Earth Stewardship Science—Transdisciplinary Contributions to Quantifying Natural and Cultural Heritage of Southernmost Africa

Abstract

Evaluating anthropogenic changes to natural systems demand greater quantification through innovative transdisciplinary research focused on adaptation and mitigation across a wide range of thematic sciences. Southernmost Africa is a unique field laboratory to conduct such research linked to earth stewardship, with ‘earth’ as in our Commons. One main focus of the AEON’s Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute (ESSRI) is to quantify the region’s natural and cultural heritage at various scales across land and its flanking oceans, as well as its time-scales ranging from the early Phanerozoic (some 540 million years) to the evolution of the Anthropocene (changes) following the emergence of the first human-culture on the planet some 200 thousand years ago. Here we illustrate the value of this linked research through a number of examples, including: (i) geological field mapping with the aid of drone, satellite and geophysical methods, and geochemical fingerprinting; (ii) regional ground and surface water interaction studies; (iii) monitoring soil erosion, mine tailing dam stability and farming practices linked to food security and development; (iv) ecosystem services through specific biodiversity changes based on spatial logging of marine (oysters and whales) and terrestrial (termites, frogs and monkeys) animals. We find that the history of this margin is highly episodic and complex by, for example, the successful application of ambient noise and groundwater monitoring to assess human-impacted ecosystems. This is also being explored with local Khoisan representatives and rural communities through Citizen Science. Our goal is to publicly share and disseminate the scientific and cultural data, through initiatives like the Africa Alive Corridor 10: ‘Homo Sapiens’ that embraces storytelling along the entire southern coast. It is envisioned that this approach will begin to develop the requisite integrated technological and societal practices that can contribute toward the needs of an ever-evolving and changing global ‘village’.

Engagement for airborne geophysical survey within a transdisciplinary baseline programme in the Eastern Cape Karoo

“…Initial consultations in the survey area primarily focused on providing the local stakeholders of the then Ikwezi Local Municipality (an area now located within the larger Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality) with an introduction to the Karoo Shale Gas Baseline Research Programme, in order to facilitate initial access to various study sites around the Karoo (see timeline in Figure 1). In Jansenville and across the Noorsveld, prior to commencing with airborne geophysics, the group had already conducted numerous baseline studies, with some still ongoing at the time, including a groundwater survey of 52 boreholes 3,10 , a magneto-telluric ground survey 3,8 , surface ecosystems monitoring in water bodies and termite mounds 3,[11][12][13] , micro-earthquake surveys 5,9 , as well as a household survey 13 in and around Jansenville. On implementation of the magneto-telluric survey, a year before commencing preparations for the airborne geophysics, the team convened separate meetings with local farmers' associations, the Ikwezi Municipal Council and senior officials, to inform them in greater detail of the need for the magneto-telluric study and to officially welcome visiting German science collaborators (magneto-telluric survey team) from the GFZ-Potsdam.…”

The Role of UAS–GIS in Digital Era Governance. A Systematic Literature Review

“…promoting remote sensing study for crossdisciplinary research through new curricula, education programs, and inclusion in projects which will increase the responsibility of local communities for their natural environment [212,228]; • reducing the time required for the decision-making process and for preparation of the response operation achieved by the adoption of UAVs and GIS technologies [138]; • geospatial technologies support decision makers in order to implement a "culture of prevention" instead of a "culture of reaction" [160].…”