We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
~ Aristotle
Link to: Crucial milestone for ecosystems research in South Africa
Crucial milestone for ecosystems research in South Africa
Six ecosystem research sites across the country have been selected for EFTEON, a large research infrastructure being developed under the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap programme.
Science and technology in action
Link to: Landmark agreement signed for Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure
Landmark agreement signed for Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure
The Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure is an integrated global network of site-based research infrastructures intended to support science that would inform political and managerial decision-making.
Link to: Mariepskop Catchment: A new platform for studying the impacts of restoration on freshwater supply and biodiversity
New platform for studying the impacts of restoration on freshwater supply and biodiversity
On Mariepskop Mountain in Mpumalanga Province, a new multi-institutional project is investigating the role of land management and vegetation change on the provision of fresh water in north-eastern South Africa.
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Link to: Global Covid-19 pandemic adds to the pressures faced by natural resources: Using SAEON data to inform the sustainable management of lengana
SAEON data informs sustainable management of lengana, popularised as a possible cure for Covid-19
The species was first encountered over a decade ago in grasslands in Limpopo – in vegetation plots established by the Ndlovu Node to monitor the response of this endangered vegetation type to drivers of change.
Link to: The SAEON Data Portal is getting better and better!
The SAEON Data Portal is getting better and better!
The current beta release of this tool allows for searching SAEON’s data, generating citations in any conceivable format, visualising GIS data on a map and downloading datasets for further analysis.
Link to: Development of Environmental Economic Accounting in South Africa
How Environmental Economic Accounting is developing in South Africa
SA is at the forefront of the global Natural Capital Accounts (NCA) movement and was the first of the pilot countries participating in the international NCA and Valuation of Ecosystem Services project to hold a national NCA Forum.
Link to: Using BRUVs to explore the lesser-known areas of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Using BRUVs to explore the lesser-known areas of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The aims of the OCEANS ALIVE project were to fill in gaps and shed light on the fish and elasmobranch communities inhabiting the nearshore and offshore reefs within the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area.
Link to: Orange is the new evergreen: Exploring the physiological limits of South Africa’s Subtropical Thicket to drought
Orange is the new evergreen
SAEON student Daniel Buttner is exploring the physiological limits of South Africa’s understudied and unique Subtropical Thicket to drought – to provide a physiological interpretation, and possible mechanism, as to why Thicket trees are vanishing in their arid ranges.
Link to: New locality for rare orchid in South Africa
New locality for rare orchid found in ancient sacred forest
It was a Kodachrome moment when a DSI-NRF intern found a red listed orchid species. It happened during a fieldtrip undertaken by a SAEON student to get a sense of whether sacred forests outside of protected areas play a role in biodiversity conservation.
Message from the MD
Link to: A year of extraordinary challenges and achievements
A year of extraordinary challenges and achievements
SAEON MD Johan Pauw looks back on 2020 and reflects on the ways in which SAEON changed its operational models and staff members rallied to the challenges of this unprecedented year. While Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the globe, SAEON succeeded in remaining a productive organisation.
People and networks
Link to: International early-career recognition for SAEON student
International early-career recognition for SAEON student
MSc student Jordan Van Stavel has been welcomed by the International Ocean Commission as an official member of the Steering Group for the Ocean Best Practices System.
Link to: Fynbos Node cleans up prizes at first online Fynbos Forum 2020 conference
SAEON Fynbos Node cleans up prizes at first online Fynbos Forum 2020 conference
The Fynbos Node team of researchers and students contributed nine research talks, one virtual poster contribution and a mini-symposium to the scientific programme.
Link to: My first conference presentation as an upcoming plant hydraulic scientist
My first conference presentation as an upcoming plant hydraulic scientist
Although SAEON student Shonese Bloy was disappointed that her first conference was destined to be virtual, her pre-recorded presentation ensured that she was runner-up for the best student presentation award.
Building vital capacity
Link to: SAEON celebrates National Marine Week 2020… virtually
SAEON celebrates National Marine Week 2020… virtually
SAEON’s Environmental Science Education Programme presented a virtual programme for 40 high school learners from three provinces – the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
Link to: SAEON Kids soak up knowledge at virtual Grade 11 science camps
SAEON Kids soak up knowledge at virtual Grade 11 science camps
Feedback on the virtual terrestrial and marine science camps indicates that the learners were inspired by the wide range of quality presentations.
Link to: SAEON in the media
SAEON in the media
SAEON’s people and projects received coverage in national and international print, online and social media.
SAEON eNews is the bimonthly online newsletter of the South African Environmental Observation Network.
SAEON is a research platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
SAEON serves as a national platform for detecting, translating and predicting environmental change through scientifically designed observation systems and research.