In the heart of Kommetjie, Cape Town, the Freshwater Research Centre (FRC) became our classroom for an in-depth training course in Aquatic Biomonitoring using the South African Scoring System Version 5 (SASS5). Alongside fellow participants from all corners of the country and a dedicated Citizen Scientist, Sinazo Fatyi, we delved into a structured program that explained the complexities of assessing river health.

The Importance of Biomonitoring |    

The training kicked off with an introduction to the fundamentals of biomonitoring. We learned why bioassessment is crucial, distinguishing it from traditional physico-chemical monitoring methods and offering a more nuanced understanding of ecosystem health. Through discussions, we grasped the significance of macroinvertebrates as indicators of ecosystem health, interpreting the subtle cues they provide about the condition of our rivers.

Getting to Know the Critters |
A significant part of the training was dedicated to taxonomic identification of freshwater aquatic invertebrates. From sponges to caddisflies, we familiarized ourselves with the major taxonomic groups inhabiting freshwater environments. Hands-on activities and sessions provided us with the necessary skills to confidently identify these creatures in the field.

Cracking the SASS5 Code |

At the core of our training was a deep dive into the South African Scoring System Version 5 (SASS5). We learned the ins and outs of the scoring system, including sampling protocols and practical applications. Video demonstrations provided a visual guide, preparing us for the field. One pivotal aspect of our training was discovering how to submit our collected data to the Freshwater Biodiversity Information System (FBIS). The FBIS serves as a centralized repository where researchers, policymakers, and the general public can access and analyze data related to freshwater biodiversity.

Field Experience in Silvermine Nature Reserve |
We ventured into the field at Silvermine Nature Reserve, where we put theory into practice. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, we practiced SASS5 protocols and identified macroinvertebrates. Sampling at various sites within the reserve allowed us to gain practical experience in site selection and sampling techniques.

Real-world Application in Eerste River |

A highlight of the training was a field trip to Eerste River, Stellenbosch, where we put our skills to the test in a real-world environment. Conducting individual sampling and processing samples on-site, we gained firsthand experience in applying SASS to assess river health. The field trip underscored the importance of data-driven monitoring efforts in environmental conservation.

Empowering Citizen Scientists |
Throughout the training, the importance of citizen science in environmental stewardship was emphasized. Sinazo Fatyi's reflection on her experience as a Citizen Scientist resonated with participants, highlighting the transformative impact of community engagement in conservation efforts.

“I am grateful for the opportunities that have been provided and the trust that is shown in my abilities, which allowed me to grow more interested in this field of work. I am honoured to be part of the team and looking to further learning and contributing to the success of the organization. I really appreciate the chance I've been given and grateful to the whole team for believing in my potential.” – Sinazo

Looking towards the future | 

As the training drew to a close, we reflected on the path ahead. Armed with newfound knowledge and skills, we are prepared to integrate SASS5 into our river monitoring initiatives and projects within the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve. Through collaboration and continued learning and practicing, we aim to enhance our understanding of freshwater ecosystems and contribute to their long-term conservation.

In conclusion, our training with the FRC was a comprehensive and enriching experience that deepened our appreciation for the complexity of aquatic ecosystems. As we embark on our respective conservation journeys, we carry with us the lessons learned and a renewed commitment to protecting our precious water resources for future generations.

The SASS5 participants alongside lecturer and field instructor Dr Helen Dallas

On the 17th of April 2024, Audrey Azoulay the UNESCO Director General, was hosted at the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) head office in Franschhoek for an afternoon showcase of the current CWBR activities and projects, as part of her official visit to South Africa.

The event included a presentation of the impact of various efforts undertaken by the CWBR team which was then followed by a hands-on exploration of the educational activities available through the CWBR Mobile Educational Unit STEAM-Y*, and meeting five members of the Jonkershoek and Khayamandi communities, Stellenbosch, who have trained as Citizen Scientists through Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve opportunities. The highlight of the event, the citizen scientists explained the various tests they do as part of data collection at selected monitoring sites along the Berg and Eerste rivers.

Audrey Azoulay with Citizen Scientist

Presenting Initatives

Mobile Educational Trailer

The CWBR team, two CWBR Board Directors, and the citizen scientists were honoured to share time with Ms Azoulay. In addition, representatives from UNESCO Paris, UNESCO Regional Office South Africa, South African Commission for UNESCO, Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment, Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, and various officials attended the event.

The visit emphasized the important role of biosphere reserves in fostering access to education and training, support for vulnerable communities, young women, and girls, and strengthening strategic partnerships in biodiversity conservation and strategic water source areas.

These form part of the three functions of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve programme including: Conservation of Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity, Economic Development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable, and Logistic Support underpinning development through research, monitoring, education, and training.

As 2022 draws to a close, the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) team could not have asked for a better way to finish the year. A BIG thank you to all our supporters, partners, old and new CWBR team members, current and previous interns and volunteers: the extended Cape Winelands Biosphere reserve family near and far. All of what we do would not be possible without you.  

We were honoured to join the graduation and celebrate the 16 teachers who have gained their Certified NFQ Level 4 Teachers Qualification in December 2022, made possible through a Rotary Global Grant ‘The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Legacy Project’ led by Rotary Club of Franschhoek and Drakenstein Valley.

The CWBR team started our journey alongside the ECD carers offering them bi-monthly teach-the-teacher outings since April 2021 until the commencement of their course in February 2022. In addition, transport was funded by the CWBR for eco-educational outings for the Legacy Project ECD’s who raised funds for entrance fees. The CWBR reached 218 children and 39 adults through this initiative. The teach-the-teacher project inspired further educational outings for teachers in other areas, and upon request from the Bonnie Peoples Project, the CWBR hosted a weekend programme for Bonnie Vale teachers earlier this year. Additionally, welcomed the Bonnie People Aftercare Youth and five teachers to the Cape Winelands in early December 2022 for a three-day educational programme. A total of 448 children and 94 teachers were reached since January 2022 through eco-educational outings and workshops for ECD Centres. 

In November, the CWBR team also hosted a three-day Anti-Poaching Snare Sweeps training facilitated by three ladies from the Global Conservation Force (GCF). 31 youth from several communities in the Cape Winelands area joined the three-day workshops. The group conducted Snare Sweeps in Idas Valley Reserve, Papagaaiberg Reserve, and Berg Dam Reserve, learning practical hands-on knowledge to take back to their communities. The event was instigated through and followed a weekend workshop which took place in October, ‘Introduction to Snares and Emergency Wildlife Response,’ arranged by Cape Leopard Trust and facilitated by GCF. Attended by a CWBR facilitator.

A very proud moment on the 3rd of November 2022, the International Day for Biosphere Reserves became official! As part of the week’s celebratory activities, an outing to the source of the Berg Dam was facilitated for 60 children and youth from a community in Franschhoek. While walking into the catchment, the group explored their surroundings, fostering their connection with and learning about the importance of nature. An educational day was also facilitated using the CWBR mobile educational unit STEAM-Y (Science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics for youth). Check out a video HERE

STEAM-Y has grown beyond its original vision and is still evolving. The CWBR, in partnership with like-minded organizations has reached 1926 individuals since January this year. Impactful initiatives including the Mobile Career Café, the Blossom Café, and ongoing holiday programmes have been established.

My Body

My Body Demo

Water Cycle

Digital Magnification

The same week in November, the other half of the CWBR team and 10 Youth Citizen Scientists travelled to Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Region to part-take in the 3rd National Catchment Ecological Infrastructure Indaba, in Hoedspruit. The Citizen Scientists are part of the UNESCO Be Resilient South Africa Project led by the UNESCO Regional Office for South Africa (ROSA). The CWBR team, together with UNESCO staff, launched the Citizen Science Community Engagement component in September this year. 

Since the launch, through various engagements, the participants have grown and learned more about themselves, their community, and grasped the opportunities with a thirst for more knowledge.

For many of them, they have come to understand the natural environment that surrounds them in a whole different way. In a curious driven scientific approach, they have been trained to use equipment such a water clarity tube (measuring turbidity and suspended solids), miniSASS kits (carefully capturing, then recording and scoring macro-invertebrates living in rivers to evaluate the health of a river), and PH strips, temperature, and dissolved Oxygen tests. Learning accessible skills through practical implementation, they previously thought were not within reach.

MiniSASS

Clarity Tube

Four of the participants, along with four CWBR members, are enrolled in a Participatory Course for Activating Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security Learning networks.  The course takes place over three months from November 2022 – January 2023 with three two-day contact sessions and assignments that encourage collaborative implementation: combining science with work on the ground.

The group also attended a three—day course with Kartoza in December 2022, to learn about the field data capture tool which can be used to empower Citizen Scientists to collect data in the field using Mergin maps with the possibility to visualize it on the web. Gaining insight to the app they will be utilizing to collect data to be shared open source. The training also included QGIS training to have a deeper understanding of mapping and how the information will be used and distributed.

The CWBR team hosted the youth who attended the ROSA Youth Science Forum for two days in December. The group of 43 youth from biosphere reserves, heritage sites, and geoparks all over South Africa, together with 3 South African regional UNESCO office staff, were taken to the top of Franschhoek Pass. From a viewpoint, the group learned about the Watershed, different Catchment areas, as well as the geological location of the other four biosphere reserves in the Western Cape. A visit to the Franschhoek Water Hub was also done, where they met Dr Kevin Winter who explained the background, function, and what research is taking place there in how to biologically purify water. The evening followed with festivities, each participant wearing a traditional cultural dress from their region. With a backdrop of the Boland mountains and under a stary sky, UNESCO Certificates of Participation and Facilitation at the Youth Science Forum were handed out. 

Recapping the week

Traditional dress

Handing out certificates

For the first time since the pandemic, in September, the CWBR team also welcomed back 21 students and teachers from Athénée Action Humanitaire school - NGO. The group spent two weeks with the CWBR team, part-taking in the Edulink projects, learning about biosphere reserves first hand, part-taking in a Photography Workshop with five students from Athlone High, and journeying on a cultural exchange exploring the different landscapes and cultures in South Africa.

The group

Visiting De Hoop

Photography Course

A Marine Science Engagement took place in Gordon’s Bay with 24 youth from a community in Franschhoek. The event was facilitated by the CWBR team and a marine biologist, in collaboration with CWBR Board member Dr Melissa Boonzaaier-Davids. The ecological outing was initiated as part of her National Geographic Early Career Grant to perform research on the marine invertebrate communities of the rocky shores of South Africa’s understudied coastal regions.

The group

Sandcastle Competition

Learning

In this last week before Christmas day, the CWBR team will be gathering with the mothers currently attending the last cycle of Flourish classes in Villiersdorp for their baby shower. A CWBR facilitator regularly contributes to the programme, through lesson plans including ‘Eating Solids,’ facilitating Pre and Postnatal Yoga, supply of fresh vegies from the CWBR Hub Food Garden, and general support to the Flourish host.

The Be Resilient participants are also busy this week, engaging with their communities in Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA)Workshops. A CWBR facilitator, with an accompanying CWBR intern, has taken STEAM-Y educational equipment and camping gear to Twee Du Toll for a five-day holiday programme in collaboration with CapeNature. Youth from communities in and around Ceres as well as Franschhoek communities has joined the event.

At the CWBR Hub in Franschhoek, the CWBR Wood Workshop, a space to learn the artistry and skill of Woodworking, is fully equipped and ready to welcome the first group of students in 2023.

Hand-held tools

Restored antiques

Thoughtfully displayed

This year, in addition to three international volunteers from Luxembourg, the CWBR has also welcomed three interns from Eberswalde University in Germany for a three-month internship and research project as part of completing their studies in sustainable tourism, nature conservation and regional development.

One of the interns has taken on researching Biosphere Reserve to Biosphere Reserve tourism. In line with the SADC-UNESCO flagship programme “UNESCO journeys in Southern Africa,” the vision is to create a holistic tourist experience that has a positive impact on the sustainable economic development of the Biosphere Reserves and their surroundings. All five Biosphere Reserves in the Western Cape will be joined by a tourism route giving tourist's the option to choose responsible accommodation, food and activities. The aim with this unique venture is to provide equitable career opportunities to local communities while contributing to nature conservation projects at the same time. 

A fantastic busy end to a very eventful year. A BIG thank you again to all involved!

Wishing a happy festive and adventurous season,

The CWBR team

‘Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water’

Launch of Citizen Science programme and Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) stakeholder engagements

Meet our Be Resilient Citizen Scientists! The team, from different communities along the Eerste River, are currently being trained in water monitoring methods as part of an exciting research project. UNESCO Be Resilient South Africa in partnership with Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) is implementing Citizen Science and Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) engagements involving communities in the Eerste River catchment.

The launch coincided with World Water Week 2022 - the  theme of which was “Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water” – building on the need to see, understand and, more importantly, value water. These new ways of encouraging communities’ involvement in the management of water to tackle challenges such as food security, health, agriculture, biodiversity, and climate, lead to an inclusive 21st century approach to sustainable water management.

There are two methodologies explored in this project: community engagement in discussion and learning of their local resources through development of community scientists, and participatory development of climate change adaptation plans for water security.

Led by Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve, together with three UNESCO Be Resilient South Africa project representatives, the launch of both the implementations of the Citizen Science program and CRIDA engagements took place from the 29th of August to the 1st of September 2022, as part of celebrating World Water Week 2022 (Originally began as the Stockholm Water Symposium in 1991).

On the first day of the launch, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) presented, and together with the CWBR lead, led a discussion on why water quality is important. The participants were trained on a wide range of indicators of river health, including images to convey pollution stories. The 17 Sustainable Goals were presented as a way to show the connection between local and global challenges, highlighting the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach from the ground up, alongside top-down implementation of solutions.

Following the theoretical portion of the day, the participants part-took in practical MiniSASS activities by the river. They gained insight into one of the ways in which they, as Citizen Scientists, will collect data.

On the second day, scholars from Stellenbosch University and University of Western cape introduced the citizen scientists to the importance of building community scientists and on the concept of a catchment scale water management. The importance of how invested communities and ongoing participation in Citizen Science is crucial in ground-up data collection that contributes to developing new approaches in research was highlighted. 

The photo features the first day of training with our citizen scientists, Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation, UNESCO and CWBR staff.

As the two days were brought to a close, the participants stopped at points of interest along the river. The history of their community and challenges that they face linked to the river was shared.

The CRIDA stakeholder engagement was held over the two following days, with the community in Idas Valley. CRIDA consists of five stakeholder engagement stages. On ground CRIDA phase I involves stakeholder engagements to develop the shared problem understanding of water security issues in the catchment area. To solicit their understanding of their felt experiences with water challenges in their catchment. This is a crucial first engagement step to ensure communities are aware of the CRIDA methodology and a need to develop climate change adaptation plans that speak to sustainability of their water resources. 

Through ongoing engagements, the Citizen Scientists will be further trained on performing river monitoring field surveys (instrumentation, data recording and reporting) for key pollution indicators.  The focus on the watershed scale understanding of pollution in the Eerste River – from source to sea – is a novel approach towards building important context on the differentiated levels of pollution along the stream, and thus interrogation of what land uses could be contributing to pollution.

The photo features Idas Valley CRIDA group

Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve is part of a new UNESCO, Man and Biosphere Programme, initiative.

Biosphere Reserves as Observatories for Climate Change Adaption in South Africa

Background

Climate change impacts are being observed across the Southern African region, with water-related hazards causing massive flooding, landslides and severe droughts, significantly affecting natural resources and posing a direct threat to human security. While climate change is driven by global processes, the solutions to offset the negative effects of climate risks are particularly dependent on local conditions. In this respect, UNESCO biosphere reserves have the potential to become global observatories for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The BE-RESILIENT project aims to strengthen biosphere reserves and their communities to address climate change challenges and associated water-related hazards. The project will engage a set of established and proposed biosphere reserves in the region to pilot effective pathways towards climate change adaptation, using a multidisciplinary approach around four main components.

~ Extract from UNESCO Website

Further reading about the project: UNESCO Website

Be Resilient Brochure