Scientific Services

8th Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) Meeting

The Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) Meeting is an annual event taking place in the Garden Route of South Africa, providing a forum for researchers and practitioners (from anywhere in the world) interested in better understanding and managing (or navigating) social-ecological systems and their complex interactions and feedbacks. Three types of interfaces are of particular interest to GRIN deliberations: human-nature (social-ecological systems), theory-practice (scientists and managers), and social-natural (sciences).

Themes for GRIN 2026

Topics and session themes vary somewhat from year to year, based on the interest and expertise of the participating community, but adhering to an overall focus on social-ecological systems. Themes that have proven popular to date include:

• Facilitating knowledge exchange at the science, policy and practice interfaces;
• Human–nature connections (benefits and conflicts) and their implications for sustainability;
• The evolving role of conservation systems, from protected areas to multi-use landscapes;
• Equity, justice, and inclusivity in conservation systems;
• Environmental governance and stewardship in the Anthropocene;
• Lessons from co-learning initiatives, engagement forums, and multi-stakeholder collaborations;
• Responding to climate change and other drivers of environmental change;
• Monitoring and evaluation approaches for social-ecological systems;
• Innovative methods / approaches for studying social-ecological systems.

Call for Abstracts and Submission Deadlines

Both managers and scientists are invited to share their latest approaches, challenges, insights and findings. We encourage all contributions to be grounded in practical real-world management, e.g. by including a final slide that explains the relevance of the findings/concepts to management. GRIN meetings provide for four types of contributions:

1. 20 – 30 minute keynote and/or synthesis presentations (invited or selected from abstracts received)
2. 15 minute presentations
3. 5 minute speed talks
4. Posters: A1 size (59.4 x 84.1 cm) in either portrait or landscape orientation.

Please use the abstract template and indicate presentation type, title, authors, presenting author, and affiliation details. Once all abstracts have been evaluated, a programme will be finalised and uploaded/circulated. Accepted abstracts will be collated and made available to delegates in an electronic book of abstracts.

Registration

Please complete the form below in full. Fields marked with * are required.

Select your ticket type *

• Full Delegate (all 3 days) – R3,250
• Day Delegate

Select which day/s you will attend

• Tuesday, 13 October 2026 – R1,470
• Wednesday, 14 October 2026 – R1,000
• Thursday, 15 October 2026 – R1,000

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Payment of Registration Fees

The registration fee is R3,250.00 per delegate, which includes refreshments and lunches on all three days as well as the GRIN dinner on the first evening.

Day delegate fees:

• Tuesday, 13 October 2026 – R1,470.00 (including dinner)
• Wednesday, 14 October 2026 – R1,000.00
• Thursday, 15 October 2026 – R1,000.00

Payments are due by 14 August 2026. Banking details for payment of registration fees:

Account Name:

Mpumalanga Promotions Events

Bank:

ABSA

Branch Code:

632005

Branch Address:

ABSA Nelspruit, 20 Paul Kruger Street, Nelspruit

Swift Code:

ABSAZAJJ

Payment Reference:

Please use your surname/GRIN as your payment reference e.g. Smith/GRIN

Venue

The venue for GRIN 2026 is Villa Castollini, a luxury guesthouse and venue, in Knysna. This Tuscan styled Villa overlooks the Knysna Estuary, majestic mountains, forests and the town of Knysna from high up on the western head of the famous Knysna Heads. Perfectly positioned with north facing views over Knysna and five minutes’ drive to Brenton-on-Sea beach, Villa Castollini offers a truly GRIN-like ambience.

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements.

Limited options are available at Villa Castollini (mention that your booking is for attending GRIN 2026).

Close-by accommodation options:

• Brenton on sea Cottages, Brenton-on-Sea – 061 546 0484
• Brenton Haven, Brenton-on-Sea – 044 381 0040
• Bay View Apartments, Brenton-on-Sea – 044 381 0559 / 081 376 0575
• Brenton on Sea Cottages, Brenton-on-Sea – 044 381 0083
• Forever view Accommodation – 076 395 1040
• Brenton Breakers – 010 786 0094
• Brenton Beach House – 044 381 0175
• Belvidere Manor, Belvidere – 044 873 1055
• Brenton on Rocks Guesthouse, Brenton-on-Sea – 044 381 0489 / 083 249 3644
• Rexford Manor, Knysna – 044 384 0597 / 081 527 3682

Organising Committee

• Nerina Kruger – SANParks
• Alta De Vos – SocSES
• Julia Van Velden – SocSES
• Chloe Guerbois – SRU, REHABS
• Victor Mokoena – SANParks
• Dirk Roux – SANParks
• George Sekonya – SRU, NMU
• Herve Fritz – CNRS & REHABS
• Izak Smit – SANParks
• Jessica Hayes – SANParks
• Nelsiwe Mpapane – SANParks
• Stef Freitag-Ronaldson – SANParks

Hosting Organisations

South African National Parks is the agency responsible for managing the 19 national parks in South Africa. The agency depends on scientific research to promote evidence-based decisions and effective conservation management. It supports hundreds of research projects across its parks, conducted by both external academics and its own researchers. Traditional strengths in ecological research is increasingly complemented by social and also social-ecological studies.

The CNRS is involved through its Institute for Ecology and Environment (CNRS-INEE), that runs the French Long-Term Social Ecological Research Network (Zones Ateliers). The CNRS-INEE coordinates the Hwange LTSER in Zimbabwe. It supports SES research at Nelson Mandela University (George Campus), now through a Mixed International Research Unit (CNRS/NMU) aimed at promoting long-term social-ecological research in southern Africa. The CNRS-INEE hosts the French component of the Future Earth programme.

A locally and internationally relevant centre for ecosystems and society, the Sustainability Research Unit (SRU) at the Nelson Mandela University collaborates in user inspired research, teaching and learning, and community engagement. The unit is home to a community of critical thinkers who recognise the need to cross the boundaries of the social and ecological disciplines in order to promote sustainable management of social-ecological systems.

Society for Social-Ecological Systems (SocSES) is a new society dedicated to advancing understanding, collaboration, and training in social-ecological systems research to foster a just and sustainable future, and influence policy and practice. Co-led by the Program on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) and the Resilience Alliance, along with other partners, SocSES is launching with a 2-3 year founding phase in which it will be co-developed with a wider community through collaborative opportunities and task forces.