SAAG | 2017 Biennial Conferene

SAAG BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2017

The 2017 Biennial Conference was hosted by the University of Swaziland, Kwaluseni, from 25-28 July 2017. The theme of the conference was SOUTHERN AFRICAN GEOMORPHOLOGY: PURE AND APPLIED and an overview of abstracts and the program is available here. Themes to which abstracts were submitted included:

Soil erosion and rehabilitation in theory and practice;
Bio-geomorphology: the use of plants to achieve geomorphic (landscape) objectives;
Cold climate geomorphology;
Fluvial geomorphology;
The geomorphology of wetland systems;
Coasts and coastal stability; and
Geomorphology in general.

Organising Committee & Sponsors

The conference would not have been possible without the dedication and sponsorship of multiple individuals.

The conference was organised by the 2017 SAAG conference organizing committee consisting of Heinz Beckedahl from the University of Swaziland, the University of Swaziland, Glaudine Kruger from Kruger & Associates, Role Nöffke from Hydromulch Pty., Paul Sumner from the University of Pretoria, and the outgoing SAAG president Jay le Roux from the University of the Free State.
A special thank-you goes to the Swaziland National Trust Commission for sponsoring the Delegates Dinner.
SAAG would also like to express their thanks to Paul Sumner and Heinz Beckedahl for organising the pre-conference field trip.
Similarly, SAAG thanks Heinz Beckedahl of the University of Swaziland, Paul Truong from the Vetiver Network International, and Roley Nöffke from Hydromulch (Pty) for organising the conference workshop and post-conference field trip.
We thank our sponsors the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Region Two, MACCAFERRI Africa, esri South Africa, ENDE MIC Vision, MTN Swaziland, the Rotary Club of Randburg, the Swaziland National Trust Commission, the University of the Free State (UFS), the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), and the Vetiver Network International.
Finally, the Cambridge University Press is thanked for sponsoring a copy of Soils of South Africa by Martin Fey as a prize for the best oral student presentation at the conference.

Keen to Read More?

Have a look at these links for more on the conference:

Image Gallery

Pre-Conference Field: Trip Day 1

Pre-Conference Field: Trip Day 2

Prof Paul Sumner talking about soil pipes and gully formation to workshop participants. — at Royal Natal National Park.
Catherine Smart talking about 'Rainfall variability and drought in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg from 1955-2015'. — at Royal Natal National Park.
Setting up camp - RNNP — at Royal Natal National Park.
Camping site for fieldtrip participants at the Royal Natal National Park - Thendele Camping Site — at Royal Natal National Park.
Amphitheater - RNNP — at Royal Natal National Park.
Amphitheater - RNNP.
Amphitheater - Royal Natal National Park.
Jay, Christel and Ivan at the Amphitheater - RNNP.
Smoke from a verld fire coming across the mountain — at Royal Natal National Park.
Royal Natal National Park.
Protea in the Royal Natal National Park.
Proteas at the Royal Natal National Park.

Mzu Kuse talking about 'Trends in soil erosion and land use in the upper Tugela River catchment'. — in Okhahlamba.
Sindiso Lubisis presenting on 'Soil erosion: a case study of Maqabaqabeni in the Loskop area'.
An animated discussion about Sindiso's gully study site. — in Imbabazane.
Workshop participant's vehicles all lined up nicely in a row... — in Imbabazane.
Extensive gully system at Sindiso's gully study site. — in Imbabazane.
Having finally reached the coast!

Pre-Conference Field: Trip Day 3

Conference

Henning Blignaut presenting on 'Geomorphic changes at the Tugela river mouth: a time series analyses'. — in Mandeni.
Henning Blignaut presenting on 'Geomorphic changes at the Tugela river mouth: a time series analyses'. — in Tugela Mouth, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Tugela River mouth.
Tugela River mouth.
Coastal vegetation at the Tugela River mouth — in Tugela Mouth, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Tugela River mouth — in Mandeni.
Siyaya River mouth — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Mivan Howard chatting to fieldtrip participants about 'Runoff modelling and land-use change in the Siyaya River catchment, northern KwaZulu-Natal'. — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Scaling dunes near the Siyaya River mouth.
Joos Esterhuizen talking about 'Dune dynamics and sand movement at the Tugela River mouth, Matigulu-Nyoni estuary and the Umlalazi estuary'. — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Umlalazi — in uMhlathuze.
Boating on the Umlalazi — in uMhlathuze.
Boating on the Umlalazi — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Black mangrove roots — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Mangroves at low tide — in uMhlathuze.
Mangrove snails — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Lichen - old man's beard — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
Trumpeter hornbill (boskraai) — in Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal.
Camping at Xaxaza, Mtunzini — in Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal.








2017 SAAG program.
SAAG 2017 Sponsors
A discussion on geomorphology taught at South African universities, chaired by Frank Eckardt.
A discussion on geomorphology taught at South African universities, chaired by Frank Eckardt.
The outgoing SAAG President Jay le Roux awarding the prize for the best student oral presenation to Namso Nyamela from Rhodes University.
SAAG delegates' dinner.
Delegates' dinner.

Post-Conference Workshop

Roley Nöffke from Hydromulch adressing workshop participants — in Matsapha, Manzini, Swaziland.	Prof Beckedahl adressing workshop participants — in Matsapha, Manzini, Swaziland.	Prof Beckedahl by the gully near the Ezulwini sewerage plant — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.
Workshop participants walking to a gully near the Ezulwini sewerage plant — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.	Close-up of the gully — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.	Vetiver grass used to stabilise slopes at the Ezulwini sewerage works — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.
Prof Beckedahl adressing workshop participants at the Ezulwini sewerage plant on the use of Vetiver grass for slope stabilisation — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.

SAAG BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2017

Organising Committee & Sponsors

Keen to Read More?

Image Gallery

Pre-Conference Field: Trip Day 1

Pre-Conference Field: Trip Day 2

Prof Paul Sumner talking about soil pipes and gully formation to workshop participants. — at Royal Natal National Park.

Catherine Smart talking about 'Rainfall variability and drought in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg from 1955-2015'. — at Royal Natal National Park.

Setting up camp - RNNP — at Royal Natal National Park.

Camping site for fieldtrip participants at the Royal Natal National Park - Thendele Camping Site — at Royal Natal National Park.

Amphitheater - RNNP — at Royal Natal National Park.

Amphitheater - RNNP.

Amphitheater - Royal Natal National Park.

Jay, Christel and Ivan at the Amphitheater - RNNP.

Smoke from a verld fire coming across the mountain — at Royal Natal National Park.

Royal Natal National Park.

Protea in the Royal Natal National Park.

Proteas at the Royal Natal National Park.

Mzu Kuse talking about 'Trends in soil erosion and land use in the upper Tugela River catchment'. — in Okhahlamba.

Sindiso Lubisis presenting on 'Soil erosion: a case study of Maqabaqabeni in the Loskop area'.

An animated discussion about Sindiso's gully study site. — in Imbabazane.

Workshop participant's vehicles all lined up nicely in a row... — in Imbabazane.

Extensive gully system at Sindiso's gully study site. — in Imbabazane.

Having finally reached the coast!

Pre-Conference Field: Trip Day 3

Conference

Henning Blignaut presenting on 'Geomorphic changes at the Tugela river mouth: a time series analyses'. — in Mandeni.

Henning Blignaut presenting on 'Geomorphic changes at the Tugela river mouth: a time series analyses'. — in Tugela Mouth, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Tugela River mouth.

Tugela River mouth.

Coastal vegetation at the Tugela River mouth — in Tugela Mouth, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Tugela River mouth — in Mandeni.

Siyaya River mouth — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Mivan Howard chatting to fieldtrip participants about 'Runoff modelling and land-use change in the Siyaya River catchment, northern KwaZulu-Natal'. — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Scaling dunes near the Siyaya River mouth.

Joos Esterhuizen talking about 'Dune dynamics and sand movement at the Tugela River mouth, Matigulu-Nyoni estuary and the Umlalazi estuary'. — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Umlalazi — in uMhlathuze.

Boating on the Umlalazi — in uMhlathuze.

Boating on the Umlalazi — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Black mangrove roots — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Mangroves at low tide — in uMhlathuze.

Mangrove snails — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Lichen - old man's beard — in Umlalazi, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.

Trumpeter hornbill (boskraai) — in Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal.

Camping at Xaxaza, Mtunzini — in Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal.

2017 SAAG program.

SAAG 2017 Sponsors

A discussion on geomorphology taught at South African universities, chaired by Frank Eckardt.

A discussion on geomorphology taught at South African universities, chaired by Frank Eckardt.

The outgoing SAAG President Jay le Roux awarding the prize for the best student oral presenation to Namso Nyamela from Rhodes University.

SAAG delegates' dinner.

Delegates' dinner.

Post-Conference Workshop

Roley Nöffke from Hydromulch adressing workshop participants — in Matsapha, Manzini, Swaziland.

Prof Beckedahl adressing workshop participants — in Matsapha, Manzini, Swaziland.

Prof Beckedahl by the gully near the Ezulwini sewerage plant — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.

Workshop participants walking to a gully near the Ezulwini sewerage plant — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.

Close-up of the gully — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.

Vetiver grass used to stabilise slopes at the Ezulwini sewerage works — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.

Prof Beckedahl adressing workshop participants at the Ezulwini sewerage plant on the use of Vetiver grass for slope stabilisation — in Ezulwini, Hhohho, Swaziland.