100 South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 News & Views

expresses the interdisciplinary, multi- institutional synergy and large-scale (‘big Developing the Environmental science’) scope of EON. Finally, EON also expresses the long-term scope and the Long-Term Observatories Network challenge of elucidating events across landscapes, species assemblages and of Southern Africa (ELTOSA) aeons. EON, in its generic sense, is a research

a* b c d platform and information management Joh Henschel , Johan Pauw , Feetham Banyikwa , Rui Brito , system for multidisciplinary, multi-insti- Harry Chabwelae, Tony Palmerf, Sue Ringroseg, Luisa Santosd, tutional and participatory ecosystem d h studies with strong local, national, Almeida Sitoe and Albert van Jaarsveld sub-continental and global linkages. EON tackles the formidable task of improving understanding of ecosystem function and ONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH (LTER) Introduction change, as well as agents of change, to Lfacilitates the understanding of long- promote wise use and management of term environmental processes and epi- Background ecosystem goods and services through sodic changes at local to global scales. The In May 2001, we, scientists from six Environmental Long-Term Observatories policies, strategies, public awareness and countries in southern Africa, formed the environmental education. Although Network of Southern Africa (ELTOSA) is a Environmental Long-Term Observatories regional LTER network of country Environ- environments are complex and dynamic mental Observatories Networks (EON) en- Network of Southern Africa (ELTOSA). with many interacting factors that vary at compassing the natural environments and Further development was made at the different scales, EON can provide a their socio-economic context. EON involves ELTOSA conference on Inhaca Island, mechanism for effective early-warning the documentation, analysis and information Mozambique, during July 2002. ELTOSA systems and for the prediction of deleteri- dissemination concerning long-term (decades connects country Environmental Obser- ous environmental change. to centuries), large-scale (ecosystem, biome, vatories Networks (EON), the African continental, global) ecological and socio- adaptation of LTER (long-term ecological economic processes. These are elucidated Data keepers research). The International Long-Term through multidisciplinary research and Good time-series data are necessary to Ecological Research Network (ILTER) has monitoring over a network of institutionally address some of our most important accepted ELTOSA as a regional member, operated field observation sites. Basic func- questions concerning the environment. tions concern fieldwork, data management and currently three ELTOSA country Obtaining these requires strategies to and sharing, analyses and interpretation, and members have individual ILTER mem- capture past data electronically, make information dissemination, all operated in bership (Namibia in 1999, Zambia in 2001, such a way as to benefit most from coopera- new observations, and incorporate them South Africa in 2002) and others are work- tion among professionals and with resource into accessible, understandable and ing towards membership. managers at all levels. Requirements for con- shared data archives that build up a This position paper describes the devel- tinuity include programmatic tenure and legacy of information that is independent opment of a vision for EON in southern funding, data archiving, data sharing, train- of the whereabouts and welfare of the ing, and networking. EON involves network- Africa. We outline the importance of contributors. This, in turn, makes it possi- ing at four scales. First, the level of the EON developing EON and list the opportuni- ble to obtain data that no single individ- centre inter-connects specific study plots over ties this offers for the natural and social time and space, and facilitates collaboration ual, or institution or generation can sciences. Finally, we focus on some between researchers and students using the accumulate, while it simultaneously challenges that accompany the develop- centre. Second, the country network level minimizes data loss and redundancy. ment of EON in the region, with sugges- inter-connects several institutions and These strategies towards national and programmes with common goals and activi- tions on how to meet them. regional environmental information sys- ties. Third, the regional network level, such as ELTOSA, promotes subcontinental program- tems must be non-profit orientated and mes, synergy, and complementarity. Fourth, EON require synergy and good coordination the global network (ILTER, International LTER is a well-established concept among many scientists and institutions.3 Long-Term Ecological Research Network) involving ecology,1,2 and its broader EON therefore concerns monitoring, facilitates planning and information ex- application in Africa in the ecological as data archiving, data accessibility and change concerning such programmes across well as socio-economic context is termed sharing, and ensuring continuity of such the world. This position paper describes the Environmental Observatories Network. programmes. current status and character of ELTOSA, sets While the word ‘observatories’ expresses out to solicit programmatic support from funders and policy-makers, and intends to the idea of monitoring at multiple fixed Scale serve as a discussion focus for its further sites that is fundamental to this kind of Long-term and large-scale phenomena dynamic development. long-term data acquisition, ‘network’ require long-term and large-scale moni- toring programmes. Data obtained at a e Gobabeb Training and Research Centre, P.O. Box 953, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zambia, different times and different sites can Walvis Bay, Namibia. P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia. be compared across space and time. bSouth African Environmental Observatory Network, fRange and Forage Institute, Agricultural Research Coun- National Research Foundation, P.O. Box 2600, Pretoria cil, P.O. Box 101, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. Typically, the time scale of EON monitor- 0001, South Africa. gHarry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre, ing extends from several years to centu- cDepartment of Botany, University of Dar-es-Salaam, P.O. University of Botswana, P.O. Box 285, Maun, Botswana. ries (with predictions extending into Box 35060, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. h Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private millennium-scale probabilities). How- dFaculty of Agronomy, University Eduardo Mondlane, CP Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. 257 Maputo, Moçambique. *Author for correspondence. E-mail: [email protected] ever,they do also capture episodic events, News & Views South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 101

environmental phenomena that may be short, rare and unpredictable, but ex- Box 1. Typical kinds of parameters measured at EON sites (not necessarily all at each site). tremely important (for example, extraor- • dinary rainfalls or droughts, heat-waves Climate: precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, ocean currents • or deep frosts, freak storms or extensive Episodic events: high rainfall, long drought, high flood, heavy storm, deep frost, extensive hot hot fires). Spatial scales typically extend fire, landslide, volcanic eruption, algal bloom/red tide, tornado/cyclone, political strife, pandemic, economic depression/boom, disastrous pollution from the size of a plot or patch (for exam- • Primary productivity: Nett primary productivity (NPP), leaf area index, forest biomass, NDVI, ple, 1 m2,1ha,1km2), across landscapes to phytoplankton biomes. Networking stretches the scale • Ground truthing: for remote sensing, for example, NDVI, biomass, precipitation across subcontinents, continents and the • globe. EON endeavours to provide base- Long-term population dynamics: local and spatial changes in abundance and demography of wild and domestic plants and animals line data and information on changes, • Growth: especially of long-lived individuals (for example, whales, Welwitschia, yellow-wood including how changes affect and are trees, lichens) affected by people. • Phenology: seasonality, development patterns, reproductive output Over time, environmental sciences • Biodiversity: species richness, alpha and beta diversity, biogeography, status of threatened have become more holistic in their out- species look, combining natural and socio- • Community composition: ecosystem changes, alien invaders, bush encroachment economic environments into one field. • Decomposition: rate of consumption of standard substrates, amount of detritus and dead This cross-sectoral approach addresses wood issues relating to sustainable develop- • Weathering: erosion, corrosion, dune movements ment, but also provides scientific strength • Water levels: runoff volume, dam level, groundwater depth, water quality by being more inclusive, although it • remains an academic challenge to master Greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases: background level, local volume • and to evaluate. The key is synergy, Carbon stocks (gains and losses): standing crop, combustion of fossil fuel, fire prevalence where co-operation produces greater • Soil nutrients: organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, light fraction products than the sum of the outputs by • Natural resource use: water abstraction, grazing, type and intensity of land use, water, fire- individual participants working alone. wood and timber, yield of harvest of marine and terrestrial plants and animals • State of Environment Indices: consumption, emissions, waste production, income from particular natural resources, poverty index, welfare, health, education levels, marketing of Multidisciplinary research natural products, employment rate, bio-indicators Basic research provides first-hand • Human demography: density over time and space, age structure, life expectancy, birth rate, knowledge that can be translated into emigration and immigration, economic and educational status relevant information and applied to rele- • Application of appropriate technology: conservation farming techniques, genetically vant target groups. Such research is modified crops, unleaded petrol, clean production technologies necessary for coming up with novel • Implementation of environmental policies: environmental impact assessments, water insights that were not predicted initially. management, pollution and waste, invasive alien control Knowledge, and its application, can in this way advance in quantum leaps. Basic research is thus fundamental for adaptive human populations in developing coun- that monitor environments and can applied research. The distinction be- tries make natural and socio-economic provide data on baseline conditions, tween applied and basic research, how- sustainability and their indicators impor- changes and trends, or a lack of changes. ever, is not always clear with biodiversity tant issues. Furthermore, such research is This provides input of time-series data conservation and primary productivity. very closely linked with the need to raise and reflection on the conditions in which Basic research in the context of its applica- awareness and to transfer relevant knowl- the Conventions operate, including their tion is especially important for effective edge to resource managers and incorpo- successes and failures. Such monitoring is capacity building, because the ability to rate it into policy. African environmental an important element in the implementa- conceptualize is as important for research scientists are gaining experience in using tion of the UN Convention on Biological as is the acquisition of skills. multidisciplinary and simultaneous Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to While EON is currently conducted by basic–applied approaches and can there- Combat Desertification (CCD), the UN ecologists rather than social scientists or fore be influential in the growth of this Frame Convention for Climate Change economists, the human element is one of approach in other regions of the world. (FCCC), the Ramsar Convention on its core components and it calls for multi- EON is an important platform for these Wetlands, the Convention on Interna- disciplinary approaches (Box 1). Bound- aspects and it is therefore essential to tional Trade in Endangered Species aries of disciplines should be indistinct in promote it in southern Africa. (CITES), as well as numerous other global order to address complex environmental programmes, such as the International problems, however, ecologists also need Environmental conventions Geosphere–Biosphere Programme (IGBP), to delve into history, religion, philosophy, In the aftermath of the 2002 World the International Human Dimensions geography, economics, and political Summit for Sustainable Development, it Programme (IHDP), and DIVERSITAS. science.4 Sustainable natural resource is important to stress that EON and its EON therefore promotes the develop- management inextricably links the related programmes (including LTER and ment of the interest, understanding, and natural environment and the socio-eco- the Global Terrestrial Observation Sys- political will in African countries to incor- nomic environment, as has been the case tem, GTOS) are crucial to nations and the porate the environment into informed for many millennia in Africa. Changing international community meeting the development planning. EON focuses on conditions in natural environments that goals of Agenda 21. EON represents a net- parameters that are good indicators. Are support larger and more demanding work of programmes and field stations efforts to improve water/soil/atmosphere, 102 South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 News & Views

or to improve the basic living conditions 10 of people or biota working or not? At Box 2. Objectives of the International Long Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER). which scale? How can we make predic- The ILTER Network was founded in 1993 with the purpose to tions? What chronic changes may affect • people and the environment in the future Promote and enhance the understanding of long-term ecological phenomena across national and regional boundaries. and how can one obtain early warnings? • Most reliable answers can be gained by Promote comparative analysis and synthesis across sites. examining well-documented lessons • Facilitate interaction among participating scientists across disciplines and sites. extending over time, space and ecosys- • Promote comparability of observation and experiments, and integration of research and tems, lessons learnt from quantitative monitoring. data obtained through monitoring and • Encourage data exchange. synergy among compatible institutions • Provide training and education in comparative long-term ecological research and its relevant and data archives. EON can provide this. technologies. • Contribute to the scientific basis for ecosystem management. Development of EON in Africa • Facilitate international collaboration among comprehensive, site-based, long-term ecological Recently, Africa has been involved in research programmes. the international developments of LTER. • Facilitate development of such programmes in regions where they currently do not exist. Namibia was represented at the founding of ILTER in 1993, when the ILTER network office was established in Albuquerque, Tanzania during May 2001, culminated in nents, subcontinents, or groups of nations New Mexico (Box 2). A visit by ILTER to the formation of ELTOSA. Soon Kenya, with common interests. Country and South Africa in 19965 and the subsequent Zambia and Zimbabwe joined the discus- regional networks, in turn, are affiliated visit by a South African group to ILTER6 sion forum, and there are now eight to ILTER, which provides guidance caught the attention of several African countries involved, although they differ through mutual consensus. countries and initiated planning towards in status (Table 1). During July 2002 on network formation. This led to the ILTER Inhaca Island, Mozambique, the first Local networks membership of Namibia in August 1999, ELTOSA annual general meeting began An EON centre is a local network where based on the formation of a country formulating the modus operandi and fieldwork is conducted (Box 3), for exam- network in Namibia (now called Environ- business plan of the ELTOSA network. ple Gobabeb (Box 4). An effective EON mental Observatories Network of centre requires networking and agenda Namibia, EONN). The first official EON EON/LTER networks at local, country, setting by local EON programme manag- centre in Africa was the Gobabeb Training regional and global levels ers to make their centre known and its and Research Centre in the Namib Benefits of EON increase through its data accessible and useful, to attract Desert; several additional potential functional networking at many levels. expertise from elsewhere, and to promote EONN centres were also identified in Synergy and coordination of many scien- information exchange between profes- Namibia. tists, institutions and other stakeholders, sionals and local resource managers. Its The South African LTER movement adds context and continuity, and provides functions are coordination of research organized an International LTER Sympo- EON programmes with a broad, dynamic and monitoring at specific places; manag- sium and a National LTER Workshop in and adaptive outlook. ing, archiving and analysing data; dis- 1999, in Skukuza, South Africa. This was a While research programmes conducted seminating information, and education landmark occasion in which the interna- at individual sites and centres form the and outreach programmes. An EON cen- tional ILTER representatives and four basic ingredients, they are nested at tre operates permanent field sites that African countries participated. Zambia various levels (Table 2). ILTER promotes serve as nodes for affiliated sites which gained ILTER membership in July 2001, the idea that countries are appropriate may be either external to the core EON followed by South Africa in April 2002. levels for institutions to coordinate local area, or based on temporary projects. The South African government granted LTER programmes.1,2 Countries form EON centres are typically associated with funding to the National Research Foun- networks, endorsed by their own govern- field stations operated by national (rather dation (NRF) to form the South African ments, and this facilitates their effective- than foreign) institutions that can give Environmental Observatories Network ness and durability. Country networks permanence and relevance to a succession (SAEON) and charged it with selecting are members of regional networks, conti- of research and monitoring programmes the first South African flagship EON centre and identifying further candidate Table 1. Current status of ELTOSA members in December 2002 indicating whether or not (Y/N) they are ILTER members, have government commitment for funding, are actively developing a country network, and have centres, as well as spearheading the EON declared EON centres. process (programme and infrastructure development) in South Africa. Country ILTER member Own government funding Developing country EON EON centres Discussions towards a regional EON network were initiated at the August Botswana N N Y Y 1999 meeting in Skukuza (four African Kenya N N N Y countries), and followed up at the August Mozambique N N Y Y 2000 meeting in Snowbird, U.S.A. (five Namibia Y N Y Y countries). A tour of American LTER sites South Africa Y Y Y N and a meeting in Washington, D.C., Tanzania N N Y Y by representatives from Botswana, Zambia Y N Y N Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe N N N N News & Views South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 103

Table 2. Networking of African EON at four scales.

Aspect/scale Site or centre Country Region Global

Network EON centre (e.g. Gobabeb) EONN, ZamEON, SAEON ELTOSA ILTER

Operated by Local resident institutions (e.g. National committee with lead ELTOSAcommittee (and office?) ILTER members and office Desert Research Foundation of institution Namibia)

Networking Among researchers and train- Among centres and country col- Between countries and regional Between countries and regions ers laborators collaborators

Most important functions Monitor and conduct field Facilitate continuity and opera- Facilitate country networks, de- International collaborative research, collect and archive tion of centres, define and fine common vision, coordina- programmes, guide and facili- data, provide data and informa- review common goals, coordi- tion of country activities, maxi- tate country and regional net- tion, conduct training and out- nate site activities, data mize regional complement of works, international profiling reach sharing, policy relevance sites, researcher exchanges, ILTER relations

Fieldwork Conduct research and training, Enhance standardisation and Enhance standardisation, facili- Enhance standardization, facili- interpret, publish quality verification, cross- tate training, transboundary ac- tate training, global program- centre activities tivities mes

Data management Data archive, centre metadata Country metadata connecting Information via common con- Guide data management centre metadata nection of information commu- nications technology

Data sharing policy Centre-specific, guided by Country-specific to guide cen- Guide countries Guide countries and regions country policy tres

Researchers Core of local resident research- Training of young scientists Training of young scientists International collaboration ers, foreign collaborators, train- from country, collaboration from region, regional and inter- ing of young scientists among national and foreign national collaboration researchers

Training Fieldwork and data manage- Promote training at centres and Conduct training in data man- Facilitate regional training ment, researchers and techni- identify appropriate candidates, agement, exchange students programmes, particularly in cians facilitate availability of future between countries data management practitioners

Funding required for Core monitoring, data manage- Communications, metadata, in- Communications, workshops, Communications, conferences, ment, research projects, train- formation dissemination information dissemination AGM ing, information dissemination

Current principal funders International collaboration, Donor and government-funded ILTER, South African govern- ILTER fund-raising not through re- networks ment search, government and indus- try

Planning for future Donors, local programme funds National science foundations, Regional programmes via ILTER potential funders (national science foundations) National EON offices SADC, ILTER

Institutional capacity Strategy for future human ca- Identify and promote institu- Synergy between institutions in International collaboration that building pacity and organizational de- tions, guide provision of the region, researcher ex- promotes institutional capacity, velopment national support, national train- changes visiting researchers ing workshops and can also house the data archives. information are archived at the EON Country networks EON centres and programmes have centre. EON centres exchange information non-terminal time horizons (‘no sunset EON centres can be diverse in nature. with each other to form a national clause’, J. Gosz pers. comm.). A strong For instance, in Namibia, the Etosha network. It is at the country level that likelihood of permanence is important for Ecological Institute is operated by a EON meta-databases really come into planning new EON centres. government institution in a national park, play; the information contained in several Through their connection to the EON and the agricultural stations Gellap-Ost, data archives of EON centres is combined centre, partner institutions increase Sonop and Mile-46 are government insti- and strengthens the data policy of the capacity, support the data archive, and tutions on state land. Gobabeb is also institutions managing these sites. This gain access to previous data and informa- situated in a park and is operated through gives practitioners access to information tion, which enhances synergy and a joint venture between government on who is managing which data and what relevance. Well-funded projects from (Ministry of Environment and Tourism) the data access conditions are. Metadata foreign institutions, particularly indus- and an NGO (Desert Research Founda- provide context and effectiveness to trial nations, can (and are often necessary tion of Namibia). Erongo Mountain is networking by EON on national and to) supplement EON sites in return for a freehold conservancy affiliated to international levels. guidance and access to the data archives Gobabeb. Walvis–Sandwich-Lagoon are It is at the level of country networks that of their hosts. It is the role of local institu- under joint management of municipality the commitment for EON is most crucial tions to coordinate foreign–local collabo- and government, also affiliated to for programmes to be effective, as the rations and to ensure that data and Gobabeb. kinds of institutions associated with EON 104 South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 News & Views

operate most effectively within the context of national objectives and are Box 3. EON centre characteristics. affected by the commitment of national • Locally responsible environmental research institution that coordinates research and training decision-makers. In other words, without at study sites under its jurisdiction. country networks to bind inter-institu- • Scope of long-term tenure of site (decades to centuries). tional connectivity through objectives • and common vision, EON would not be Member of national EON network. • assured of the compatibility and continu- overall goals, and research and monitoring projects serving these goals. ity that characterizes LTER. Country net- • A core set of monitoring activities with commitment to continue these. works can either operate with a national • Updated detailed documentation of all field and data procedures. office, as in South Africa, or have a lead • Management of shareable data archives and metadata housed within the local institution centre in their network that coordinates based on documented data policy and procedures. country activities, as in Namibia. • Long time horizon of monitoring and research goals/outputs based at specific study sites. Institutional and human capacity build- • A legacy of data and data-derived products at the centre, with good growth potential. ing are the most challenging factors for • Strategy and scope for long-term funding security. the development of EON in southern • Training strategies and activities for capacity building, primarily targeting national and regional Africa. It is a priority for each country future professionals, and secondarily globally. EON programme to promote capacity • Strategy and activities towards ongoing institutional capacity building. building and to give recommendations • for best practices in this regard. EON can National and international collaboration. • only have a future with good recruitment Appropriate information exchange with scientists and students, policy-makers and local from within countries. Students, starting communities. at school level, should be trained to be- come practitioners and leaders to con- complement, rather than duplicate each ELTOSA. ELTOSA should increase the tinue EON into the future. Governments other, data sharing and dissemination of visibility of EON programmes both and the public should be made aware of information are fundamental to EON, within southern Africa and globally, assist the valuable contribution EON is making and ensuring this is an important role of with advising funders, facilitate the distri- to natural resource management policies and in facilitating the incremental accu- Box 4. Gobabeb Training and Research Centre. mulation of knowledge. • The first African EON centre is Gobabeb in Namibia.7 Gobabeb was started in 1962 as a field research station in the Central Namib Desert to host researchers and students. A range of Regional networks environmental training opportunities and programmes were developed. In 1998, the Gobabeb Country networks are members of re- Training and Research Centre became a non-governmental organization under a joint venture gional networks, encompassing geo- between government, represented by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and an NGO, graphic groups of nations; there are the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia.8 In 1999, Gobabeb EON became the lead centre regional LTER networks in North at the founding of EONN and the Namibian membership of ILTER. America, South America, Asia and Pacific, • Data and detailed records of methods and study sites of resident and visiting scientists have the Middle East, central Europe, western accumulated at Gobabeb. Continued monitoring by Gobabeb staff follows some projects that Europe, and southern Africa. were originally conceived with short-term goals. The monitoring programme includes climate; All ELTOSA members are countries that renewable energy; surface and ground water availability and use; dynamics of dunes, inselbergs and desert pavement; weathering; effects and geomorphology of anthropogenic are practising or interested in EON. disturbance; productivity, growth, population dynamics and diversity of trees, shrubs and Countries are represented by EON lead- grasses, riparian forest, and several vertebrate and invertebrate populations; dynamics and ers — ecologists from within a country, at- management of natural resources for people. tached to either a national network office • Besides the core programme, Gobabeb EON also feeds past data into new research. Not only or an institution operating a (potential) research is conducted, but data and understanding gained from EON also form the basis for EON centre. ELTOSA members do not field courses, in-service training, environmental education programmes, and are used for need to have functional country net- policy-making through projects such as Parliamentary Environmental Updates and Decision- Makers’ Guides. Today, the 40-year old Gobabeb Training and Research Centre represents an works yet, but should be developing such extensive network of researchers and students. Training opportunities include in-service networks to become ILTER members. experience and courses concerning a range of disciplines. In this respect, Gobabeb is geared ELTOSA can facilitate the establishment towards training potential future EON practitioners for EONN and ELTOSA. of EON centres and country networks • Sites of the Gobabeb EON centre are situated across the Namib Desert and adjacent areas; where requested. satellite EON sites are the developing research facilities of Walvis–Sandwich Lagoon and Proposed roles of ELTOSA include Erongo Mountain Conservancy. Gobabeb EON sites cross an extremely steep rainfall improving connectivity between country gradient (10–300 mm per annum over a distance of 300 km), ideal for monitoring and address- networks and to coordinate regional ing questions concerning biodiversity, desertification and climate change. Data and research findings are being incorporated into an electronic data archive, while the extension of physical planning of EON, in particular making facilities enables Gobabeb to increase services to research and training clients and partners. best use of multi-national programmes, Indeed, most of the research needs to be conducted by visiting scientists, as there are only a for example, concerning transboundary few resident researchers. parks/ecosystems, river basins, and the • The Gobabeb EON programme is largely funded through income from professional services atmosphere. ELTOSA should facilitate and project overheads. Training programmes, as well as enhancement of institutional collaboration, high-quality research, and capacity, rely on donors. Gobabeb is striving to become financially self-sufficient eventually to standardization of methods where possi- be supported mostly by projects and service provision for training and research. This ble and appropriate. Such regional collab- challenge faces many field stations in southern Africa without the prospect for government funding for EON programmes. oration is the best way for EON centres to News & Views South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 105

of such support. Box 5. Benefits of countries and regions affiliating with ILTER. The great need to meet basic human requirements, especially food security, is • Designation as a participating network: in many cases, this will strengthen the justification given top priority in Africa and research for continuing measurements at the site(s). It will also provide a natural focus for coordinated, multidisciplinary measurements and programmes. needs to support this priority. This re- quirement for relevance and applicability • Enhanced collaboration: by being included in a global network, the opportunities for does not diminish the need for African coordinated observations and scientific collaboration will be much improved. Individual research to be academically sound, based networks will learn from the experiences of other networks for science operation and data on sound data and scientific analyses. management. Dependence on natural resources in rural • Contribution to global environmental conventions: for climate, biodiversity, desertifica- areas is not only a challenge for resource tion, wetlands and endangered species, among others. The participating networks will make management, but also provides opportu- an important contribution to meeting the political and scientific objectives of these conventions nities for resource users to participate and the responsibility taken on by their respective countries. directly in research, including recording • Enhancement of the network’s impact: in most cases, the effectiveness of a network’s data and assisting with its interpretation. operation will be enhanced if others use the collected data. Also, a network’s programme will Participation at the grass-roots level benefit by having structured access to data from other similar networks. provides learning opportunities and can • Facilitation of data access: The availability of comparative data from a wider range of sites greatly facilitate the fulfilment of recom- will improve the interpretation of a particular site’s data. mendations resulting from research • Increased visibility: nationally and internationally, through participating in the networks and endeavours. Users of natural resources, various initiatives. including some of the poorest people, • Opportunities for additional funding and benefits: although the networks will be largely become directly involved in monitoring self-financed, it is expected that supplemental funding will be sought for special initiatives, for and interpretation processes. At the same pilot projects, and to fill gaps in observations. The leverage provided by ILTER will be helpful in time, top-level decision-makers need to making the case for new funds. be informed and become involved. The relatively small government departments and short hierarchies make this goal fairly bution of funds, as well as assist with feed- global networks such as GTOS, IBOY, easy for research institutions to achieve. back and review processes to funders. DIVERSITAS, and IGBP. Metadata Currently human and institutional ELTOSA members are English- and management is a major focus of ILTER,11 capacities in environmental research in Portuguese-speaking countries from and it can help countries to develop this Africa are still low compared to many Africa south of the Equator. Countries in capacity. The ILTER-funded ELTOSA other areas of the world. This can be this subcontinent are already connected workshop and ILTER-metadata course in overcome through proactive training through social, economic and environ- Mozambique from 21 to 26 July 2002 was a programmes that focus on skills for mental networks, giving ELTOSA a good good example of such support. African environmental researchers and starting point. While pan-African political environmental awareness for resource networks are beginning to connect all 53 Conditions for EON in Africa managers and decision-makers. While African countries at government level EON is developing according to African institutional capacity growth will require [and ELTOSA is set to make a significant needs and capabilities. Few African more concrete support from government contribution to the New Plan for Africa’s countries have national research councils and funding agencies, institutions will Development (NEPAD)], the networking or science and technology ministries ultimately become more self-sufficient capacity among research and training mandated to fund or otherwise directly when more highly skilled research and institutions across Africa is still limited. It support research institutions, even gov- training staff increase the income- is also important for ELTOSA to stimulate ernment research departments operate in generating capabilities of institutions LTER network formation in both West conditions of serious financial shortage. through professional service provision and North Africa. Where fully-fledged councils do not and large projects. exist (this applies to all southern African Global network countries except South Africa), networks Opportunities and challenges for EON in There are many benefits for country tend to be based on associations between southern Africa EON networks and the regional ELTOSA institutions. There are many opportunities for envi- network to affiliate with ILTER (Box 5), Furthermore, because there are so few ronmental scientists to work in the field in which provides guidance through mutual African researchers, collaboration and southern Africa. In the global context, consensus. ILTER currently has 25 coun- innovation are crucial to achieving the southern Africa represents a unique geo- try members and several regional mem- challenging goals set by the agenda. graphic location: there is a great diversity bers.9,10 ILTER provides information and Government does support research, but of habitats and people, including ex- advice, and also facilitates coordination of this is largely by recognition and endorse- tremes represented in several deserts and global programmes. It specifically avoids ment. Government also plays an impor- rainforests, escarpments and mountains, being prescriptive, avoids the design and tant role in planning and outsourcing woodland savannas and inselbergs, use of standard templates for fieldwork commitments resulting from the ratifica- perennial and ephemeral rivers, swamps, methods, but does encourage standard- tion of environmental conventions, lagoons and lakes, warm coral reefs and ization where possible. ILTER empha- largely donor-funded. The focus of such cold upwelling currents, and oceanic sizes that projects be designed for local funding is on furthering sustainable islands ranging from tropical to uninhab- conditions to provide effective indicators. development directly; the fundamental ited sub-antarctic. The region includes ILTER collaborates closely with other role of EON lies in monitoring the effects four global biodiversity hotspots12 and 106 South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 News & Views

several WWF areas of high conservation environment, the shortage of resources tive towards local traditions and sensitivi- priority. Many of the largest river catch- and education that they have to cope with ties, and intellectual property rights and ments and lakes are shared between renders them even more vulnerable in systems, placing additional demands on countries, providing opportunities for the face of potentially extreme events the already limited capacities of southern transboundary research programmes. caused by climate change. Socio-eco- African countries. Southern Africa contains many large and nomic–ecological research is required to In summary, southern Africa has many famous national parks, game reserves, or address this situation; indeed, participa- challenging environmental subjects and other kinds of wilderness areas, harbour- tory monitoring and research in poor high-quality environmental institutions, ing not only fauna and flora, but also en- rural communities, coupled with aware- providing opportunities for EON to make tire ecosystems and human settlements. ness and information exchange, are a a significant impact on local environmen- World-class institutions that have been or good way of promoting sustainable tal policies, and to develop the capacity to should be developed into EON centres in development.13 EON captures the main conduct research of good quality and southern Africa include institutions at factors involved in natural resource quantity. EON also provides a local frame- Serengeti, Lake Malawi, Inhaca, Marion management, provides objective data on work to facilitate and coordinate interna- Island, Kruger–Gorongosa, Okavango, changes, increases the ability to learn tional research collaboration in the field. Cape Floral Kingdom, Maputaland, and from the past, and improves prediction of Gobabeb (to name a few, without imply- environmental developments. This Continuity ing that these are the only ones or that should benefit the livelihoods of rural EON centres require continuity to be these should necessarily all become EON communities through education and effective in providing long-term data centres). improved environmental quality result- with reflective and predictive capabilities. There are also many opportunities for ing from either mitigation or preparation This requires security of tenure and com- EON centres to cover diverse habitats for chronic change. mitment to keep monitoring programmes across the region in a complementary The SAEON research framework14 going and to keep them relevant. To fashion. There is a need to monitor the encapsulates these opportunities and ensure success of EON, yesterday’s and same kinds of habitats and parameters at priorities in its tabulation of four stressors today’s data and information should be different sites in order to fully understand — climate change, land transformation, available and understood in future. the spatial dimensions of ecosystems nutrient loading, and episodic events — Skilled practitioners must be recruited to drivers and response mechanisms, or to against four response measures — bio- ensure the succession and growth of EON replicate observations. While EON moni- diversity, primary and secondary produc- in southern Africa. EON requires several tors spatial shifts in biomes, vegetation tion, disturbance regimes, and nutrient levels of networking to continue to be types and productivity, it will be impor- fluxes. Human welfare and the impact of operational and adaptive. Improved tant to relate these to the dominant issues technological advances should be added prospects of funding for research and of climate change, water sources, use and as these affect the environment in many training in southern Africa will be required needs, as well as land tenure, land trans- different ways. The multi-sectoral ap- for field stations to continue collecting, formation and land use. proach to research and training (combin- archiving, sharing, and interpreting data Southern Africa has particular water, ing socio-economic and biogeophysical and disseminating information. land and atmospheric conditions that aspects) has a good track record in south- invite study and require monitoring to ern Africa and can have heuristic value for Data archiving and sharing detect patterns of change. Fresh water is researchers from further afield. EON banks on data. EON centres re- the most important resource of all, and its Southern Africa has considerable exist- quire physical and technical facilities and pathways, sources, requirements, uses, ing institutional infrastructure in envi- expertise to give data a future. Good data abuses and conservation need to be moni- ronmental fields that can host, facilitate, management mechanisms need to ensure tored and studied intensively, as it is or become environmental observatories the availability and correct interpretation fundamental to human and ecosystem — field stations, long-term programmes of data beyond the professional life-span health. Current land transformation and by universities, and donor- or govern- of individual EON practitioners. For data land-use changes are opportunities to ment-funded institutions. While the to be useful for analyses and interpreta- understand the environmental implica- location of these established programmes tion, the location and method of collec- tions of changing land-use patterns. need not dictate the planning of new tion must be known and the data must be Climate change will affect both water and EON centres, it is pragmatic to build on accessible, as documented in metadata. land conditions. It is therefore important existing infrastructure and expertise. EON centres should archive original field to monitor continuously climate, as, Considering current financial conditions, data books and manage electronic data indeed, all EON sites do. In addition, the and given the very many environmental and metadata. LTERsites elsewhere in the particular atmospheric conditions in issues that require study, it should be a world have extensive experience and southern Africa facilitate calibration of priority to base EON networks on local software for these functions,11 which large-scale processes, invaluable for pre- institutions with good track records. can either be adopted or guide local dictions at global scale, for example, the The main challenges facing EON in adaptation. Mechanisms must be in place origin and pathway of smoke and other southern Africa are of the organiza- to facilitate access and understanding by atmospheric components traced by tional kind. It is especially important to persons and projects other than those SAFARI 2000.18,19 maintain local leadership of foreign- collecting data, so that data can serve Rural people in southern Africa depend funded, long-term environmental re- several purposes for different users now on natural resources, and many of these search programmes on the subcontinent. and in future (for example, comparison people are poor and in dire need of Potential contributions by foreign- over space and time). Data-sharing poli- improved livelihood security. They are funded programmes are appreciated, but cies must be in place to guide access by subject to the vagaries of an already harsh these programmes are sometimes insensi- multiple users (see Box 6). News & Views South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 107

coordinated expressly for that purpose. Box 6. Example of benefit of data sharing, SAFARI 2000. The success of EON programmes should help to provide job opportunities and to SAFARI 2000’s data policy is based on open data sharing, cooperation, and synergism.20 attract good students, but recruitment All SAFARI 2000 data are made available to all SAFARI 2000 participants through open online can also be improved through bursaries, storage or submission to the Regional Data Centre. Access to some of the data at the Regional Data Centre will be limited to registered SAFARI 2000 participants for a period of 18 months good publicity through environmental after completion of the project. SAFARI 2000 data are placed in the public domain, except for education, and the professional advan- commercially restricted or copyrighted data. Originators may specify appropriate restrictions to tages of gaining multidisciplinary experi- data sets deposited at the Regional Data Centre. Any scientist wishing to participate and benefit ence through EON. from SAFARI 2000 must register with the Regional Data Centre and be approved as a participant by the Science Steering Committee. Registration requires an explicit declaration by the regis- Network coordination trant to abide by the SAFARI 2000 Data Policy. The basic building blocks of EON are After registration as a SAFARI 2000 participant, investigators using data generated by other EON centres, local networks of sites, investigators should request permission from the data originator and offer co-authorship. Given researchers and information technology. that collaboration signifies the spirit of SAFARI 2000, joint publications between in-region and out-of-region scientists are especially encouraged. However, centres are strongly dependent SAFARI 2000 participants participate actively in data sharing. First, they inform SAFARI 2000 on funding for actual activities and of their primary and derived data holdings through the registration of metadata as soon as possi- cannot secure the pathways for obtaining ble after collecting or procuring a data set. Second, when primary data reduction and quality funds themselves; networks at country checking procedures are complete, or secondary data products are stabilized, participants and regional levels are required to achieve make such data sets available to other participants. The meta-database facilitates the rapid this and to guide the overall direction. sharing of information between participants by assembling descriptive summaries of all Country networks define the characteris- research activities in a searchable index. Such information allows for the identification of poten- tics of EON in their country and have a tial gaps and overlaps in the SAFARI 2000 data archive and may aid in the avoidance of redun- dant field efforts. The metadata entries can be made publicly searchable, even though the data powerful influence on the ability of EON sets themselves may be copyright restricted or restricted to SAFARI 2000 participants. centres to operate in the long term. Members can affect the character of country networks, but the regional and Training can involve experienced foreign practitio- global networks can also affect the Technical and professional staff is re- ners (for example, through ILTER). country character. As countries, rather quired to operate EON centres. Although Various training initiatives in the region than institutions, are the smallest units of there are some potential EON centres in should develop partnerships and coordi- EON, this is the first node that needs to be southern Africa, several require further nate with each other. Training should considered. For small countries, it may personnel development to reach the focus on field techniques, data manage- not be affordable to have separate EON capacity needed to become fully-fledged ment, analyses and interpretation, and country offices, and it would be more EON centres. The staff of an EON centre application (see Box 7 for some sugges- cost-effective to conduct these functions would typically consist of a director, tions on course contents). Such training through EON centres, as is the case in resident researcher(s) and students, data should be directed at postgraduate Namibia. ELTOSA would ultimately manager, field and data assistants, and students, as well as existing EON centre benefit from a regional network office, educators. A regional pool of future staff. Multidisciplinary courses would either residing at an EON centre or practitioners needs to be developed on an further the broad experience required by country office in the region, or at a larger ongoing basis. Training courses and EON. Principal investigators will in fu- office, such as SADC-ELMS (Environ- programmes of in-service training should ture continue to be recruited from mas- ment and Land Management Sector, or at be developed and held at formal training ter’s or doctoral graduates, some of its successor in the Food, Agriculture and institutions (universities, polytechnicons, whom may have done their thesis work at Natural Resources Sector). EON practitio- colleges) and at existing EON centres, and EON centres as part of programmes ners, however, must remain key players in the development of ELTOSA for it to Box 7. Some suggestions for EON training. be effective. In other words, funders should first be guided through the cur- • Training approaches rent bottom-up discussions in order to A: courses focusing on EON-related knowledge and skills. strengthen EON in the region, although B: in-service training and internships. some funding for regional networking • EON field technicians: the A–Z of field data, climate, NPP, plant growth, tree and shrub will also be required. phenology, animal abundance, population structure, community composition, diversity indices, water availability, soil condition, geomorphological processes, atmospheric composi- Funding tion, experiments, planning new data sets, instruments and their care. Based on actual experience, to operate • EON data management: data book management, metadata management, data computer- the programmes of an EON centre such as ization, quality assessment and control, electronic data archiving, data sharing policy, internet Gobabeb, Inhaca, Okavango or Serengeti, publication management, managing computer hardware and software upgrades. requires in the order of US$100 000 per • Environmental Indicators: what to indicate, choosing good indicators, monitoring over time annum. This estimate is substantiated and space, determining thresholds, detecting change of state, spatial data analyses, trend by experience in several countries in detection over time, data display, publications, information dissemination. southern Africa and also in other conti- • EON applications for natural resource management: introduction to multiple disciplines, nents. This amount is sufficient for small linking science and local communities, techniques of information exchange, identifying limiting resources, monitoring natural resource use and availability, participatory research, informa- programmes with a small staff (see tion dissemination. above), field transport, equipment main- tenance, data management, and commu- 108 South African Journal of Science 99, March/April 2003 News & Views

nication for the EON programme, and provide invaluable information for policy network: a first for Africa? S. Afr.J. Sci. 95, 244–245. 7. Henschel J.R., Seely M.K. and Zeidler J. (2000). does not cover major new acquisitions for decisions. For ELTOSA to achieve this, it Long-term ecological research at Gobabeb: establishing EON programmes, or estab- should form a core group that develops gaining and applying knowledge about a highly lishing and maintaining infrastructure of strategies and promotes country-specific variable environment. J. Namibia Sci. Soc. 48, the field station itself (which requires and regionally relevant programmes 89–115. 8. Seely M.K., Henschel J.R., Zeidler J. and many times this amount). Satellite sites through field stations with current and Shanyengana E.S.C. (2000). Namib research: its operate with less funding, but these sites potential environmental monitoring development at Gobabeb and implications for do incur additional managerial costs to sites, with the capacity to archive data and Namibia. J. Namibia Sci. Soc. 48, 62–88. 9. Gosz J.R., French C., Sprott P.and White M. (2000). their parent institutions; funding at such support training and research. This core The International Long Term Ecological Research sites depends on many factors, but group will require dedicated resources to Network 2000: Perspectives from Participating US$25 000 would be a reasonable estimate. carry out these functions and to guide Networks. Long Term Ecological Research Network Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Funding is also required for country prospective programme supporters in the 10. ILTER (2002). International Long-Term Ecological networking activities, which includes region even if the professional members Research Network. Http://www.ilternet.edu. communication, transport, and atten- of the core team are themselves EON 11. Michener W.K. and Brunt J.W. (2000). Ecological dance or convening of meetings. Given practitioners based at individual field Data: Design, Management and Processing. Black- well Science, Oxford. the chronic shortage of funding for stations in the area. 12. Myers N., Mittermeier R.A., Mittermeier C.G., da research in southern Africa, funding can ELTOSA’s basic role is to facilitate the Fonseca G.A.B. and Kent J. (2000) Biodiversity in some cases come through training ability of countries and field stations to hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403, 853–858. programmes linked to EON. Also, much develop EON capacity in a coordinated 13. MacDevette D.R. (1994). The situation in relation of the funding needs to come from inter- and complementary fashion and to focus environmental information in South Africa. In national sources. Active collaboration on environmental indicators required for Proc. Sixth Advisory Committee Meeting on Environ- mental Information Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, with foreign scientists can help to sustain identifying and predicting critical changes, Harare, Zimbabwe, 5–9 April, 1994. EASD Report EON projects. Furthermore, it is possible and for future planning and review of 94/1. Http://easd.org.za/publicat/saeis94.htm. to obtain donor funding based on the sustainable development. 14. Van Jaarsveld A.S. and Biggs H.C. (2000). Broad important function EON has for improv- participation enhances initial steps towards a Networks — local, national, regional, South African ecosystem observatory system ing the global knowledge base, as well as and global — are the best way forward, as (LTER). S. Afr. J. Sci. 96, 63–66. the critical ability to evaluate and predict they promote coordination of resources 15. Macdonald I.A.W. and Crawford R.J.M. (1987). factors affecting sustainable develop- and infrastructure, greatly facilitate Long-term data series relating to southern Africa. S. Afr. Natl Sci. Prog. Rep. 157. CSIR, Pretoria. ment. Strategic planning is required by synergy, and maximize the legacy of data. 16. Henschel J.R. and Pauw J. (2002). Environmental ELTOSA and its member countries to At the beginning of the 21st century, EON observatories: LTER à-la-Africa. In Rebirth of develop a core of EON centres with suffi- puts southern African environmental Science in Africa: A shared Vision for Life and Environ- mental Sciences, eds H. Baijnath and Y. Singh, pp. cient funding. research on a higher platform. 149–159. Umdaus Press, Pretoria. ILTER stimulated discussions and helped bring the 17. ELTOSA (2003). Http://www.nrf.ac.za/eltosa EON for Africa southern African discussion group together at several 18. Swap R.J., Annegarn H.J. and Otter L. (2002). meetings in Africa, Europe and America. The discus- Southern African Regional Science Initiative The Environmental Observatories (SAFARI 2000): summary of science plan. S. Afr. J. sions leading to this article were facilitated with Network represents a new approach in Sci. 98, 119–124. funding from ILTER, the U.S. National Science Foun- Africa, but it incorporates and integrates a 19. Swap R.J. et al. (2002). The Southern African dation, the National Research Foundation, and the Regional Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000): over- legacy of environmental programmes Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit view of the dry season field campaign. S. Afr. J. Sci. 15 and previous initiatives in this direction. (through the Namibian National Biodiversity 98, 125–130. In its field, EON is currently the Renais- Programme). We obtained much information and 20. Annegarn H.J., Otter L. Swap R.J. and Scholes R.J. sance in Africa.16 It is based on improving inspiration from colleagues, in particular Jim Gosz, (2002). Southern Africa’s ecosystem in a test-tube: a perspective on the Southern African Regional Bill Michener and Bob Waide (ILTER), Henry Gholz the theoretical understanding of the Science Initiative (SAFARI 2000). S. Afr. J. Sci. 98, environment and simultaneously im- and Alice Leeds (NSF), Daniel Olango, Robin Reid 111–113. proving the application of this knowl- and David Western (Kenya), Thomàs Mucanhia (Moçambique), Phoebe Barnard, Louisa Nakanuku, edge for sustainable development, Lesley Parenzee, Mary Seely, Ben Strohbach and Communication for Science making best use of two powerful scientific Juliane Zeidler (Namibia), Harold Annegarn, Harry approaches — basic and applied research. Biggs, Norman Owen-Smith and Wayne Twine Jenny Wright This greatly promotes informed policy- (South Africa), Tim Lynam (Zimbabwe), and many making and wise environmental manage- other African and American participants at the 2002 One of the books in a Communication ment. ELTOSA workshop. Series published for South African under- Although ELTOSA is still embryonic, 1. Risser P.G.(1995). Long-term Ecological Research: An graduate students. It received extensive and most member countries do not yet International Perspective, SCOPE 47. John Wiley, testing in a technikon environment, with Chichester. 17 have formal networks (Table 1), there is 2. Gosz J.R. (1996). International long-term ecologi- specific focus on students’ language and already sufficient momentum among all cal research: priorities and opportunities. TREE learning needs. Topics covered include 11, 444. ELTOSA members to proceed with a reading and writing reports, holding effec- regional network that will facilitate the 3. Van Jaarsveld A.S. and Lombard A.T. (1995). Towards the establishment of a national environ- tive meetings, conducting research, using a further development of EON centres mental information network. S. Afr.J. Sci. 91, 9–10. library, and compiling a bibliography. With and country networks. Fundamental 4. Ludwig D., Mangel M. and Haddad, B. (2001). glossaries in English, Afrikaans and challenges at the outset are obtaining Ecology, conservation, and public policy. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 32, 481–517. IsiXhosa, reading lists, and practical exer- commitment, political will, and funding 5. Pauw J.C. (1997). Long-term ecological research: from governments and regional bodies FRD’s networking initiative. Bulletin of the South- cises. such as SADC to promote EON as an ern African Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Oxford University Press. Pp. 189. R120. Scientists 16, 7–8. environmental programme that repre- 6. Biggs H.J., Kerley G.I.H. and Tshighuvo T. (1999). ISBN 0 19 578150 3 sents a collective of institutions that will A South African long-term ecological research