Field Training: Building Capacity for Grassland Ecosystem Monitoring

The Mutinondo Wilderness has rolling hills of Miombo woodland interspersed by grassy waterlogged dambos. We brought a diverse team of from Copperbelt University, the University of the Witwatersrand, the Zambia Herbarium, and the University of Edinburgh to set up a long-term environmental monitoring plot which aims to determine how waterlogging, soil, frost, and fire create and maintain these grassland patches, and to highlight their unique biodiversity. Concurrently we were training colleagues to expand this work into spring-head savannas in the DRC and Zambia, and to determine how local communities use and value the ground layer flora. There is growing interest and momentum in the region for integrated tree-grass studies and we are fostering a strong collaborative network for ongoing research.

Field Training Goal: Building Capacity for Grassland Ecosystem Monitoring

A comprehensive field training course was successfully conducted in the Mutinondo Wilderness Area. This initiative brought together a diverse team of eight participants from Copperbelt University (Zambia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), the Zambia Herbarium, and project partners from the University of Edinburgh.

The primary objective of the training was to build technical capacity in two key areas: standardized data collection using the GGG (Global Grassy Group) and the installation and operation of environmental monitoring equipment. This skillset is fundamental for a long-term study investigating the impact of microclimatic variables on the distribution and resilience of grass species in the region.

Training Methodology and Partnership

The training was structured around a hands-on, practical approach. The first phase involved theoretical and practical sessions on the GGG protocol, ensuring all participants could accurately conduct grass vegetation surveys and identify key grass species. The second phase focused on the technical deployment of a network of soil moisture probes, equipped with data loggers to systematically track temperature and soil humidity. A weather station was mounted to systematically record the temperature, humidity, UV radiation, precipitation and wind speed and direction.

This endeavour was made possible through a crucial collaboration with the Mutinondo Wilderness administration. A agreement was established, granting the research team permission to install the equipment within the reserve. The administration has also committed to assisting with the periodic, systematic collection of climate data from the loggers, ensuring a continuous and reliable flow of information between research visits.

Long-Term Vision and Future Work

The data gathered through this monitoring network will provide a critical baseline for understanding seasonal variations. To capture a complete annual cycle, a second field campaign is already planned for the upcoming cold season (April-July 2026). This subsequent trip will allow for the collection of comparative data under different climatic conditions, significantly enriching the study’s findings.

Furthermore, this capacity-building initiative has immediate practical applications. The training will directly support two post-doctoral researchers who will be commencing their projects in November in DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The techniques mastered during this workshop—both the GGG survey methods and equipment handling—will be directly applied by them in their upcoming research, ensuring methodological consistency and a strong foundation for their individual projects. This program has therefore not only collected initial data but has also built a sustainable, skilled team capable of driving this research forward.