Scope: Sustainable development is not easy. In many regions, including the grasslands of South Africa, physical processes such as soil erosion, alien invasive species, and inappropriate fire management threaten natural resources and human livelihoods. The interactions among such processes, especially in the context of climate change and societal developments, are hard to understand and can only be considered together, as one land system.
The dynamics of land systems (past, present, future), as well as the vulnerability to change, are determined by a set of biophysical, socio-economic, and governance drivers. The manner in which these drivers affect the components of the system accordingly determine the appearance of the landscape and its potential use. To comprehend these complex dynamics a multi/interdisciplinary approach is required where the system and all the driving components are regarded as a whole.
This course addresses the interdisciplinary and multi-scale analysis of the dynamics of land systems, covering the geological, ecological, land use, societal and governance perspectives over different scales of time and space. The main goal of the course is to investigate past and current dynamics of the region and predict possible futures in an inter- / trans-disciplinary context.
Focus and learning goals
The course aims at the study of complex land systems with a focus on the spatial variability, the multi-faceted nature, and the dynamics of these systems. The analysis requires input from multiple disciplines where the underlying processes have an inter- or trans-disciplinary character.
Specifically, after the course participants can:
- Describe the variability of complex land-use systems and landscapes from an interdisciplinary perspective;
- Conceptualize the land-use system in a broader land system, i.e., develop a conceptualized model;
- Quantitative interpretation (via models) of data;
- Derive key processes underlying the dynamics of landscapes through a combination of legacy data, field work, and stakeholder interviews;
- Have insight in the variation in techniques for landscape analyses applied in various disciplines;
- Define and analyse alternative scenarios through different techniques;
- Interpret and combine legacy data and recognize its strengths and weaknesses.
The course is held in the Northern Maloti-Drakensberg, South Africa. Land use in this area is primarily directed towards (nomadic) pastoralism, nature reserves, commercial farming, small-holder farming and (peri-)urban areas.
Target group: The course is aimed at PhD candidates, postdocs, and other academics
Course duration: 10 days
Contact: PE&RC Office: office.pe@wur.nl
Registration of interest: You can register your interest HERE (note: this is not an official registration).
