“Critical Zones are defined as the thin layer of the Earth’s surface where rock, soil, water, air, and life interact to sustain ecosystems and human life (Brantley et al., 2016).” Understanding and managing these zones are essential for environmental sustainability, particularly in regions facing significant socio-ecological challenges.
From 22-27 July 2024, Dr Konosoang Sobane, Dr Lwando Mdleleni, Dr Kwanele Qonono, Ms Carolina Roscigno (Impact Assessment and Evaluation), and Dr Wilfred Lunga (DCES) from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) participated in the Critical Zone Africa (CZA) workshop held in Arusha, Tanzania. The CZA project is a collaborative initiative involving multiple stakeholders, universities, and institutions, including the University of Cape Town (South Africa), Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources – LUANAR (Malawi), the University of Zimbabwe, and the HSRC.
HSRC (Dr Konosoang Sobane, Dr Lwando Mdleleni, Dr Kwanele Qonono, (Impact Assessment and Evaluation), and Dr Wilfred Lunga (DCES)
The project partners are the primary stakeholders driving transformative change through regional collaboration to safeguard Critical Zones (CZs) and promote environmental sustainability, areas grappling with significant socio-ecological challenges that impact human livelihoods. The students are deeply engaged in various research projects central to the Critical Zone Africa (CZA) project. These projects advance academic scholarship, engaging in deep traditions of African environmental thought that can support new African voices in global environmental negotiations. They also play a pivotal role in raising awareness and educating communities about the importance of protecting Critical Zones and contributing to the establishment of sound environmental governance policies. The CZA project empowers students to shape a more sustainable future for their study regions by bridging the gap between scientific research and practical policy applications.
The workshop concluded with a series of strategic actions to advance the Critical Zone Africa (CZA) project and enhance its impact across participating regions. The July 2024 research workshop in Arusha resolved among other things on developing a coordinated approach to site visits and community engagement, ensuring project teams within CZA project interact directly with local communities, gather on-the-ground insights, and foster deeper connections with their communities to inform research, policy and solution in the Critical Zones (CZs). Recently, the HSRC team has conducted two community and stakeholder engagements in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe to fulfil its commitments. The community and stakeholder summary report in Ethiopia can be accessed in this link (https://hsrc.ac.za/news/impact-assessment-and-evaluation/community-engagement-in-ethiopias-critical-zones/), while Zimbabwe’s summary report can be accessed at this Link (https://hsrc.ac.za/news/climate-change-environment-and-sustainability/community-engagement-in-zimbabwes-critical-zone-lake-chivero-catchment/)
