Conference field trips
PRECONFERENCE FIELD TRIP
RAMSAR WETLANDS MAKIETIE! ...from MIDDELPUNT to BUFFELSPOORT
Join us on an exciting and rewarding three-day pre-conference visit to Middelpunt, the newest RAMSAR wetlands site, as well as the magnificent Makuleke 'Panneveld' and Nylsvley. The visit will be facilitated by Anton Linström and accompanied by wetland specialists and knowledgeable field rangers.
The trip is self-drive and self-funded, and accommodation booking information will be sent to participants by the Indaba Secretariat. Accommodation, meals and beverages for your own account.
Minimum number of participants 10 persons
PROGRAMME
| Fri 20 October 2023 | |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Meet at Middelpunt, near Dullstroom, spend three hours in the field. |
| 13:00 | Depart Middelpunt for Punda Maria Rest Camp |
| 18:30 | Arrive Punda in time for dinner at restaurant, stay over. |
| Sat 21 October 2023 | |
| 07:00 | Breakfast at the restaurant or prepare your own. |
| 07:30 | Full day in the field visiting the pans under expert guidance of wetland specialists and rangers. |
| 19:00 | Dinner at restaurant, stay over at Punda Maria Rest Camp |
| Sun 22 October 2023 | |
| 07:00 | Breakfast and departure |
| 11:30 | Arrive Nylsvlei and spend the day in the field.
Stay over at Nylsvley Nature Reserve, dinner at the restaurant. |
| Mon 23 October 2023 | |
| 07:00 | Depart Nylsvley Nature Reserve. |
| 09:30 | Arrive Buffelspoort. |
| 11:00 | Indaba starts. |
IN-CONFERENCE FIELD TRIPS TUESDAY 24 OCTOBER 2023
1. FIELD VISIT TO KGASWANE MOUNTAIN RESERVE
| DATE: | 24 October 2023 |
| TIME: | 13:00 – 17:00 (4 hours) |
| VENUE: | Kgaswane Mountain Reserve |
Maximum number of attendees: 90
The attendees to travel together in 4 x 22-seater buses to limit traffic in the reserve. Attendees need to bring gumboots/water boots, hat, sunscreen, long pants. The group leaders will have soil/peat augers with to show the attendees the differences in field.
Organisers: Agricultural Research Council (Dr Althea Grundling and Dr Kwazi Zuma) with support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Pretoria (Ms Jessica Suplie and Ms Oda Muhr).
Themes and Group leaders (tbc)
- Wetland Types, Vegetation, Soil and Hydrology: Jason le Roux and Tshifhiwa Malise.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Tlotlisang Nkhase
- Nematode Diversity: Dr Chantelle Girgan
- Wetland Rehabilitation: Mr Eric Munzhedzi / Dr Piet-Louis Grundling.
PROGRAMME
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Organising in four groups (buses depart from Buffelspoort) |
| 13:00 – 13:05 | Opening by Dr Kwazi Zuma (ARC-I&P) |
| 13:05 – 13:15 | Welcome by Ms Emelang Malefo (Acting Reserve Manager) |
| 13:15 – 13:30 | Overview of past and current wetland projects at Kgaswane Mountain Reserve by Dr Althea Grundling Research Team Manager: Water Science, ARC-NRE. |
| 13:30 – 16:30 | Groups depart at 13:30 from the look-out point in Kgaswane Mountain Reserve. Anticipated time when the field trips will be complete 16:30. |
| 17:00 | Return to Buffelspoort. |
2. FIELD VISIT TO RIETFONTEIN CONSERVANCY
| DATE: | 24 October 2023 |
| TIME: | 13:00 – 17:00 (4 hours) |
| Venue: | ATKV Buffelspoort to Rietfontein Conservancy (20 km to) |
Maximum number of attendees: 65
The attendees to travel together in 3 x 22-seater buses to limit traffic in the reserve. Attendees need to bring gumboots/water boots, hat, sunscreen, long pants. The group leaders will show rehabilitation work and their effectiveness and Peat auguring profiling.
Themes and Group leaders (tbc):
- Wetland Rehabilitation work: Eric Munzhedzi or Dr Piet-Louis Grundling
- Soil/peat auguring and sampling: Dr Piet-Louis Grundling
PROGRAMME
| 13:00 – 13:10 | Welcome by Conservancy representative |
| 13:10 – 13:20 | Overview of wetland rehabilitation projects at Rietfontein Conservancy by Dr Piet-Louis Grundling or Eric Munzhedzi. |
| 13:20 – 13:30 | Overview of alien invasive clearing at Rietfontein Conservancy by Mr Vusi Lubisi or Ms J Modisane |
| 13:30 – 13:40 | Organising in groups (three groups depending on the confirmed numbers) |
| 13:40 – 16:30 | Groups depart from the parking area . Anticipated time when the field trips will be complete 16:30. |
| 17:00 | Return to Buffelspoort |
