Dr. Heider described how conservation paradigms have shifted from conserving nature for itself towards nature and humans in a system thinking paradigm. Dr. Currie contextualised biosphere reserves as complex social ecological systems using the Garden Route Biosphere as an example.
Biosphere Reserves are sites for sustainability research which we can use to understand how to reconcile human activities and the environment for sustainable development. The SRU hopes to develop a database of research activities in the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, which will form a launching pad for the development of inter disciplinary research themes and questions that matter to us all. The message was well received and the need to organise and coordinate research in the biospheres was supported by many practitioners and researchers at the event. The SRU will be hosting a biosphere research workshop in August to take the process forward.