FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11/09/25

The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) is excited to announce the launch of the WeMAST Phase II Stakeholders Training Workshop, taking place from 15 to 17 September 2025 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The training is part of the Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Service for Transboundary Basins in Southern Africa (WeMAST) project under the GMES & Africa Programme. This initiative is designed to strengthen regional capacity in Earth Observation (EO) technologies and their use in wetland monitoring and assessment.

Training Objectives

• Present the new features and functionalities of the WeMAST 2.0 Geoportal
• Build stakeholder capacity in using the geoportal, QGIS plugin, and mobile app
• Provide practical training through a field visit and ground-truthing exercise at Bokaa Dam
• Support the formation of a Community of Practice (CoP) for sustainable wetland monitoring
• Promote uptake of EO products for data-driven policy making and transboundary resource management

About the Training

The workshop will adopt a gender-sensitive and youth-inclusive approach, bringing together approximately 25–30 participants from across the SADC region, including policy makers, researchers, river basin organisations, and community representatives.

Participants are expected to bring laptop computers capable of running GIS tools, and will receive:

• A complete training kit
• Access to digital resources via the GMES & Africa e-learning platform
• A Certificate of participation upon completion

Event Details

• Title: WeMAST Phase II Stakeholders Training Workshop
• Dates: 15–17 September 2025
• Location: Gaborone, Botswana (Venue TBC)
• Final Day: Field visit and data collection at Bokaa Dam, Bokaa Village

 Why This Matters

The WeMAST Geoportal supports monitoring of wetlands across major river basins including the Okavango, Cuvelai, Limpopo, and Zambezi. The workshop aims to ensure regional stakeholders are equipped to leverage EO data for climate resilience, wetland protection, and sustainable development.

About SASSCAL
SASSCAL promotes science-based responses to climate change and land management challenges. Its work supports environmental protection, disaster resilience, and evidence-based governance across Southern Africa.

Issued by SASSCAL Executive Director-Prof. Nelago Indongo

 

Media Contact
SASSCAL WeMAST Communications
📧 Email: [Sharon.kavhu@sasscal.com]