Abraham Dabengwa and Glynis Humphrey attend SANParks 15th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting: Kruger National Park, 12-17 March 2017
Abraham Dabengwa and Glynis Humphrey, PhD candidates at the Plant Conservation Unit, recently presented their research results at the SANParks 15th Annual Savanna Science Network Meeting in Skukuza, Kruger National Park. The meeting hosted by SANParks Scientific Services is the most important annual meeting as it presents an exciting opportunity for researchers to share ideas and their research findings, and provides a platform for dialogue between scientists.
SANParks Scientific Services has a team of scientists working in different fields who, together with external scientists, carry out research involving a diverse range of topics. Formal scientific research began in Kruger National Park in the 1950s, and has since grown to include all of SANParks protected areas across South Africa. This expansion entailed the inclusion of ecosystems very different from the savanna systems of the Lowveld (i.e. low lying region in the north-eastern South Africa), not only from an ecological perspective but from a social stance as the expanded national park system also increased the diversity of communities neighbouring parks. The presence of the complexity of socio-economic conditions facing the park required SANParks to expand the number and range of disciplines of biophysical and social scientists. At this year’s meeting approximately 200 delegates from 79 different scientific and conservation institutions and 14 countries were represented reflecting the diversity of scientists gathered to discuss their research in a myriad of biomes across the globe from fires in Brazilian cerrado (vast tropical savanna ecoregion) to managing freshwater catchment systems through co-learning and participatory governance in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. As Dr Izak Smit, a SANParks science manager summed at the end of the meeting “I have never seen so much embracing, engaging discussions and networking at any science meeting before!”
Glynis Humphrey, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Lindsey Gillson, presented a talk titled “Anthropogenic influence on fire regimes in North-east Namibia”, focusing on social-ecological drivers of the fire regime. Abraham Dabengwa, supervised by Assoc. Prof Lindsey Gillson and Emeritus Professor William Bond, presented on “Millennial-scale climate variability and herbivore interaction in the development of short grass patches in a wetland key resource area at Hluhluwe Umfolozi Reserve, South Africa”. Abraham and Glynis had a stimulating time engaging with participants at the meeting, as well as at dawn and dusk with ventures into the park for game and tree and bird viewing between talks at the conference. It was wonderful for all to see the park’s trees green with foliage and lush grassland following the severe drought of the previous year.
Below are some pictures from their time at the conference.
Abraham Dabengwa presenting on his research at the SANParks Savanna Science Network Meeting in Kruger National Park
Glynis Humphrey presenting on her research at the SANParks Savanna Science Network Meeting in Kruger National Park
Great views of Hyenas (left) and a Hooded Vulture (right) in Kruger National Park
The Sand River in Kruger National Park
The Sabie River (left) and a view from Renosterkoppie (right)
~ Article written by Glynis Humphrey. Images supplied by Glynis Humphrey and Abraham Dabengwa.