A high-level congress on Biodiversity of Africa – Observation and Sustainable Management for our Future will be held in South Africa next week (29 September – 3 October).  The congress has been organised by the African-German Research Network BIOTA AFRICA.

Major topics that will be discussed are:

• Observation System – Identifying, measuring and understanding the past and present change of biodiversity and its patterns as caused by land use, climate change and other relevant drivers.
• Process Analysis – Understanding, modelling & predicting ecosystem functions, processes and mechanisms
• Land use, impact and value – Ecosystem services, goods & values and their human appropriation
• Interventions – Tools & strategies for better management decisions (sustainable use, restoration, conservation) from community level to national policy
• Capacity development – Knowledge, skills and data tools for decision making.

Results from seven years of research in more than 75 observatories will be presented and recommendations for further initiatives on sustainable land use and the protection of biodiversity will be discussed at the congress.   Interested in reading more? Click here.

Dr. John Donaldson,  Head of the BIOTA South Steering Committee in South Africa was also interviewed. You can read about his views on conservation in agricultural areas, threats of land use, climate change, and invasive species at the  AllAfrica.com website.  Click here to read more.