Maloti DrakensbergHP

PhD STUDENT

Silindile Mtshali

Position:                                PhD Candidate

Discipline:                             Hydrology

Centre:                                   Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR)

School:                                   School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Campus:                                 Agriculture Campus

Room no./Building:              Rabie Saunders Building

Email:                                      s.lizab.mtshali@gmail.com

 

Biography 

I am a PhD candidate at CWRR, and I have 7-year experience in freshwater and natural resource management spread across 3 strategic water source areas, namely Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Southern Drakensberg WSA. The main focus of my work is conserving freshwater and sustainably managing high-priority ecosystems to build more resilient landscapes. As well as to support and strengthen the development of coordinated and integrated restoration of ecological infrastructure through partnerships. I am specializing in socio-hydrology, policy development and collective adaptive management.

Qualifications

MSc Hydrology

Current Research Projects

PhD candidate in Hydrology focusing on ‘understanding ecological infrastructure restoration for collective decision making in complex and dynamic catchment system’.

Recently Completed Projects (2020-23)

Estimating the impact of Acacia mearnsii in the uMngeni Catchment using remote sensing and hydrological modelling.

Hobbies and Interests

I enjoy going out and socialising with friends in my spare time. I often bake and knit when I can and play online checkers.

Five recent publications

  • Journal Articles: Bezerra, MO, Vollmer, D, Souter, NJ, Shaad, K, Hauck, S, Marques, MC, Mtshali, S. Acero, N, Zhang, Y, Mendoza, E. Stakeholder engagement and knowledge co-production for better watershed management with the Freshwater Health Index. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability. 5, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2022.100206
  • Poject Articles: Thifhulufhelwi, R., Jan Graf, Mtshali, S., & Sharon Pollard (2021). Capacity development plan for implementation of expansive social learning interventions in Restoration Natural Resource Management practices. Report produced for Blyde restoration project. Funded by Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE)- Natural Resources Management Chief Directorate.
  • Mander, M., Graf, J., Mtshali, S., Thifhulufhelwi, R., & Holness, S. (2020). Ecosystem services assessment and valuation to inform restoration Invasive Alien control. Report produced for Blyde Restoration project. Funded by USAID Southern Africa , Resilience in the Olifants programme (RESILIM-O), (RFA-674-12-000016), and Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE)- Natural Resources Management Chief Directorate.
  • Graf, J., Thifhulufhelwi, R., and Mtshali S. (2019). The Blyde integrated restoration strategy: Strategic document to guide implementation and governance of Natural Resource Management practices in the Olifants sub-catchments. Draft report produced for Blyde Restoration project. Funded by USAID Southern Africa (RFA-674-12-000016), Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE)- Natural Resources Management Chief Directorate.