1. Publications by the Marine Resource Assessment & Management (MARAM) group
UCT’s MARAM group published several marine ecosystem / fisheries monitoring studies in 2024. For example:
- Ortega-Cisneros, K., de Moor, C.L., Cochrane, K. L.: “Linking the movement of South African sardine and anchovy to environmental variables using a model of intermediate complexity.” This involves monitoring environmental variables and fish distributions, explicitly incorporating ecosystem-based fisheries management into management strategy evaluation, with a focus on small pelagics.”
These illustrate sustained marine ecosystem monitoring: assessing fish populations, environmental drivers, and evaluating management strategy outcomes
2. UCT academic leads climate change research on ocean systems — June 2024
UCT associate professor Sarah Fawcett was selected to lead a major research effort (US$9.5 million in support awarded) under the Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute (OBVI) to improve ocean data and modelling, especially focused on oxygen and biogeochemical dynamics along the West African margin. Monitoring of oxygen levels, biogeochemical cycles are indicators of marine ecosystem health. Through OBVI, Schmidt Sciences will bring together 60 scientists from 11 countries to conduct research to advance our understanding of ocean chemistry and the resilience of marine ecosystems in a rapidly warming world. Fawcett will lead a team consisting of fellow UCT colleagues: Dr Kelly Ortega-Cisneros, Dr Moagabo Ragoasha and Professor Lynne Shannon, as well as Dr Sarah Nicholson (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), and professors Laure Resplandy, Daniel Sigman, Curtis Deutsch, Bess Ward (all Princeton University). They are also joined by Stellenbosch University’s Professor Alakendra Roychoudhury and Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources senior scientist, Anja van der Plas.
3. SANAP research projects (UCT) for 2024-2026
Under the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), UCT projects for 2024-2026 include “Antarctic MIZ Observations: Interdisciplinary approaches to resolve seasonal sea-ice variability,” and “Growth dynamics of sea ice … how they affect the sea ice mechanics.” These are marine/polar ecosystem monitoring initiatives.
4. Water Stressed Cities project (UCT’s African Climate & Development Initiative ACDI)
This project includes research in Cape Town and other cities on household responses to water crises, including research on groundwater, domestic water supply, etc. While primarily social / behavioural, it necessarily involves monitoring of water supply systems, groundwater resources, and water usage / shortage incidents. The research involves gathering hydrological / water supply / water usage / groundwater data, at community/household level.
5. “Sustainable management of water resources through Real Time Control with University of Cape Town dam as a case study”
This is a 2024 UCT thesis / case study using real-time control systems for dam outlet operations in the UCT watershed. It addresses supplementing demand via stormwater harvesting and mitigating flooding. Monitoring dam outflow, stormwater flows, storage, etc., are all parts of aquatic ecosystem/watershed health monitoring.
6. Publications from UCT’s Department of Oceanography (Publications-2024 list)
The UCT oceanography department’s publications include multiple studies that monitor oceanographic variables (e.g., freshwater input effects, marine heatwaves, chlorophyll and productivity, etc.). For example: “The influence of freshwater input on the evolution of the 1995 Benguela Niño”, “Marine heatwaves and global warming impacts on winter waters in the Southern Indian Ocean”, “The role of biota in the Southern Ocean carbon cycle”, etc. These works include observational and remote sensing dataset monitoring.
Future Water Institute evidence
1. “Life Cycle and Impact of Waterborne Contaminants of Emerging Concern on Small-scale Agriculture in Peri-urban Areas” (2024-2027)
Project funded by the Water Research Commission, started in 2024 among others. Involves determining the fate of contaminants of emerging concern in surface and groundwater in peri-urban catchments, monitoring usage of greywater, stormwater, and studying uptake in soil/crops. This work includes active water quality monitoring. This is directly relevant to aquatic ecosystem health (freshwater and possibly runoff into downstream systems) because it tracks contaminants in water and soil.
2. Nature Engineered Urban Design for Water Recycling & Reuse, Phase 2 (2024-2027)
This project aims to address the pressing water security challenges faced in South Africa, with a focus on the Western Cape province through management of greywater and stormwater. The project implements water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles to mitigate water scarcity and promote sustainable water management practices. In this context, the project primarily emphasised the adoption of decentralised and nature based solutions (NbS) for grey water and stormwater management, targeting both informal settlements and high-density middle-income areas. The main phase of NEU-Water is designed to demonstrate and analyse technology and urban planning interventions. The first phase of the project is complete and the project team have been invited to submit Phase 2 which involves design and implementation. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in Germany and based at the Water Hub.
The team presented at the Water Security in Africa (WASA) Conference between 25th - 27th September 2024, the launch of Phase 2 of the NEU Water project. The WASA research programme contributes to increased water security in Africa by developing innovative water technologies and improved water management practices. The research aims to improve water supply and wastewater management for the benefit of people and environment in the face of climate change.
3. CLARE Tuwe Pamoja, “Let’s be together” for equitable urban nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation (2024 – 2026)
The Tuwe Pamoja project aims to strengthen critical capacities across key urban actors (city officials, informal residents, NGOs, CBOs and researchers) to co-design and implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in ways that contribute to urban development that is just, sustainable and climate resilient, particularly for the most marginalised.
The starting point is to strengthen capacity to generate and consolidate both qualitative and quantitative sources of on-the-ground social and ecological data that can inform NbS. Capacities also need to be strengthened to work with this evidence base to make decisions around planning, implementation and policy related to NbS. The project will draw on a Climate Resilience Development Pathways (CRDP) framing that emphasises the importance of bringing together multiple actor groups (with various values and priorities) and different evidence types (qualitative and quantitative) to frame nature-based climate action and interventions in a more holistic context that considers diverse needs across time.
Tuwe Pamoja will build capacity in four African cities, where there are active Slum Dweller International (SDI) federations, namely Cape Town (South Africa), Lusaka (Zambia), Accra (Ghana) and Nairobi (Kenya). University partners across the four cities will collaborate with SDI and their local federations before expanding lessons through two global networks: SDI, which works across many cities at the local and community level, and the C40 Cities network, which works across many cities at the city government levels.
4. “Application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to leverage satellite imagery and remote sensing data to adapt sustainable drainage systems …” (2024-2026)
Project under Future Water Institute, starting 2024. It uses remote sensing and satellite imagery to monitor environmental factors in catchments (flood risks, drainage / urban water flows). That kind of monitoring of hydrological / water regime is part of ecosystem health.
5. PaWS (Pathways to Water-Resilient South African Cities) living laboratory (Mitchells Plain stormwater pond)
Although the wrap-up was reported in 2025, the project was active in 2024, including hydrology, water quality tests (monitoring certain contaminants, measuring infiltration, contaminant removal) of stormwater and its infiltration into groundwater, and biodiversity/habitat observations in the pond ecosystem.
6. Partnerships / Collaborators listing
Future Water Institute collaborates with City of Cape Town River Warden Program and Liveable Urban Waterways Program, Table Mountain Water Source Partnership, Mosselbank River Conservation Trust, etc., as listed in its collaborators page. Such partnerships typically involve water monitoring (flow, quality, health of rivers / streams).