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08 September 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Falko Buschke
Dr Falko Buschke says the iconic sandstone cliffs of the eastern Free State are key to protecting wild plants and animals from climate change.

The iconic sandstone cliffs of the eastern Free State are often the focus of paintings and postcards. Now, new research shows they also protect wild plants and animals from climate change. This finding is the outcome of a collaborative research effort by the University of the Free State (UFS); BirdLife South Africa; the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and KU Leuven, Belgium, which has recently been published in the journal Biological Conservation.

Mountains key for climate change mitigation

The study, led by Dr Falko Buschke from the Centre for Environmental Management UFS, used satellite data from NASA to track the ecological effects of wet and dry seasons, including the record drought of 2015/16. This showed how vegetation on the cool and moist mountain slopes was less affected by dry spells.

The complex physical terrain allows moisture to accumulate in the shaded parts of the south-facing slopes and ravines. This creates cool and moist habitats for plants and animals that wouldn’t survive in the rest of the hotter and drier landscape.

The team also discovered that these positive effects of mountains do not end at the foot of the mountain, but extend at least 500m into the flatter lowlands. “Presumably because water and nutrients accumulate in these surrounding buffers due to run-off,” says Dr Buschke.

Butterflies find safety on mountains

In addition to their high-tech analysis of the area, the team also relied on old-fashioned fieldwork to monitor butterflies over two years. “The data showed us how these insects find safety on mountains during harsh climate conditions and can then recolonise the rest of the landscape after conditions improve,” explains Dr Buschke. “This gives us clues on the best way to protect nature,” he adds. 

This study took place in the Rooiberge-Riemland Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), an area significant for maintaining global biodiversity. Several species of insects, reptiles, birds and mammals here occur nowhere else on earth. “If they disappear here, they will go extinct from the whole planet forever,” says Dr Falko Buschke. 

Despite its ecological significance, most of the area is covered by commercial farmland. So, the next stage of the project is exploring ways of protecting these important habitats while ensuring that farmers can continue producing food and supporting rural livelihoods. 

Farmers hold the key to preserving biodiversity,” says Dr Buschke, “so conservation scientists need to work closely with them to ensure that we protect species for future generations.” 

News Archive

Five from UFS’s Department Quantity Surveying win prestigious awards
2014-11-17

 

Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

The University of the Free State (UFS) is very proud of five of its students who won the Kenneth K. Humphrey award at the recent International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC) conference held in Milan, Italy. Justin Haselau received the outstanding paper award. His study leader was Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department of Quantity Surveying at the UFS.

The ICEC is an organisation aimed at promoting cooperation between national and multinational cost engineering, quantity surveying and project management organisations worldwide, to the benefit of the industry and that of individual members.

The students received this prestigious award for the outstanding papers they delivered. The award is presented to authors under the age of 36.  Submissions come from all over the world and were adjudicated by an independent panel.

The other recipients were:

1.      Marique Kamperbeek – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
2.      Tshego Matshwi – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
3.      Matlakal Radebe – (study leader: Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, 2013)
4.      Elana Malherbe – (study leader: Dr Benita Zulch, 2012)

The winning papers were included in the electronic version of the ICEC’s International Cost Management Journal (ICMJ).

This is already the third time the university has won these awards.

Prof Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu, Head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS, says she is very proud of these achievements.

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