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Synthesis and Outlook on Future Research and Scientific Education in Southern Africa. In: Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change

  • Graham P. von Maltitz
  • Guy F. Midgley
  • Jennifer Veitch
  • Christian Brümmer
  • Reimund P. Rötter
  • Tim Rixen
  • Peter Brandt
  • Maik Veste

Abstract

The sustainability of southern Africa’s natural and managed marine and terrestrial ecosystems is threatened by overuse, mismanagement, population pressures, degradation, and climate change. Counteracting unsustainable development requires a deep understanding of earth system processes and how these are affected by ongoing and anticipated global changes. This information must be translated into practical policy and management interventions. Climate models project that the rate of terrestrial warming in southern Africa is above the global terrestrial average. Moreover, most of the region will become drier. Already there is evidence that climate change is disrupting ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. This is likely to continue in the foreseeable future, but impacts can be partly mitigated through urgent implementation of appropriate policy and management interventions to enhance resilience and sustainability of the ecosystems. The recommendations presented in the previous chapters are informed by a deepened scientific understanding of the relevant earth system processes, but also identify research and knowledge gaps. Ongoing disciplinary research remains critical, but needs to be complemented with cross-disciplinary and transdisciplinary research that can integrate across temporal and spatial scales to give a fuller understanding of not only individual components of the complex earth-system, but how they interact.

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von Maltitz G.P., Midgley G.F., Veitch J., Brümmer C., Rötter R.P., Rixen T., Brandt P. and Veste M. (2024) Synthesis and Outlook on Future Research and Scientific Education in Southern Africa. In: von Maltitz G.P., Midgley G.F., Veitch J., Brümmer C., Rötter R.P., Viehberg F.A. & Veste M. (eds.). Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change (pp. 933-964). 10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_32

Details

Forschungsschwerpunkte
Datum 06.01.2024
Seiten 933-964
Buchtitel Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change
Herausgeber von Maltitz G.P., Midgley G.F., Veitch J., Brümmer C., Rötter R.P., Viehberg F.A. and Veste M.
ISBN 978-3-031-10948-5
ISSN 2196-971X
Open Access Open Access (open)
Open Access Status Open Access (open)
Eprints_link https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5422

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