von Maltitz, Graham P., Midgley, Guy F., Veitch, Jennifer, Brümmer, Christian, Rötter, Reimund P., Rixen, Tim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8376-891X, Brandt, Peter and Veste, Maik (2024) Synthesis and Outlook on Future Research and Scientific Education in Southern Africa. In: Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change. , ed. by von Maltitz, Graham P., Midgley, Guy F., Veitch, Jennifer, Brümmer, Christian, Rötter, Reimund P., Viehberg, Finn A. and Veste, Maik. Ecological Studies, 248 . Springer Nature Switzerland AG, Cham, pp. 933-964. ISBN 978-3-031-10948-5 DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_32.

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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.

Document Type:	Book chapter
Programme Area:	PA2
Research affiliation:	Biogeochemistry and Geology > Carbon and Nutrient Cycling
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_32
ISSN:	2196-971X
Date Deposited:	02 Apr 2024 13:04
Last Modified:	02 Apr 2024 13:04
URI:	http://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5422

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