Final Countdown

The Toyota Enviro Outreach of 2011 is in the final stages and some of our learned and respected colleagues and friends will soon be leaving for their other lives out there. The first timers amongst us will definitely have interesting impressions and experiences of the time shared with other researchers at the two different sampling locations.

They share their thoughts with blog followers before they leave us.

Prof Erik Holm

After my first stint with the local iBol-team I have this overwhelming feeling that this is the modest beginning of a whole new era in biology. Compared to space exploration we are now at the backyard rocket stage, but eventually this project can develop into a paradigm shift in biology.
The mid 19th to mid 20th century saw biology progressing through ambitious multidisciplinary expeditions – from the voyage of the Beagle to the Swedish Expedition to Southern Africa after WW2. I just missed the last of these great joint ventures of discovery in my youth, and it is immensely gratifying to experience a revival of them in my old age.
To me this shared interest and aim of the bio-science is more than a technical cooperation.
It is a revival of a joint fascination with life.

Dr Andrew Deacon
It is with confidence that I can say: the Toyota Environment Outreach project is the ultimate experience for any biodiversity enthusiast! Since a major part of my research in SANParks (Savanna Unit) involves aspects of biodiversity (which is also my hobby!), I am really privileged to be included in this project. What impressed me most is that all of us were enjoying the exciting coastal environment, while we were also living our passion.

And all of this is made possible by the 9 Toyota vehicles kitted with the best equipment, enabling thirty people to camp in luxury, while Gerhard and Elmarie Groenewald and their competent team run the logistic programme like a smooth-oiled machine. Three meals a day from the field kitchen, tents as accommodation and every camping utensil, a field laboratory, and much more!
It is also exciting to interact with well-known experts and share their experiences in their fields of knowledge. In the end, I do appreciate the knowledge that the ultimate outcome of the project is the fact that the huge amount of species sampled will form the basis of the very exciting IBOL system for this part of Southern Africa.

Danie van der Walt
When I retired in 2009 and handed the reigns of 50/50 over to the next production team, I stressed that - apart from the good work that the team might have done in creating a greater awareness of environmental issues – we sadly also did nothing more than show-casing  the destruction of our natural world and documenting the loss of our biotic diversity over the past 25 years – because of  human need and greed.

Danie interviewing Eric

Project Aardwolf on KYKNet has been following the TEO project since its inception.
Producer Hermien Roelvert and myself (camera) were assigned to cover the KwaZulu Natal leg for this show as Prof Erik Holm – one of our co-presenters – is also one of the field scientists on the project . It was a first for both of us in the field with the team and it proved to be a most amazing experience. Having being involved in environmental and wildlife documentaries for most of my career, one is acutely aware of the incredible biotic diversity in Southern Africa - but also that the loss of species is a continuously and insidious process – something we don’t notice until it is much too late.
One also do not have to be rocket scientist to know that everything on earth is inter-linked and dependant on other living beings to keep living. Yet year after year – at international scientific congresses – we hear of more and more species that are now gone. Many of these species that disappear have not yet been described or their roles and value in nature defined. As Prof Erik Holm said most of the species we know today were first described many decades and even centuries ago. Clearly this ambitious DNA coding project is hugely significant and of far greater value than that first meets the eye. It not only serves as a control for what species are still around – but also to check if our taxonomy in the past has been accurate.

The TEO DNA coding team is compiled of many renowned scientists representing all the many study fields. What strikes one as an outsider is the absolute dedication and enthusiasm that all of them displays when they are out – hunting down the examples of the species that they expect in a region. They know the crisis that we are facing. It is an ambitious project that will run for many before it is even near completion – a valuable project that needs the support of the whole country.

Some of us have been on Eco Challenges and Toyota Enviro Outreaches from the pioneer stages to this one. Our blog readers also have a role as “citizen scientists” to contribute… This is how:

Renier Balt
A wise man once said,
“You can only see the picture when you join the dots together. And you can only join the dots when you look backwards from where you came to where you are today…”
With the privilege of participation in the growing endeavour what has now become the TEO, it is clear this is a project with direction, with growing significance. This is where bio-scientists from various disciplines get together in an internationally recognized project and share information with each other, whilst contributing their time and unique knowledge in their fields.

For a citizen scientist to be part of this project is a unique and special experience. One experiences the vast knowledge of nature from the leaders in their respective fields, and understands the magnitude of the challenge for SA to participate sustainably in the iBol project. And (maybe) this will become the one dot that one can play a part in to connect…

• The importance of citizens and nature lovers to contribute must grow. The cost of bio-scientists to do al the work is just too high and could be prohibitive. Citizen scientists can contribute by helping scientists to find species and reduce the cost of sampling. In future, citizen scientists could even become increasingly involved in the sampling process, through proper training and with regulation in place.
• In the meantime, participation in the ViTH project (the Virtual Tree Herbarium (www.vmus.adu.org.za) is a small step for every interested person in the right direction. And more initiatives to involve the public and citizen scientists should be implemented soon.

The TEO is world class. It is the gateway for bio-scientists to meet and share and participate in iBol.

Renier Balt
(Citizen scientist)

Scientist at work

Christiaan

Marieke

Hermann & Richard

Barnabas

Team Botany