Water Research Commission K52350 – Citizen Science. GroundTruth engaged in a three year research project funded by the WRC of South Africa. The project was titled: “The development and application of Periphyton as Indicators of flow and nutrient alterations for the management of water resources in South Africa”. The objectives of the research were to…
Karkloof River Walk. The Karkloof River Walk was an initiative of the Karkloof Conservancy in Kwa-Zulu Natal, undertaken in partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) South Africa. GroundTruth provided technical support directing the measurements and assessments undertaken during the walk and analysis of the data collected. This walk involved many partners and stakeholders, making it…
Palmiet Catchment Rehabilitation Project Summary. The Palmiet Catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is one of the most degraded river systems in the region. The Palmiet Catchment Rehabilitation Project was a pilot project initiated by eThekwini Municipality (Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department, EPCPD) as part of the larger uMngeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership (UEIP) to address…
The Enviro-Champs. As part of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nedbank Green Trust, GroundTruth engaged in upscaling the Mpophomeni Enviro-Champ model in the late 2000s. Since then, GroundTruth has partnered with various key organistations, including the Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT), UMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), CGIAR, and the International Water…
Development of a Citizen Science Online Training and Learning System. The full publication emanating from the project can be found here: Russell C., Sithole N., Tshabalala G., Kotze D., and Taylor J. 2024. Citizen science online training and learning system. Water Research Commission (WRC) Report No. TT 933/23, Pretoria, South Africa. Available at https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/TT%20933%20final%20web.pdf Summary…
Research and development of citizen science water resource monitoring tools within the CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. GroundTruth, in partnership with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), led a research and development project concerning real-time natural resource monitoring and decision-support systems as per the CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation. The CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation…
The Forgotten African Islands GBIF-BID Project. Freshwater biodiversity remains relatively understudied in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially across the Indian Ocean Islands. These islands are characterised by unique biodiversity and high levels of endemism that are threatened by invasive alien species, and anthropogenic impacts such as climate change and land use change. GroundTruth worked with the Global…
WRC Research Project K5 2351 – Periphyton Project. GroundTruth engaged in a three year research project funded by the WRC of South Africa. The project was titled: “The development and application of Periphyton as Indicators of flow and nutrient alterations for the management of water resources in South Africa”. The objectives of the research were…
Kenya Road Upgrade Biodiversity Action Plan. GroundTruth was requested to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan for the prosed upgrade of the Illasit-Taveta road, in south-central Kenya. Biodiversity Action Plans are required for development projects in critical habitats and recommended for high-risk projects in natural areas. The primary purpose of developing this Biodiversity Action Plan for…
Willowton Oil Spill Summary. An unfortunate accident occurred on Tuesday 13th of August 2019 at the Willowton Group Facility in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Above ground storage tanks containing vegetable oil, sunflower oil, and diluted caustic soda collapsed or were damaged, spilling approximately 110 tonnes of contaminant into the Baynespruit River, a tributary of the…