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UFS postdoc brings ecological balance and sustainable living practices for the City of Tshwane

16 May 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo supplied

Dr Yolandi Schoeman believes the project is directly contributing to the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity, innovating towards creating unique urban biodiversity markets, and creating a thriving natural habitat that supports ecological balance and resilience.

Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), recently congratulated the City of Tshwane for the work done on urban greening and nature-based solutions that resulted in its entry: ‘Republic of South Africa City of Tshwane Pretoria East Urban Biosphere Reserve’ being selected as one of 21 finalists in the Living Green for Biodiversity category of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024.

The list of finalists comprises the three highest-scoring entries in each of the seven categories. The Tshwane project was entered in the Living Green for Biodiversity and Urban Ecosystem Restoration category as well as the Living Green for Urban Infrastructure and Liveability category.

Dr Yolandi Schoeman, Postdoctoral Fellow/Researcher in Ecological Engineering in the centres for Mineral Biogeochemistry and Environmental Management and the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa at the University of the Free State (UFS), played a critical role in conceptualising and driving the bio-intelligent approach that is integral to the Tshwane SA Biosphere Reserve project.

She states that being part of a project recognised as a finalist for such a prestigious global award is profoundly gratifying. “It underscores the importance and urgency of our work in ecological engineering and biodiversity conservation, validating our efforts to create resilient urban ecosystems that can inspire similar initiatives globally.”

Enhancing urban sustainability

According to her, it is one of the university’s flagship projects in Gauteng. “Our team was pivotal in developing the methodological framework that facilitated the integration of ecological, economic, social, and technological dimensions to effectively address climate change, biodiversity loss, disconnections in coupled human and natural systems, and enhance urban sustainability.”

Dr Schoeman says the project was initiated in the early stages of their investigations into sustainable urban development, with notable developments in 2023, as highlighted during the City of Tshwane Climate Change and Research Conference. She indicates that the project is continuing, with phases that include various baseline research activities, active ecosystem regeneration, continuous monitoring, roll-out of a unique biodiversity citizen science approach, integrated and inclusive stakeholder involvement, creating a unique urban biodiversity market, awareness and capacity building, and moving towards formally applying to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the formal recognition of the urban biosphere region within the greater Pretoria East area.

She remarks that her inspiration to engage in this project stemmed from a commitment to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, particularly in urban settings. “The most remarkable aspect of the project is its innovative approach to integrating urban development with ecological engineering, fostering a sustainable coexistence between humans and nature that serves as a model for cities worldwide,” she says.

She is excited about the impact of the work that has been done. Not only is the project directly contributing to the regeneration and conservation of biodiversity, creating a thriving natural habitat that supports ecological balance and resilience, but it is also impacting the greater Tshwane community. Dr Schoeman believes that the project significantly enhances community engagement and participation, which in turn fosters greater awareness and responsibility towards sustainable living practices.

Crafting practical, impactful solutions

Besides her instrumental role in making an impact, Dr Schoeman also enjoyed the project, particularly the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders, including local communities, government bodies, and fellow researchers. “This multidisciplinary collaboration has not only enriched the project but has also been instrumental in crafting practical, impactful solutions tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of Tshwane,” she comments.

As a finalist in the Living Green for Biodiversity category of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024, the city of Tshwane will receive a Highly Commended certificate at an awards ceremony in September in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and will ultimately have the opportunity to win the title of Grand Winner of the 2024 edition of the AIPH World Green City Awards.

News Archive

Historians must place African history on world stage – Dr Zeleza

2017-05-30

From the left: Panellists Rev Henry Jackson,
Prof Irikidzayi Manase and Arno Van Niekerk at a book
launch and panel discussion on Africa Day hosted by the
UFS Sasol Library.
Photo: Mamosa Makaya

“African historians must take seriously the challenge of placing African history in world history, and in the history of our species, Homo sapiens.”

With these words, Dr Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, Vice Chancellor of the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, stressed the continent’s challenge.

According to him the contest should continue to recover and reconstruct Africa’s long history. Liberating African knowledges can be done by: “Provincialising Europe that has monopolised universality, universalising Africa beyond its Eurocentric provincialisation, and engaging histories of other continents on their own terms.”

University celebrates Africa Month in various ways
Dr Zeleza delivered the ninth Africa Day Memorial Lecture, titled The Decolonisation of African Knowledges, at the University of the Free State (UFS). The lecture, hosted by the Centre for Africa Studies (CAS), took place on 24 May 2017 in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus and was one of the ways in which the UFS celebrated Africa Month.

Scholars should immerse themselves in these thoughts
Dr Zeleza focused on two issues, which he said were interconnected. They were the unfinished project of decolonising African knowledges and the continent's positioning in global knowledge production.

He said Africa’s scholars and students should “immerse themselves in the rich traditions of African social thought going back millennia”. According to him the continent’s research profile still remains weak in global terms.

“It is imperative that the various key stakeholders in African higher education from governments to the general public to parents, and to students, faculty, staff, and administrators in the academic institutions themselves, raise the value proposition of African higher education for 21st century African societies, economies, and polities.”

“Colonialism is associated with injustice
and inequality, but what happens when
our liberators become our oppressors?”

Library celebrates with panel discussion and book launch
The UFS Sasol Library celebrated Africa Day by presenting a book launch and panel discussion on 25 May 2017, on the pertinent and current political theme of land redistribution with a comparative basis of land invasions in Zimbabwe.

Prof Irikidzayi Manase discussed his book White Narratives: The Depiction of Post-2000 Land Invasions in Zimbabwe, accompanied by Rev Henry Jackson who wrote Another Farm in Africa. A perspective of the economic implications of land redistribution in South Africa was discussed by panellist Arno Van Niekerk: Senior Lecturer of Economics at the UFS Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Inequality still an African problem
The content of the books are a stark reminder of the burning issues of inequality and loss of identity of those who lost their farms in Zimbabwe, a collection of memoirs by white farmers and their families. Rev Jackson gave a religious perspective on reconciliation, forgiveness and the question of land ownership, saying that healing of injustice begins with forgiveness of past transgressions.

Van Niekerk highlighted that while land issues were important, “social cohesion is affected by the economic decisions that will be made”. In closing, Prof Manase called for serious consideration of what the future may hold. “Colonialism is associated with injustice and inequality, but what happens when our liberators become our oppressors?”

The panel discussion was attended by staff and students of the university, and was lit up by robust discussions on possible historical and future solutions to the question of land, decolonisation and political power struggles in Southern Africa and lessons to be learned from Zimbabwe.

UFS celebrates Africa Month (24 May 2017)

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