Oppenheimer Research Conference 2024 - Research and Conservation

Livestream program

Session 1

9 October 08:00 – 10:20

Welcome and Introduction

Nicky Oppenheimer

Keynote address

His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe

Plenary

Global impacts of climate change on natural systems and consequences for conservation of biodiversity

Camille Parmesan

Presentation

Tipping points – making some uncomfortable
trade-offs

Howard Hendriks

Session 2

9 October 10:50-12:50

Results Presentation

Land Reform and Biodiversity: Bridging the Gap and Potential for Integration

Bulelwa Mabasa and Thomas Karberg

Full presentation

The future of the grassy biomes

William Bond

Results Presentation

The Functional Benguela Microbiome: a closer look at upwelling dynamics and marine microbial diversity and function

Yameen Badrodien

Results Presentation

Continental-scale disturbance regimes and tree resprouting responses

Fezile Mtsetfwa

Full presentation

Patterns of natural and human-induced climate change on Madagascar through recent geological time

Steven Goodman

Results Presentation

Unlocking the wildlife economy in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA)

Irene Mhlanga

Session 3

9 October 14:00-15:30

Full presentation

Trophy hunting: from public furore to published figures

Amy Dickman, Lovemore Sibanda, Darragh Hare

Results Presentation

African species of Dipcadi (Asparagaceae, subfamily Silloideae) discussed relative to ITS sequence data

Christopher Chapano

Results Presentation

Leveraging Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) for Conservation: Baka indigenous people and hunting in Central Africa

Fanny Marcelle Djomkam

Results Presentation

Strategic dissonance, climate change and conservation

Guy Midgley

Results Presentation

When will the extinction crisis begin? Notes from the Namib Desert frontline

Wendy Foden

Session 4

9 October 16:00-17:00

One-on-one Interview

The Business of Conservation

Jonathan Oppenheimer

Bongani Bingwa

Session 5

10 October 08:30-09:00

PLENARY

Transforming spaces of research

Dr Winnie Kiiru

Session 6

10 October 09:00-09:40

Speed presentation

Crouching Leopard, Hidden Camera: Comparing Methods for Estimating Leopard Density in an Enclosed Reserve

Robi Watkinson

Speed presentation

Black rhino trophic rewilding: A test case in a semi-arid savanna

Olivia Jones

Speed presentation

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 levels on dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae)

Nthabiseng Mathikge

Speed presentation

Perceptions of the importance, value, and role of nearby Southern Mistbelt Forests held by nearby communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Siboniso Magoso

Speed presentation

The role of zebra stripes: Testing possible drivers of geographical variation in stripe patterns

Amy Chen

Speed presentation

Call Library Development for Small Mammals on Telperion Nature Reserve

Thato Mathoko and Georgia Muller

Speed presentation

The Influence of hydrology on vegetation dynamics in fynbos wetlands

Mpho Havhi

Session 7

10 October 11:00-13:00

Results Presentation

Human Exposure to Microplastics and Plastic-related Chemical Contaminants Results

Gideon Idowu

Full presentation

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in their newfound home, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana

Shimane Makhabu

Results Presentation

Rethinking Natural Resources Governance for a Low Carbon Future

Zainab Usman

Full presentation

The future of Ethiopian wolves: habitat loss, extinctions and a role for conservation translocations

Claudio Sillero

Results Presentation

A transformative tool for monitoring biodiversity using a combination of traditional ecological knowledge with leading-edge analytics and AI

Zoe Jewell

Results Presentation

Handling the Heat: Managing Microclimates for Nesting Desert Hornbills

Obakeng Pule

Session 8

10 October 14:00-15:30

Results Presentation

Intra-African Collaboration in Natural Product Sciences through NABSA

Berhanu Abegaz Molla

Results Presentation

Biodiversity and Climate Seeds of Zambia: How bottom-up initiatives contribute to global and national biodiversity and climate commitments

Mulako Kabisa

Full presentation

Getting Africa’s grasslands on the map: building the science and policy case for priority conservation

Sally Archibald

Results Presentation

How small diurnal mammals cope with heat and cold in the Kalahari: a study of ambient heat load, animal behaviour and body temperature

Chanel Rampartab

Results Presentation

Impact of rainfall variation and fire on acacia demographics at Tswalu Reserve

Susanne Vetter

online session

Session 9

10 October 16:00-18:30

Panel discussion

The Oppenheimer Programme in African Landscape Systems (OPALS): Supporting more sustainable interactions between people and the environment across Africa

Tom Powell
Enimhien Akhabue
Milcah Kirinyet
Alan Nare
Minda Cossa
Tapiwa Gumbo
Chafika Phiri

NEW JWO RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENT AWARD PRESENTATION

Jonathan Oppenheimer

online session

Session 10

11 October 08:30-09:00

PLENARY

Personalised ecology

Kevin Gaston

online session

Session 11

11 October 09:05-10:40

Results Presentation

Changing the conservation narrative: Aligning conservation and development in Africa

Leigh-Ann Kant

Full presentation

Developing Regional Capacity for Marine Research in the Western Indian Ocean

Arthur Tuda

Results Presentation

The multiple dimensions of information in animal vocalisations and the implications for understanding group dynamics

Marta Manser

Results Presentation

Elephant movements as a driver of landscape level conservation

Morgan Hauptfleisch

Results Presentation

The overlap of protected and conservation areas with centres of bryophyte endemism in the flora of southern Africa region

Nonkululo Phephu

Bryophytes of the high mountains of Madagascar: a comparative analysis of diversity and distribution patterns

Lova Marline

online session

Session 12

11 October 11:00-14:00

Results Presentation

Rock Art of the Waterberg: Journeys of Transformation

Lyn Wadley

Results Presentation

Reproductive phenology variations of chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in southern African biomes

Locadia Dzingwena

Results Presentation

Early results from SEOSAW: a network of people, plots and methods to understand global change impacts in southern Africa

Justice Muvengwi

Full Presentation

100 Years of Biodynamic Agriculture: A Model for Sustainable Farming, Climate Mitigation, and Future Opportunities in Africa

Helen Van Zyl and André Tranquilini

Results Presentation

Reducing vector borne disease risk by optimizing artificial light expansion across Africa

Bernard Coetzee

Results Presentation

Durrell-Drones for Conservation in Madagascar

Andriatsitohaina Rakotozoely

Results Presentation

Evolutionary overcompensation for climate change protects butterflies for decades ahead

Michael Singer

Full Presentation

Exponential Roadmap for Africa

Conservation International (CI) and Future Ecosystems for
Africa (FEFA)

online session

Session 13

11 October 13:40-14:00

Conference Awards

Nicky Oppenheimer

Closing

Duncan MacFadyen

online session