The three main projects set out to:
1. Determine the effects of current human activities on the what scientists call “alluvial fans” (i.e. the side inflow tributaries depositing soil, rock and minerals in the main river channel). The primary emphasis is in understanding the impact of roads, channels and other human-made constructions in how they alter the flows of the natural system.
2. Determine the current topographic ‘view’ of the Baviaans River floodplains and channels to record any human-made constructions that during a period of approx. 50 years of historic photographic reconstruction could have influenced the state of the river as it is today;
3. Determine the behaviour of the river using a more detailed surveying ‘snap shot’ to understand the Baviaans River’s behaviour on a local scale.  This is being done by mapping the sediment accumulation and erosion occurring on the river’s sand banks. A parallel task is to also try and determine the connection between the level of the underlying water table with the river channel.

This information is feeding into the overarching Baviaanskloof integrated catchment restoration programme (PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof ). The insights are helping to determine priority focus areas for planned pilot restoration measures in terms of learning where to get the ‘biggest bang for the buck’ with least risk and most benefit.

Thanks to participating students ofr their efforts, to Zandvlakte for their willingness to host these activities on their land and to PRESENCE intern Jose David Diaz for his motivated and active supporting role.

Contact: presence@livinglandscapes.co.za

Students active in the Baviaanskloof

In this issue:
-    Voluntary tourism, landscape restoration and the Baviaanskloof: A match made in heaven?
-    EarthCollective: Suspending through cycles of change
-    PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof-Gamtoos valleys: Recent thesis/ internship results
1.    Institutional feasibility for Payments for Ecosystem Services
2.    Blueprints for an Environmental Education Centre
3.    PRESENCE: A Learning Organisation?
-    9 questions in 99 seconds with Annie Montpetit
-    Quotes of the Quarter / Poetry Piece
-    Introducing the Ideas Trust
-    Revealing Research: Synchronicity and Conservation
-    Precious Earth: Sacred Natural Sites
-    News in a Nutshell
-    Agenda & Activities

The main objectives of this preliminary study are to identify:
1. Identify optimal revenue sources required to meet the current management plan objectives (tasks and programmes)
2. Assess the potential financial sources in terms of their long-term viability and ability to meet management requirements
3. Develop a detailed financial plan and guidelines for implementation.

The research will consult various sources but will focus heavily on community invovlement through interviews with diverse stakeholder groups.

EarthCollective was primarily awarded the contract on the grounds of  the proposals innovative approach and realistic budget.

For further information contact: mahe@earthcollective.net

On 23rd April 2009, Matthew Zylstra (eyes4earth coordinator & guest researcher, Wageningen University) delivered a presentation to Wageningen University colleagues which gave a review of the three years of work which has provided insights into how society perceives the concept of ecosystem services and, importantly, their everyday link with nature. The presentation critically examined how a social marketing approach could be applied to facilitate understanding of the ecosystem services’ concept and, more importantly, to help catalyze a shift in how people think about – and connect with – their natural environment.

Further results are being included in a scientific journal article which is currently in preparation.

In this issue:

- Helping Hands, Healing Lands…on ‘Holidays’ : Linking tourism & landscape restoration
- Launching the PRESENCE Online portal [ www.livinglandscapes.co.za - going online in April 09]
- “The Question” for marketing the benefits of nature
- PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof: Field trips and internships
- 9 questions in 99 seconds with Jose David Diaz
- Quotes of the Quarter / Poetry Piece
- Greening in Grahamstown: Climate-Culture & SAARMSTE
- Revealing Research: Snakes alive & other animal encounters
- The Learning Village: ‘from little things big things grow…’
- News in a Nutshell
- Agenda & Activities

In implementing PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof, it has therefore been essential to build trust, personal relationships, maintain open communication, and ensure that the purpose of related research is kept clear, simple and directly relevant to stakeholder needs. In this sense, flexibility in ‘going the extra mile’ – on a personal and collective level – is needed. This overarching programme plan paints a roadmap for PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof. It clarifies collaborations, guiding frameworks, justifications, participating agencies, focus area, planning, timetable for implementation, expected outputs and strategic considerations. The plan clarifies the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the proposed programme of work and how activities fit together in the larger scheme of things.  For further questions or clarifications contact PRESENCE Coordinator: Dieter Van den Broeck [broeck@earthcollective.net].

PRESENCE in the Baviaanskloof: Integrated Catchment Restoration

“It has certainly been quite a journey so far” reflects co-founder Matthew Zylstra. “A lot has happened in many different ways. If I look back, sometimes I feel less has been achieved in some areas than we would have liked and sometimes much more than we could have ever dreamt of happening. And sometimes simply needing more hands to be able to effectively handle it all!  There have also been times when we couldn’t  really see what was coming around the next bend and other times when it felt like our vision was crystal clear and we could anticipate everything and anything… So I guess you would say it’s been a pretty eventful time.”

In its short existence……EarthCollective has been successful in catalysing a number of innovative initiatives – eyes4earth, CVNI and PRESENCE. In particular, PRESENCE  is active and growing from strength-to-strength as a ‘learning network’ to guide the socio-ecological restoration of landscapes in South Africa. In 2008, EarthCollective established a South African foundation called Living Lands which acts as the official secretariat and coordinating body behind PRESENCE. This opens up possibilities for new avenues of collaboration with South African partners such as WWF-SA and SANBI as well as internationally with the Dutch Ministry for Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality (LNV) and the German Space Agency (DLR).

“Engaging DLR with its state-of-the-art remote sensing techniques enables the mapping and monitoring of important processes happening on-ground. This supports conservation and restoration in a more rapid and reliable way which is critical during these times of apparent and unpredictable climate change” says ecologist and spatial analyst Silvia Weel. “With EarthCollective active in  setting up this sort of  international collaboration with competent organizations it enables both the local project to flourish through beneficial partnership building and allows EarthCollective to grow into a more diverse and multi-faceted networking organization.”

EarthCollective also anticipates some changes and new directions during its fourth year (2009-2010).  “We have recently done some reflection and re-evaluation and targeted a number of areas which will require our focus this year” says Matthew.  A number of new initiatives are being developed such as an innovative ‘Ideas Trust’; financing options for marine protected areas in the Pacific ; community-based mapping and environmental education ; and planning for community-driven self sustainability.   Through Living Lands and other partners, EarthCollective members will also be involved in hosting a six-week wildlife socio-ecology course for visiting U.S students to South Africa toward the end of 2009.

It looks the EarthCollective team can expect an exciting year of change ahead of them. EarthCollective co-founder Dieter Van den Broeck poetically sums it up with: “Together we’ve climbed mountains and conquered valleys. We shared joy and tears. We’ve been both happy and frustrated but overall it has been a great journey and we’re constantly learning a lot. I really believe that during the last three years we’ve invested a lot in EarthCollective and planted some great seeds. This year we will be able to see more leaves coming out and experience a time where we can enjoy the fruits of our investment.”

The report was co-authored by EarthCollective members Bas Verschuuren and Matthew Zylstra and synthesises their own and colleagues extensive research carried out during 2004-2005.

The full report as well as online summary is available here on the Australian Government website.

The report is a contribution to the Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project (TRIAP) of Australia’s Tropical Rivers Program. The aim was to provide a framework for the analysis of the ecosystem services provided by the wetland and riverine ecosystems of northern Australia. The analyses drew heavily on the conceptual framework provided by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) where ecosystem services were defined as ‘the benefits people obtain from ecosystems’.

In accordance with the above, an assessment of the ecosystem services and values (ecological, socio-cultural and economic) of selected wetlands in northern Australia (with a focus on the Daly and Mary River catchments) was undertaken and the results incorporated into a practical framework and guidelines for integrated assessment and valuation of wetland services.

Relevant policies and management strategies that address wetland functions and services in the Daly and Mary River catchments were analysed and trade-offs that contributed to the development of options for the sustainable ‘multi-functional use’ of the wetlands highlighted.

The assessment entailed consultation and active involvement with many stakeholders, such as governmental organisations, local associations and corporations, NGOs and community-based groups, and land-owners and managers to collect information and incorporate their views and respective interests. The reserach was based on the outcomes and approaches suggested in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment for undertaking social and ecosystem-based analyses in complex systems.

Topics covered in this issue:
- Finding In & Finding Out: PRESENCE as a Learning Network
- Remote Sensing for Transdisciplinary Projects: Some things to think about
- Flying high: CVNI reflections on a Precious Earth
- Shaping the future:  PRESENCE in the Eastern Cape plus new research results
- 9 questions in 99 seconds with Marian Vittek
- Discovering wetlands in drylands: Participatory processes in the Baviaanskloof
- Revealing Research: Spirituality & Conservation – old friends reunite
- Tis Christmas: So (work)shop til you drop!
- Quotes of the Quarter / Poetry Piece
- News in a Nutshell / Agenda & Activities

Simply email info@earthcollective.net with ‘subscribe newsletter’ if you wish to be included on the mailing list for future newsletters.

Read more and see the pictures…

It started early on the 5th of December (also known as ‘Sinterklaas’ (St. Nicholas Day) in The Netherlands) with Wageningen Univeristy (WUR) geo-information students Marco Nocita and Marian Vittek presenting the practical applicability of their research to project implementers form Gamtoos Irrigation Board.  A highlight for attendees was a demonstration of the ‘spectrometer’ technology given by Marco and a visiting technician from the German Space Agency (DLR).

Later the same morning, EarthCollective and the PRESENCE students presented to the Working for Water/Woodlands (WfW) workers currently based at the Kouga Dam Restoration Nursery. The session was emphatically opened with a stirring gospel song sung by the team of Michael Ruka. After that, EarthCollective, the students, visitors from other restoration projects and the WfW nursery teams themselves all presented the work they have been doing to each other. A feature of the morning was the sincere gratitude and loving appreciation that the teams expressed toward the opportunities they have been given, the activities they are involved with and most of all to the their fellow team members who they cooperate, work, laugh and sing with on a daily basis. The formal presentations were followed by a typical South Africa ‘braai’ (barbeque) at the Kouga Dam park. Everyone – black, coloured and white – joined in with the spontaneous dancing, ball games and feasting. The perfect Friday afternoon simply summed up with, “It was amazing” from WUR student Arjan Hassing.

A change of pace – or at least the context – ensued the following day (6th Dec) with a trip into the western Baviaanskloof. After a 5am start and stunning four hour 4 x 4 journey, EarthCollective enablers and five WUR students arrived ready to present at the PRESENCE Feedback Day. In a show of appreciation for all the time, help and ‘braais’ that residents of the Baviaanskloof have genersously given in recent times, the students each prepared a typical dish from their home country for the attendees’ lunch. This was followed by a series of presentations showcasing the practical results of their research so far. It wasn’t just a rehash of their presentation the day before:  A different audience requires a different approach and the students adapted superbly. Their presentations were also complemented by talks from the Dutch Government’s (LNV-DLG) Water for Food & Ecosystems and the Subtropical Thicket Restoration Programme – both partners to PRESENCE. Again, the afternoon was followed by a splendid evening braai and enjoyable festivities – this time to Afrikaans music. Three students stayed in the Baviaanskloof to continue their research –and organised a ‘get together’ with farmers’ wives to discuss possibilities and potential for linking to tourism and environmental education to socio-ecological restoration.

It didn’t stop there: the workshops kept coming.  On the 8th & 9th of December, EarthCollective organised a geo-information workshop for scientists and PRESENCE students involved in the field of remote-sensing. Between workshop sessions and field visits, the participants gained a better understanding of what needs to be ‘ground-truthed’ in terms of mathcing features of subtropical thicket vegetation ‘on-ground’ with the characteristics of satellite (remote-sensing) images obtained from far above ground. Silvia Weel – spatial analyst with EarthCollective - said, “The workshop went well because we were able to bring disciplines together which, whilst related, usually speak a completely different language ( in a scientific sense). Everyone seemed to appreciate the informal relaxed environment. For our visiting students, they benefited from a ‘multi-supervisor’ experience with each expert giving their own complementary view to better guide the students’ research”.

The succession of workshop days gave all the

Wageningen Univeristy students hosted by PRESENCE the valuable experiencing in interacting with a number experts in their field of research. More importantly, it enabled them to gain practice in communicating research and results back to highly diverse stakeholder groups.

 Whilst it was not exactly planned this way, it was clear that in the space of a few days, PRESENCE had successfully engaged with implementers, poverty-relief workers, farmers and scientists.  Upon that realisation, PRESENCE Coordinator Dieter Van den Broeck reflected, “I think that is something we can be proud of.”

And it also became clear that  (work)shopping really can become addictive.

Images from recent PRESENCE workshops