SAEON Maputaland Coastal Plain, Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality

SAEON Long term hydro-ecological research platform focused on understanding the relative impacts of climate and land use land cover change on ecosystems services This is a groundwater driven system (sandy unconsolidated aquifer), forming part of the Zululand Aquifer Strategic Groundwater Source Area. There are no surface rivers importing water into the system hence is is dependent on local rainfall for recharge, making it sensitive to changes in rainfall patterns. The site incorporates lake Sibaya, South Africa's largest freshwater lake, which falls within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, World heritage site and is a RAMSAR site. The region is typified by impoverished and vulnerable communities , with few sources of income. SAEON has instrumented the grund water catchment and its boundaries with raingauges, weather stations, surface renewal systems and an eddy covariance tower. We are also monitoring ground water levels in a number of established monitoring wells. Using a social ecological systems approached, and focused on co-learning, we have developed strong relations with three local communities within the area. The intention is to attract collaborators wishing to co locate instruments as well as perform multidisciplinary work or simply collaborate. We welcome diverse fields of expertise from earth systems science, biodiversity to social and economics sciences.