by Daniëlle Cronjé, 16 October 2024.
Some of our SARChI members presented their research at the 2024 Arid Zone Ecology Forum (AZEF) in Calvinia, Northern Cape. The forum focused on the complex socio-ecological systems in arid and semi-arid zones, with expert cross-disciplinary voices addressing the issues. It unpacked the difficulties encountered in arid zones as resource frontiers, where extractive projects are prevalent. Discussions delved into crucial issues such as climate change, economic development, and energy access, shedding light on the interplay between climate change, resource management, and community resilience.
We are proud to highlight the significant contributions of the SARChI group to the conference. Two of our members, Dr Stefanie Borchardt and Professor Cherryl Walker, who served as one of the editors of the book, took part in the panel discussion on Contested Karoo: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Change and Continuity in South Africa’s Drylands (2024). Dr Borchardt also played a crucial role as a member of the AZEF committee. A special congratulations goes to Faye Rahl-Boltha, whose impressive presentation earned her the runner-up position in the student speed presentation category.
Presentation and Poster Contributions Include:
Emeritus Prof. Cherryl Walker: The Karoo as a resource frontier: Implications for sustainable development.
Profs. William Beinart and Steven L. Robins: Environmental entrepreneurship, green energy and their socio-economic implications in the Karoo region of South Africa.
Dr Ilse Eigelaar-Meets: Delivering science, conservation and renewable energy development in the Karoo while leaving communities behind.
Dr Stephanie Borchardt: From short-term gains to long-term change: Integrating local needs into South Africa’s Renewable Energy Framework.
Lizé Myburgh: Holistic Management: A Case Study.
Daniëlle Cronjé: The ‘Miraculous Spekboom:’ An ethnographic study on contemporary conservation initiatives in the Karoo.
Faye Rahl-Botha: Plant Poaching, Criminalisation and Conservation in the Karoo.
Caitlyn Sadler: An Ethnographic Exploration of Contemporary Conservation in South Africa: Insights from the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy.
Tessa Caygill: Permaculture Practices in the Semi-Arid Karoo: integrating Sustainable Agriculture with Knowledge.
We look forward to AZEF 2025!
You can learn more about the organisation by visiting their website, click here.
