The celebratory launch event, which coincided with the 4^th Ministerial Summit of the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), was hosted by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

In his keynote address Minister Mangena said that; “South Africa needs a system of geospatial infrastructure to better coordinate the collection, assimilation and dissemination of earth observation data in order to support policy, decision-making, economic growth and sustainable development.”

“This is where the SAEOS and SAEON will play a key role; by enabling us to understand our planet better, and provide the basis for evidence-based decision-making by policymakers, civil society and the private sector”. 

The Department of Science and Technology developed the South African Earth Observation Strategy (SAEOS) and established the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) as part of its engagement with the international community in promoting an integrated global earth observation system.

SAEOS has been developed to create a framework for coordinating and integrating South Africa’s existing earth observation capacities, and linking them to complementary capabilities in neighbouring countries and to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

The Egagasini Node for marine-offshore systems, established by SAEON will use South Africa’s geographical advantage with regard to the Southern Oceans to garner information to inform climate change studies across the Globe and fisheries management locally. 

SAEON is in the process of establishing "nodes" in each of the major biomes of South Africa which are aimed at establishing long-term (30 year plus) monitoring of environmental indicators.

“Within the SAEOS framework, SAEON aims to be comprehensive in scope by covering terrestrial, atmospheric and oceanic systems, inclusive of recent past environmental conditions that may be inferred from geological and palaeontological observations,” says SAEON Head Johan Pauw.  

“SAEON’s scientific design is continuously refined to be responsive to emerging environmental issues and corresponds largely with the GEO societal benefit areas,” he explains.

Minister Mangena also recognised the contributions made by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) in international earth observations. Earlier this month South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) assumed the chair of CEOS, the international mechanism charged with the coordination of international civil space borne missions designed to observe and study the earth.

He said chairing and hosting the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites will provide the country’s current and future space activities with global exposure in the space community, as well as access to world class technologies in the area of satellite earth observation.

“It will also provide an opportunity to foster partnerships with international space agencies and their partners to promote technology skills transfer and access to international research funding instruments”, he added.  

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Jointly Issued by the Department of Science and Technology, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites and the South African Environmental Observation Network.

For media enquiries contact:

Department of Science and Technology

Celeste Tema, Deputy Director: Communication and Media Liaison @ 083 399 0765 or email: celeste.tema@dst.gov.za

South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)

Mitzi Du Plessis, Communication Consultant @ 083 258 8945 or Email: mitzi@malachite-marketing.co.za