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Waterberg Research Support Centre Waterberg Research Support Centre NPC serves to support research in the Waterberg Bio-Region

17/10/2026

OPPENHEIMER RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2026
INSPIRED BY RESEARCH - CONNECTED THROUGH COLLABORATION ๐ŸŒฟ

The WRSC team attended ORC2026, and, as always, it was an insightful and inspiring event!

From genetics and species-level research to landscape-scale conservation and socio-ecological perspectives across Africa, the event highlighted the breadth and importance of research in informing conservation and sustainable management.

Beyond the presentations, it was a valuable opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, reconnect with colleagues, build new connections and explore opportunities for future partnerships and collaboration.

At the Waterberg Research Support Centre (WRSC), we believe that collaboration is key to translating research into meaningful impact.

Events like ORC2026 remind us of the value of bringing people, knowledge and ideas together to support a more resilient future for the Waterberg and beyond.

Thank you to the organisers and everyone who made this such a valuable experience!





Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
Waterberg Nature Conservancy
Kaingo Game Reserve
Bushveld Biodiversity Research Centre
Lapalala Wilderness
LEDET

LIMPOPO BIOSPHERES FORUM | RESEARCH & COLLABORATIONOn 30 September, the WRSC team had the privilege of attending the Lim...
07/10/2026

LIMPOPO BIOSPHERES FORUM | RESEARCH & COLLABORATION
On 30 September, the WRSC team had the privilege of attending the Limpopo Biospheres Forum meeting in Polokwane, arranged and facilitated by Prof Antoinetta Letsoalo from LEDET โ€” bringing together representatives from Limpopoโ€™s three biospheres: Waterberg, Vhembe and Kruger to Canyons.
This important platform provides an opportunity for the biospheres to connect, share what is happening across their respective regions, and strengthen collaboration. This meeting placed a particular focus on research being undertaken across the three biospheres.
We were delighted to have the opportunity to share the work of the Waterberg Research Support Centre (WRSC), including our role in supporting, coordinating and facilitating research in the Waterberg, as well as our vision for strengthening research and long-term monitoring in the region.
We also took the opportunity to invite fellow biosphere partners, researchers and stakeholders to join us at the Waterberg Research Conference 2027: Foundations for a Resilient Waterberg, taking place from 27โ€“29 January 2027 at Shekinah Lodge, Mabula. (https://waterbergresearch.org.za/)
๐Ÿ”Ž One of the key takeaways from the meeting was clear:
There is some truly exciting research taking place across Limpopo, with much more still to come. Even more encouraging is the growing recognition that biospheres, researchers, organisations and local communities have an important role to play in working together to build a more sustainable and resilient future.
The strength of our biospheres lies in connection, collaboration and shared knowledge.
๐ŸŒ Three biospheres. One province. A shared commitment to a better future.

LIMPOPO BIOSPHERES FORUM | RESEARCH & COLLABORATIONOn 30 September, the WRSC team had the privilege of attending the Lim...
07/10/2026

LIMPOPO BIOSPHERES FORUM | RESEARCH & COLLABORATION

On 30 September, the WRSC team had the privilege of attending the Limpopo Biospheres Forum meeting in Polokwane, arranged and facilitated by Prof Antoinetta Letsoalo from LEDET โ€” bringing together representatives from Limpopoโ€™s three biospheres: Waterberg, Vhembe and Kruger to Canyons.

This important platform provides an opportunity for the biospheres to connect, share what is happening across their respective regions, and strengthen collaboration. This meeting placed a particular focus on research being undertaken across the three biospheres.

We were delighted to have the opportunity to share the work of the Waterberg Research Support Centre (WRSC), including our role in supporting, coordinating and facilitating research in the Waterberg, as well as our vision for strengthening research and long-term monitoring in the region.

We also took the opportunity to invite fellow biosphere partners, researchers and stakeholders to join us at the Waterberg Research Conference 2027: Foundations for a Resilient Waterberg, taking place from 27โ€“29 January 2027 at Shekinah Lodge, Mabula. (https://waterbergresearch.org.za/)

๐Ÿ”Ž One of the key takeaways from the meeting was clear:
There is some truly exciting research taking place across Limpopo, with much more still to come. Even more encouraging is the growing recognition that biospheres, researchers, organisations and local communities have an important role to play in working together to build a more sustainable and resilient future.

The strength of our biospheres lies in connection, collaboration and shared knowledge.

๐ŸŒ Three biospheres. One province. A shared commitment to a better future.



๐Ÿชฒ NEW RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON SOUTHERN AFRICAโ€™S DUNG BEETLE DIVERSITYA recently published study has significantly improv...
05/10/2026

๐Ÿชฒ NEW RESEARCH SHEDS LIGHT ON SOUTHERN AFRICAโ€™S DUNG BEETLE DIVERSITY

A recently published study has significantly improved our understanding of the taxonomy and distribution of the dung beetle genus Milichus in southern Africa.

Although Milichus dung beetles are widely distributed across the Afrotropical Region, their true diversity and distribution have been obscured for decades by species being incorrectly identified in museum collections. By re-examining specimens from South African and international collections, the researchers were able to clarify species identities, correct historical records and update the known distributions of several species.

Importantly, the study confirms that three species of Milichus occur in South Africa โ€” M. apicalis, M. dudleyi and M. rhodesianus โ€” while also documenting several new country and provincial records. The research demonstrates how revisiting existing museum collections, together with new field data, can reveal important gaps in our understanding of biodiversity.

๐Ÿ”Ž The Waterberg Biodiversity Project contributed valuable data to this research.

A dung beetle survey led by Dr Werner Strรผmpher of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, undertaken as part of the FBIP Waterberg Biodiversity Project, contributed important field data to this work.

Marilize Greyling of the Waterberg Research Support Centre (WRSC), Vaalwater, Limpopo, provided logistical support during the fieldwork and was appointed Project Manager for the FBIP Waterberg Biodiversity Project.

This is a great example of why long-term biodiversity surveys and coordinated research in the Waterberg matter. Field surveys generate new evidence, museum collections provide the historical record, and collaboration between researchers, institutions and local organisations allows these pieces of information to be brought together to improve our understanding of the region's biodiversity.

๐Ÿชฒ From a dung beetle survey in the Waterberg to clarifying species distributions across southern Africa โ€” every specimen and every dataset can contribute to a much bigger picture.

Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
Waterberg Nature Conservancy
Waterberg Landscape Alliance
DITSONG National Museum of Natural History Pretoria
University of Pretoria
University of KwaZulu-Natal
LEDET

Waterberg Research Conference 2027! Only a few days left to grab your early-bird registration and submit an abstract by ...
28/09/2026

Waterberg Research Conference 2027!

Only a few days left to grab your early-bird registration and submit an abstract by Friday, 2 October!

Be part of the conversation, solution and legacy of the Waterberg Bio-Region.

For more information, registration and abstract submission visit:
https://waterbergresearch.org.za

For the info pack, sponsorship proposal and get involved:
https://waterbergresearch.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WRC2027_sponsorship-proposal_26Aug26.pdf

Waterberg Biosphere
LEDET - Economic Development, Environment & Tourism
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Waterberg Nature Conservancy
Waterberg Landscape Alliance
Waterberg Stereo
Waterberg Tourism
Waterberg Rhino UK

27/07/2026

Join Us for the Waterberg Nature Conservancy General Meeting!

You're warmly invited to attend the Waterberg Nature Conservancy 3rd General Meeting on Thursday, 30 July 2026, at 14:00 at NG Kerk, Vaalwater.

This meeting will feature insightful presentations from leading researchers and conservation experts, covering topics such as the Waterberg's natural and cultural heritage, conservation ethics, and collaborative research initiatives shaping the future of our region.

Date: 30 July 2026
Time: 14:00pm
Venue: NG Kerk, Vaalwater

We look forward to welcoming you as we continue working together to protect and conserve the unique biodiversity and landscapes of the Waterberg.

๐๐„๐– ๐๐”๐๐‹๐ˆ๐‚๐€๐“๐ˆ๐Ž๐ | ๐‘๐„๐•๐„๐€๐‹๐ˆ๐๐† ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐’๐๐ˆ๐ƒ๐„๐‘ ๐๐ˆ๐Ž๐ƒ๐ˆ๐•๐„๐‘๐’๐ˆ๐“๐˜ ๐Ž๐… ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐–๐€๐“๐„๐‘๐๐„๐‘๐† We're excited to celebrate the publication of a sig...
07/07/2026

๐๐„๐– ๐๐”๐๐‹๐ˆ๐‚๐€๐“๐ˆ๐Ž๐ | ๐‘๐„๐•๐„๐€๐‹๐ˆ๐๐† ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐’๐๐ˆ๐ƒ๐„๐‘ ๐๐ˆ๐Ž๐ƒ๐ˆ๐•๐„๐‘๐’๐ˆ๐“๐˜ ๐Ž๐… ๐“๐‡๐„ ๐–๐€๐“๐„๐‘๐๐„๐‘๐†

We're excited to celebrate the publication of a significant new scientific paper documenting the remarkable spider diversity of South Africa's Waterberg District.

After more than 40 years of surveys and research, this landmark study records ๐Ÿ”๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ž๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐œ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐–๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐›๐ž๐ซ๐ โ€”representing ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ž ๐ญ๐ก๐š๐ง ๐š ๐ช๐ฎ๐š๐ซ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ž๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐œ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐’๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐€๐Ÿ๐ซ๐ข๐œ๐š and highlighting ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ž ๐ž๐ง๐๐ž๐ฆ๐ข๐œ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ž๐œ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ! These findings reinforce the Waterberg's status as one of South Africa's most important biodiversity landscapes and a globally significant conservation priority.

The publication also showcases the value of long-term biodiversity investment. One of the major contributors to this work was the Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) Waterberg Biodiversity Project, which undertook extensive surveys across the Waterberg Mountain Complex between 2022 and 2024 to better understand how elevation, habitat and landscape features shape biodiversity.

Foundational biodiversity data such as these provide the evidence needed for:
โ€ข informed conservation planning;
โ€ข protected area management;
โ€ข climate change adaptation;
โ€ข Red List assessments; and
โ€ข sustainable land-use decision-making.

The Waterberg continues to demonstrate why it is one of Africa's most extraordinary natural landscapesโ€”not only for its iconic wildlife, but also for the thousands of smaller species that underpin healthy ecosystems.

Congratulations to Prof. Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, Dr. Caswell Munyai, Dr. Tharina Bird, the late Prof. Stefan Foord, Waterberg landowners and all collaborators whose dedication has contributed to this important milestone.

Every new biodiversity record strengthens our understanding of the Waterberg and helps ensure that this exceptional landscape is conserved for generations to come.

Full PDF can be downloaded at: https://lnkd.in/dTAjaJVH



Jembisa - An African Bush Home
Kaingo Game Reserve
Lapalala Wilderness
Leobo Game Reserve
Lindani Game and Lodges
Masebe Provincial Nature Reserve
Swebeswebe Nature Reserve
Welgevonden Game Reserve
Welgevonden Biomonitoring

Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
Waterberg Nature Conservancy

12/06/2026

Annual General Meeting Invitation!!!

Address

Vaalwater
0530

Telephone

+27794578644

Website

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