Lindokuhle Dlamini - Indibano Logistics Coordinator

Lindo is a PhD student registered at the University of Free State (UFS) and the University of Burgundy (UB), Dijon, France (a joint PhD program). His PhD project focuses on soil carbon dynamics of montane species-rich grasslands, cathedral peak, Drakensberg, South Africa. The general aim is to investigates the effect of fire, vegetation heterogeneity, and climate variability on soil carbon dynamics at a catchment scale, through examining subsoil horizon carbon pools, soil respiration, soil carbon fractions (stable/active), δ13C isotopic signatures, and contribution of pyrogenic organic carbon (ash and charcoal) on carbon sequestration. He is supervised by Dr. Elmarie Kotze (UFS), Dr. Gregor Feig (SEAON/EFTEON), and Prof Jean Leveque (UB-France). His interests are broad but mainly to understand drivers of ecosystems change, biodiversity management, restoration ecology principles and soil carbon dynamics largely in grassy systems. He holds a BSc Environmental Sciences, BSc (Hons) Ecology, & MSc Ecology from The University of KwaZulu-Natal.  Supervised by Prof. David Ward, his honours project aimed to understand how South African savanna trees (broad- and fine-leaved) response to herbivory pressure. His MSc supervised by Dr. Michelle Tedder and Prof. Kevin Kirkman, Investigated the usefulness of vetiver (alien grass from India) in grasslands rehabilitation and its competitive effect on native grasses. This was with a broad aim to understand if native grasses can successfully recruit in areas rehabilitated using vetiver. After his MSc, he joined SAEON (2018), the Grassland Forest and Wetland node as an EFTEON Intern. He firmly believes that through scientific research in ecology and environmental sciences, new strategies for conservation and management of our natural resources will be developed and those will cater for estimated climate change impact. He is also a professional photographer.