2022 Events
SER Africa Symposium
Theme: Restoration Tools for the African Landscape
Date: 25 May 2022
Time: 09:00–12:15 (CAT)
Venue: Zoom
Background:
At the launch of the SER Africa chapter, the SER Executive Director encouraged Africa to develop tools that fit with the specific restoration needs of the continent. At the same launch, the newly appointed SER Africa board committed to run a symposium in 2022 as we prepare for SER 2023 in Australia. This is critical for all chapters, even more for newly born ones like our SER Africa.
This symposium will be run under the SER Africa chapter objectives, of which the most pertinent are:
- To promote the exchange of information related to ecological restoration.
- To develop ecological restoration as a science, art and conservation strategy.
- To educate the general public, public agencies, private groups and institutions on ecological restoration.
- To advise and consult with public agencies, non-profits and the general public regarding improvement of standards and criteria for ecological restoration.
- Strengthen the connection between nature and people
Therefore, the aim of this symposium is to demonstrate some of the restoration tools, their application and learn from other SER chapters as we get ready for SER 2023. It is also an educational symposium where students and mentors not only share their tools, but identify research opportunities for further restoration and share ideas on broader restoration issues.
Audience:
SER members and global practitioners in restoration; funding institutions; government departments; research organisations, academia, municipalities; consultants; citizen scientists, and NGOs.
Program for the symposium
Facilitator: Sibongile Mavimbela (SADC)
| Time | Title | Speaker |
| 09:00–09:05 | Welcome | Bonani Madikizela (WRC) |
| 09:05–09:20 | Opening remarks | Samantha Braid (WB) |
| 09:20–09:35 | Keynote:
Facilitated Natural Regeneration: A holistic, sustainable and low-cost approach for large-scale ecological restoration in developing regions. |
Ramesh Venkataraman (JCT) |
| 09:35–09:50 | Standard talk:
Tools developed by the botanical community to help deliver strong biodiversity outcomes in ecological restoration projects |
Alex Hudson (BGCI) |
| 09:50–10:05 | Standard talk:
A Bayesian Network Ecological Risk Assessment tool to guide restoration |
Indrani Govender (DUT) |
| 10:05–10:20 | Standard talk:
The Resilience Atlas – a user friendly decision support tool for ecological restoration |
Peter Alele (CI) |
| 10:20–10:35 | Standard talk:
Wetland tools (WET-Health & WET-EcoServices) that can be used to establish baseline conditions, inform wetland rehabilitation actions and monitor project progress. |
Douglas Macfarlane (EECS) |
| 10:35–10:50 | Perspectives:
Involving local people in climate change resilient measures. |
Jibril Owomugisha (MTIO) |
| 10:50–11:00 | Break | |
| 11:00–11:10 | Perspectives:
Student Chapters as a tool for Ecological Restoration in Africa |
Excellence Akeredolu (UL) |
| 11:10–11:25 | Standard talk:
Trends.Earth; tracking land degradation for impactful intervention. |
Tom Kiptenai (CI) |
| 11:25–11:40 | Standard talk:
Avoiding rehab – Thinking towards a practice that can reduce the need for future rehabilitation of rivers and wetlands. |
Liz Day (LDC) |
| 11:40–12:00 | Open discussion:
Who is who in the restoration space in Africa? How can we advance restoration on the continent; particularly, during the UN Decade on Restoration? |
Facilitators:
Lynette Munro (NC) & Rupert Koopman (BotSoc) |
| 12:00–12:10 | Close and way forward | Mlungele Nsikani (SANBI) |
If you wish to attend please follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Srl8q8vfRDu1axxtRk5grw