Pandor visits Jonkershoek research site

PRETORIA: The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) observatory in Jonkershoek is proof of how several organisations can work together to create greater benefits for South Africans and for generations to come.

27 Feb 2012

This is according to Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor, who visited the Jonkershoek Research site in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 21 February 2012.

The Jonkershoek Forestry Research Centre is situated at the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which includes the smaller Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, and it lies near the town of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.

In the early years the research programme and catchments at Jonkershoek, were managed by the then Department of Forestry through the South African Forestry Research Institute (SAFRI).

Speaking during her visit to the site, Pandor called on all stakeholders to continue to grow their invaluable support for SAEON's observation, information and education programmes.

SAEON is a national research programme established by the Department of Science and Technology within the National Research Foundation (NRF).

It provides research and observation data on long-term environmental trends, in particular to provide timely warning to policy makers and resource managers on the impact of anthropogenic Global Change on natural resources.

In addition, it archives environmental data in a form accessible to all so that this data may be used in future studies to determine the direction of change.