SAEON flagship projects

Tierberg Karoo Research Centre: 20 years of data

This project assembled, organised, analysed and archived 2 gigabytes of various long-term datasets (raw data, photographs, publications, etc.) as a contribution to SAEON’s Node for Arid Lands.

Jonkershoek High Altitude Catchment: 60 years of data

The project ensured the continuation of long-term monitoring by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) when funding was withdrawn by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The importance of the project for monitoring climate change is demonstrated by the decline in Mean Annual Precipitation and Runoff:

African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP)

The SAEON Elwandle Node has been contracted by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity to manage the current five-year phase of the international ACEP, inclusive of the deployment of a Remote Observation Vehicle (ROV) for underwater observations.

Agulhas-Somali-Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ASCLME)

The SAEON Egagasini Node has been designated by Marine and Coastal Management to manage the data for this international programme and SAEON researchers are participating in data collection on ASCLME cruises.

Mapping the potential influence of climate change on the distribution of the mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane)

This project was conducted with volunteers and in collaboration with South African National Parks to determine baseline information necessary to establish if and how the mopaneveld will respond to climate change.

Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) in Algoa Bay

A multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional project to gather baseline data and to monitor ecosystem changes off Port Elizabeth and Coega.

Water quality of South African Ports

A project commissioned by the South African Ports Authority.

Giyani Rehabilitation Monitoring

A project funded by the Department of Environmental Affairs to determine the success of a project to rehabilitate degraded rangelands in a communal grazing area.

Seventy Years of Change in Rocky Shores

Biodiversity observation sites from 70 years before are being re-sampled to determine the impact of resource use, coastal development and climate change.

Development of a Geo-portal for online data exchange

This project is conducted in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Minerals and Energy. It meets the national requirement for data-sharing among SAEON participants, as well as data provision to users, including government departments and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).