNaturalist Challenge were announced. This served to recognise and celebrate the three individuals who submitted the highest number of accurate observations. These young participants often face challenges such as limited funding for their education and difficulties in securing employment even after completing higher education. Therefore, the cash prizes were deeply appreciated by the winners, who expressed that the awards would make a significant positive impact on their lives.

The workshop with community members was a resounding success. It was truly inspiring to witness their enthusiasm for understanding biodiversity and the threats it currently faces. More importantly, the engagement fostered a strong sense of shared responsibility in safeguarding our natural heritage for future generations.

During our interactions, the community voiced a particularly heartfelt request – the youth expressed a strong desire to be introduced to various scientific tools and activities. They believe this exposure will help them connect with and appreciate their natural environment more deeply, ultimately cultivating a profound respect for these crucial ecosystems. This aligns perfectly with the theme for 2025, which emphasises the critical need for collective action. We must all adopt practices that harmonise our activities with the natural systems that sustain life on Earth, thereby supporting sustainable development.

The winners of the 2025 iNaturalist Challenge. First prize (right), second prize (centre) and third prize (left). (Photos: Phumudzo Ragimana and Tshililo Ramaswiela)