Personal perception of the importance of Global Change Research Network in African Mountains

The introduction to the Global Change Research Network in African Mountain (Afromount) has been well perceived by all the researchers and scientists that we met in South Africa. Many of them were already aware of the existence of such a Network since launched in Kampala Uganda in 2007 and the Mountain Research Initiative (MRI); however, there have been very few echoes or news about our activities. Actually, very few scientists were aware of its functionality and its objectives.

Current research projects regarding to Global Change Research in African mountains

In Kwazulu Natal

I started my trip to Pietmarritzburg to meet Sue Van Rensburg who introduced me to staff of the South African Environmental Observatory Network and other agents of the KwazuluNatal Wildlife. Currently, there are many on-going projects and research studies. The South African Environmental Observatory Network SAEON created since 2008 carries out diverse activities ranging from Hydrology, Ecology, and Geology to biodiversity and agro-forestry. Major focuses are on the Drakensberg area on the grasslands, forest and costal area and the Fynbosch in the Cape. While SAEON is trying to set more updated techniques and laboratories, there is focuson the Drakensberg and the Folded Mountains in the Capes in collaboration with many other universities and institutions. Dr. Jemma Finsch has been working a lot on Paleo-ecological studies in the wetlands; She also carried a lot of research in Easter Arc of Africa. Her work consisted mainly in characterizing both Eco environment and the hydrological status of the Drakensberg using probes. Paleo-environmental studies are one of the key activities that unify Forest, wetlands and grassland research and take into account climate change aspects. The relations between the different segments of the vegetation are being also established. Paleo-environment work in relation to the Drakensberg wetlands is also being investigated.

The Maloti-Drakensberg Trans frontier Project (MDTP), which includes five provinces of South Africa and one country Lesotho is also a key project that is being conducted in Mountain area. Major focuses are on biodiversity (tree, birds, frogs, reptiles and mammals and plants).

Interesting research studies have been carried out by Hylton Adie and Ian Rushworth. Forest plant distribution, abundance in the Drakensberg area has been studied. The distribution of Podocarpus a forest plant is being studies in the Drakensberg form the berg, grassland up to the cost to identify the eventual changes in the distribution pattern of the species and the reason that may explain the shifts. The dynamic of remarkable plant species in relation to shade, grassland and altitude importance is one of the major topics that are being evaluated. The role of plant nodules (symbiotic microorganisms) to understand the changes or shifts between forests and grasslands is also considered as well. Water availability in relation to the wetlands, forest and grassland occupies a major part of research in SAEON. Especially the expansion of Pine trees which can affect the water flow up to 10%. Pine tree plantation also affect to some extent the soil fertility and architecture by allowing erosion. Since they are invasive species, Pine tree and Eucalyptus can also invade natural environment and outcompete native species. The issue of land use and management is also at the centre of SAEON and KZN Wildlife concern.

Cape Town

In the Cape, SAEON also focus on biodiversity studies, monitoring of lands, and livestock. The water catchment project started since 1937 and the current activity is to try “reviving” the system that has stopped for over 10 years. Dr. Nicky Allsop is one of the Fynbos, which is a particular type of Mountain vegetation. According to her, a complex of Aracea (750), Proteacea (200) are found in the Cape. Potential collaborations with researchers in Mount Mulanje (Malawi) will improve knowledge in the diversity of the Fynbos. The same issue of Pine trees and soil vulnerability, which was described in the Drakensberg  is being addressed and Biocontrol system or early detection programs are being planned to contain invasive plant species.

South Africa is considered as an arid country; the issue of water availability in relation to community development and other water management systems such as cloud and fog precipitations are being studied as well in the Cape. In that regard projects and concepts have been submitted to the department of water affairs to promote techniques such as foggy precipitation for communities living in Mountain areas and the possibility to increase the number of water catchements in South Africa.

In term of Wild life conservation, KZN Wild life focus on the effect of climate change on the vegetation as well as the bio geographical corridors in the Drakensberg area. Activities such Conservation Planning process of vulnerable species or endangered species aiming at influencing policy-maker and managers are being conducted. Survey data in different biomes are being used to draw maps and characterize the distribution of animal and plants in South Africa using GIS techniques. In terms of collaboration, countries like Angola, Egypt, Lybia and Mozambique have benefitted a lot from the KZN expertise.

Climatologists are also very involved in Mountain research; in collaboration with the Water Research Commission Infrastructures, Agriculture Research Environment data are available and allow generating models. Models have been designed based of collected data (Evaporation, Hydrology) that maybe help in predicting the effects of climate change in water availability, food security. Although the issue of accessibility in the Mountains and Theft have been reported, data since 1970 are currently used as a work basis. Capacity building programs do exist with the Sudanese, Eritrea, Botswana and Swaziland governments. 

Major research outputs, achievements and relevant references (publications, reports)

In South Africa, meteorological data were stored since 1930’s.Therefore, many projects in relation to water, land and biodiversity management have been conducted. Rainfall stations and catchments that have been placed at different regions of South Africa since 1937 are still active, although there was a break of 6 years. Dr Mark Savage a climatologist at the University of Kwazulu Natal attested that climatic data have been used to design models for important crops such as Maize. We had the Chance to meet Prof. Bruce Ewitson at the University of Cape Town, he is actually working on data storage a collection in collaboration with other African Researchers. Although his focus is not mainly in Mountain areas because there are very few weather stations in Mountains, he is confident about the possibility of using those available data to generate accurate prediction Model. A website has been developped for that purpose http://cip.csag.uct.ac.za.

It is relevant to mention that collaborations exist between colleagues of Research Institutes (SAEON, Wildlife), Universities (University of Kwazulu Natal; University of Pretoria and University of Cape Town) in South Africa. There are few mentions or reports of collaborative research with other research groups in Africa. The University of Cape Town is a member of worldwide networks involving data modelling meteorological data CODEX, EUFP7 Capacity programs such as START. A database www.cip.csag.uct.ac.za has been developed for mapping rainfall distribution in Africa. 

 Contribution to the United Nations (UNFCCC, Rio+20) and country’s concern about the issue of Global Change Research in African Mountains.

South Africa is one of the leading country in the preparation of the Rio+20 draft for Africa. People who in charge of those important world events are not necessarily scientists or researchers. Although South Africa has a good number of IPCC stakeholders and Rio+20, there is a low reflection of research product in country’s annual report and United Nation conferences. The importance of research in South African Mountains holds its substance in the water issue with the Department of Water Affairs and the fact that Mountains constitutes the major source of water for South Africa and country like Lesotho. Therefore, many researchers have stressed the gap between research output and there translation into tangible actions or decisions by policy-makers.

South Africa is equipped with substantial institutions and research centres that cover all of environmental, geological, conservation, climatology and agro forestry aspects. Although all research studies are not exclusively focussed on Mountains, one shouldd admit that the altitude component and the importance of Mountains as water catchments are entirely included in their research. There is a consistent database of more than 50 years collection in relation to meteorological parameters that is available. However, the meeting revealed the poor connection between research output and policy-making. Hence, it is an urgent need to strengthen the link between researchers and deciders.

Fundamental research questions hypothesis that can be developed further as regional research proposals. 

During our survey in South Africa, a number of research questions have arisen; Here are some fundamental research questions that may be developped as research proposal or projects:

• How do we mitigate stream information or contradiction of meteorological data with National Policy?
• What are the land surface responses to charge of rain intensity, soil moisture, and river flows?
• Influence of Mountain in climate modelling
• The role of historical data
• Learning socio ecological system for water management and catchments taking into account water sewage to the dam in relation to population forming due to several activities (agriculture)
• Characterization of the fynbosch in African Mountains (Mont Mlanghe in Malawi)
• How do we control invasive plant species in water catchments and rivers?
• Development of Model for Crops: Data collection, Challenges and Weather generator
• Bridging Gaps between research and Policy in a changing Africa
• Comparison Approaches climate change Research North-South
• Land use Management in relation to water availability in Mountains area
• Occult precipitation or Cloud and Fog precipitation studies in African Mountains
• The Drakensberg’s vegetation is changing fast: are Brachens potential indicators of tree expansion?
• Assessing the CO2 emission in the Drakensberg vegetation