Kickstarting a fruitful collaboration: RESILIENCE & SEOSAW join forces to address socio-ecological challenges in African savannas

Recently, our RESILIENCE team at Utrecht University met with Penelope Mograbi (University of Edinburgh), the project scientist in the SEOSAW network, to explore opportunities for collaboration. The goal: to better understand and address the socio-ecological challenges facing Africa’s woodlands and savannas.

At its core, SEOSAW (the Socio-Ecological Observatory for Studying African Woodlands) is a dynamic network of over 100 researchers, working alongside local communities and policymakers to tackle the complex challenges facing Africa’s woodlands and savannas. The project seeks to integrate ecological research with social and economic insights, providing a more holistic understanding of the interactions between human activities and environmental change. In these ecosystems, the relationship between people and the environment is deeply interwoven: changes in the environment affect human societies, while human actions shape the environment in profound ways. By bridging ecological research with social sciences, SEOSAW aims to tackle both sides of this relationship, offering sustainable solutions for the region’s environmental and socio-economic issues.

An Open and Collaborative Network

SEOSAW operates as an open network, where researchers can contribute valuable data and expertise. One of its key resources is a comprehensive database of tree and stem measurements collected from plots across Sub-Saharan Africa. This rich dataset is available for research purposes and plays a critical role in understanding the region’s woodland ecosystems.

The map below shows the locations of these plots and highlights SEOSAW’s core region—southern Africa’s woody savannas and woodlands—according to White’s vegetation map of Africa. Key outputs of SEOSAW are I) novel analyses of the determinants of ecosystem structure and function for Africa, based on a synthesis of plot data, II) standardised methods for plot design and measurement, tailored to the socio-ecology of African woodlands, and III) a long-term plan for plot remeasurement within Africa.

Common Goals and Synergies Between RESILIENCE and SEOSAW

Both the RESILIENCE project and the SEOSAW network share common goals in understanding and addressing socio-ecological challenges. RESILIENCE focuses on how ecosystems like savannas and tundra adapt to and recover from disturbances such as climate change or natural disasters, while SEOSAW zooms in on the changing dynamics of southern African woodlands. Both initiatives are committed to enhancing adaptive capacity by integrating local knowledge with scientific research. This approach helps communities and ecosystems become more resilient in the face of environmental challenges. Both projects also emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the sustainable management of resources.

RESILIENCE draws from a diverse range of disciplines -ranging from physics and hydrology to environmental science and applied mathematics- to develop a new theory of resilience through spatial pattern formation. One key goal is to understand how certain spatial patterns of vegetation can help ecosystems avoid or even reverse tipping points. Identifying these patterns could reveal how human interventions can prevent environmental collapse. On the other hand, SEOSAW integrates ecologists, social scientists, and local communities to better manage and conserve woodland ecosystems. Both projects recognize the essential role of community involvement – ensuring that local stakeholders actively participate in decision-making and bring valuable traditional knowledge to the table.

While RESILIENCE and SEOSAW focus on different geographical regions and ecosystems, they share common principles: improving resilience and sustainability by understanding the interconnectedness of human and ecological systems, and advocating for holistic, interdisciplinary approaches to complex socio-ecological problems.

The Power of Data and Collaboration

Both projects prioritize data collection and monitoring. Through field-based research and participatory approaches, they track both environmental and socio-economic changes over time. This data-driven approach provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of management strategies and adaptation efforts. In the paper published by the SEOSAW partnership “A network to understand the changing socio-ecology of the southern African woodlands (SEOSAW): Challenges, benefits, and methods,” several key challenges are highlighted in relation to the sustainable management of southern African woodlands. One major challenge is the lack of integrated, long-term data that combines ecological and socio-economic factors, which makes it difficult to get a clear understanding of the complex interactions between people and ecosystems. Additionally, socio-ecological systems are inherently complex, with human behaviors, cultural contexts, and environmental changes all influencing how woodlands are used and managed, adding layers of complexity that vary regionally.

Another significant issue is the diversity of stakeholders involved in woodland management, ranging from local communities to government bodies and NGOs. These groups often have competing priorities, making coordination and collaboration challenging. The integration of local knowledge with scientific data is also a key hurdle, as traditional knowledge may not align with formal research models, and there is often a lack of trust or understanding between local communities and researchers. Furthermore, rapid environmental and social changes -such as climate change and land-use shifts- make it difficult to predict long-term trends and complicate the development of effective and sustainable management strategies.

Addressing these challenges requires building strong collaborative networks, fostering interdisciplinary research, and developing adaptive management strategies that account for both local needs and global environmental changes.

Linking Biodiversity and Spatial Patterns

Both biodiversity and spatial pattern formation have been shown to enhance ecosystem resilience, but our understanding of how they interact is still limited. By analyzing SEOSAW’s permanent sampling plot data, RESILIENCE aims to explore the connection between plant species diversity and spatial pattern formation in savanna ecosystems. For instance, do regions with fewer species form spatial patterns due to environmental stress, or does spatial patterning itself promote higher species diversity by creating more favorable micro-environments?

Understanding how these two drivers of resilience interact could provide valuable insights for managing ecosystems facing biodiversity loss and climate change.

A Shared Vision for a Resilient Future

Africa’s savannas and woodlands are not only vital for the environment but also for the millions of people who depend on them for livelihoods and sustenance. Through their collaboration, RESILIENCE and SEOSAW will improve our understanding of these ecosystems and their dynamics. By taking a holistic, socio-ecological approach, we generate data and knowledge aiming on support the protection and sustainable management of these landscapes as they face increasing pressure from both human and environmental factors.

Our joint efforts will hopefully serve as a powerful example of how science, community knowledge, and policy can work together to create a more resilient, equitable world.