Thami Shezi SAEON MSc graduate Grasslands-Forests-Wetlands Node

My interests are mountains, this started back from my first hike visit at the Sentinel Peak in 2010. Then I did not realize and had no clue that this one day would be my study area. When I finished my undergraduate studies at the University of the Free State (QwaQwa campus). I went on to do a project under the Maloti Drakensberg Transfontier Park (MDTP). This was a BSc. Honours project supervised Dr Erwin Sieben, which looked at the classification, description and ordination of plant communities in the proposed Witsieshoek protected Conservation Area (WPCA), in the Northern Drakensberg Eastern Free State.

I would like to say thank you to the GFW-SAEON node for giving me a platform to engage and learn with some of the top scientists in the field and in the country. This is a perfect setting for me because of the nodes recently resurrected research programme in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Cathedral Peak Mountain range, looking at long-term change in the face of the changing climate. This exposure will go a long way for me in further understanding the mechanisms, drivers and ecosystem properties affecting the vegetation of this montane grasslands of South Africa.

I recently finished my MSc with Wits university under Prof Tim O’ Connor, Prof Ed Witkowski and Dr Erwin Sieben. The project was about the impacts of intense livestock grazing and fence-line contrasts on species richness and diversity on rich-montane grasslands, northern Drakensberg, South Africa. The project was a great steep learning curve and gained a lot. I have been exposed to different skill sets beyond my comfort zone.

I am currently a Biodiversity Technical Assistant at SAEON-GFW node. I am also part of the SAEON’s Graduate Student Network (GSN) committee, serving as an internal liaison. The graduate network has taught me a great deal in terms of planning, time management and coordinating events. My hobby these days is running marathons.