4th Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) Meeting
Photo: Johann Kruger
Following a two year Covid-related break, it was with much excitement that the 4th Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) Meeting convened at Pine Lake Marina outside Sedgefield from 11 to 13 October 2022. GRIN provides a space for researchers, managers, policymakers and practitioners from around the world to share experiences, approaches and insights related to the management, research and sustainability of social-ecological systems. Examples of these systems are protected areas, working landscapes, estuaries and catchments. GRIN aims to promote a diversity of perspectives and robust discussion, focusing not only on the latest research, but particularly placing a high value on practitioner experience and knowledge and practitioner-scientist engagement.
GRIN 2022, jointly organised and hosted by SANParks, Nelson Mandela University, the Southern African Program on Ecosystem Change and Society (SAPECS) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), was attended by 75 delegates. Key discussion themes centred on people-nature connections, nature tourism and cultural heritage; experiences and lessons of stakeholder co-learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration; intricacies of managing protected areas as social-ecological systems; landscape-scale challenges and management/governance strategies; transformative research and societal adaptations; and = monitoring and evaluation in a complex world.
The 2022 meeting was arguably the highlight of GRIN in its short history, with participant feedback being particularly complimentary about the quality and diversity of presentations, deep conversations, ability to engage with and learn from managers, and the opportunity to socialise and network on a field excursion. The following quotes from feedback provided by delegates reflect the general spirit of GRIN 2022:
“I have found myself in a pool of scientist network that has changed my perspectives about research forever” (Student X)
“The workshop was an eye opener for me” (Manager Y)
“Hearing progressive voices in conservation agencies – how do we amplify those voices?” (Scientist Z)
This article was originally published in the 2022/2023 Research Report.
