NEWS
domestic stock grazing systems for commercial purposes to a continuous grazing system for large-scale wildlife management by a conservation entity is a great opportunity to learn about the complex responses of ecosystems to changes in land management .
Figure 3 . The shrubby plains and inselbergs of the SKA region . ( Photo : Helga van der Merwe )
In planning to develop an environmental observation research platform , NRF- SAEON collated relevant information on the area in a comprehensive environmental baseline report ( Milton et al . ( 2020 ). Using available information and possible future land-use scenarios , Van der Merwe et al . ( 2021 ) developed a conceptual model predicting trajectories of change under these scenarios and the factors influencing them ( Figure 2 ).
NRF-SAEON aspires to investigate the changes taking place in the larger SKA landscape and invites collaboration with researchers already present in the landscape , for example , the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory ( SARAO ) and SANParks , as well as researchers from a diversity of fields from other organisations wishing to contribute to our understanding of Karoo rangelands .
Figure 4 . Grassy patches on deeper sandy soils . ( Photo : Helga van der Merwe )
Figure 5 . Historically disturbed areas without active rehabilitation . ( Photo : Helga van der Merwe )
Further reading
Milton SJ , Henschel JR , Van der Merwe H , Dean WRJ , Meyer-Milne E , Gerber H . Environmental baseline review of the core area and surrounds of the Square Kilometre Array ( SKA ). SAEON report and appendices . Pretoria : South African Environmental Observation Network ( SAEON ); 2021 . https :// doi . org / 10.15493 / saeon . arid . 10000001
Van der Merwe H , Milton SJ , Dean WRJ , O ’ Connor TG , Henschel JR . Developing an environmental research platform in the Karoo at the Square Kilometre Array . S Afr J Sci . 2021 ; 117 ( 11 / 12 ), Art . # 10511 . https :// doi . org / 10.17159 / sajs . 2021 / 10511
Figure 6 . Assessment of possible long-term monitoring sites . ( Photo : Joh Henschel )
Grassroots Vol 22 No 2 July 2022 20