LTO-LAND

LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS ON LAND
INTEGRATED FACILITY (IF)

The LTO-Land Integrated Facility (IF) aims to ensure the continuity of the established long-term observation networks in three different regions:

The Prince Edward Island system, which includes Marion and Prince Edward Islands (owned by South Africa). 

Gough Island (owned by the United Kingdom) where South Africa leases the land to undertake observations. 

The Dronning Maud Land (DML) section of Antarctica where SANAE IV is located. 

This is done by fulfilling the polar and sub-Antarctic terrestrial infrastructural needs for long-term monitoring by the land-based observation networks.

The IF will enhance the existing capacity, strengthen existing research themes, and allow for the development of new themes with a focus on local human capacity development and international collaboration.

HOST OF LTO-LAND

South African Environmental Observation Network
NRF-SAEON Egagasini Node, Foretrust Building, Cape Town

IMPACT OF LTO-LAND

LTO-Land aims to contribute to South Africa’s already recognised capacity in undertaking long-term observations of the polar environment. LTO-Land will enhance South Africa’s scientific research capabilities by providing a dedicated platform for monitoring and studying various aspects of the land environment in polar regions. This will include areas such as oceans and marine ecosystems under global change, earth system observations, ecosystems, biodiversity, and biodiscovery. By expanding the scope of research and data collection, LTO-Land would enable South Africa to contribute even more significantly to international research initiatives and collaborations.

The impact of LTO-Land would be the generation of valuable long-term datasets that can be used to better understand and address global challenges related to climate change, conservation, and sustainable development. These datasets would not only benefit the scientific community, but also support evidence-based decision-making and policy development at national and international levels.

For more information: refer to Section 2.2.1 LTO-Land in the SAPRI Proposal (2021).

LTO-LAND LOCATIONS

Large infrastructures on Marion Island, Gough Island and Antarctica are managed and administered by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

LTO-LAND RESEARCH AREAS

LTO-Land comprises a large variety of research areas with existing capacity.

Marine

  • Marine predators (mammals and seabirds observed from land)

Terrestrial

  • Geology

  • Geophysics

  • Geomorphology

  • Permafrost and ice sheet dynamics

  • Terrestrial ecology

  • Microbiology and Genomics

Atmospheric & Space Observations

  • Meteorology and atmospheric sciences

  • Space physics

SAPRI LTO-Land will enable this research by integrating long-term observational networks to ensure sustainability and field equipment support for collecting the identified essential variables.

LTO-LAND INFRASTRUCTURE

Infrastructure includes:

  • Field gear

  • Maintenance of scientific equipment and field gear

  • Monitoring equipment (e.g. Animal tags)

  • Logistical support

  • Inventory database (coming soon)

ESTABLISHED LTO-LAND NETWORKS

Marion Island Marine Mammal Programme
Shallow Marine & Coastal Research Infrastructure
South African Weather Service

MEET THE LTO-LAND TEAM

Abuyiselwe A. Nguna

LTO-Land Research Coordinator

NRF-SAEON (Egagasini Node)

Yinhla Shihlomule

Top Predator Monitoring Coordinator

NRF-SAEON (Egagasini Node)

Prof Werner Nel

LTO-Land User Fora Chair

Dept. of Geography & Environmental Science University of Fort Hare

Marion Island Overwintering Team

Rhiannon Gill

Seabird Field Researcher (2024/2025)

NRF-SAEON (Egagasini Node)

Dylan Manyoka

Seal Field Researcher (2024/2025)

NRF-SAEON (Egagasini Node)

Megan Clarkson

Killer whale / Seal Field Researcher (2024/2025)

NRF-SAEON (Egagasini Node)

Peter Cunningham

Seal Field Researcher (2024/2025)

NRF-SAEON (Egagasini Node)

CONSORTIUM PARTNERS & STAKEHOLDERS

Department of Science and Innovation

Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)
Scientific research functions of the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP)

National Research Foundation

National Research Foundation (NRF)
Funding agency responsible for grant making on behalf of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and The Environment

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Management and administration of big infrastructure (Marion Island station, Gough Island station, Antarctica (SANAE IV station) and the S.A. Agulhas II)

South African Environment Observation Network

South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)

African Marine Solutions

African Marine Solutions (AMSOL)
Management and operations of the S.A. Agulhas II under direction of DFFE

African Marine Solutions

Maintenance of the station on Marion Island, Gough Island station and Antarctica (SANAE IV)

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