The contribution of the WRC to estuarine research in support of effective policy development and resource

Abstract

The Water Research Commission (WRC) has been a staunch and enduring funder of estuarine research in South Africa, with support ranging from identifying research gaps, to the development of dedicated research programs, student advancement, capacity building and funding the development of policy and management tools. In drafting this overview, we have largely project leaders and steering committee members of a number of WRC projects. We have supported our experiential knowledge through a literature review to ensure that key outcomes were captured. The intent here is not to reflect all contributions through the decades, but rather to identify seminal research outputs that have resulted in clear policy and management interventions, or key research ‘stepping stones’ in the generation of new insights and knowledge on estuaries. In particular, we focus on the research that built multi-disciplinary understanding on estuarine ecosystem function, development of environmental water requirement methods, science that has contributed to integrated estuarine management, developments in estuarine monitoring in support of policy and management, and estuarine resource use and quantification of benefits. Finally, we touch on restoration,an emerging field of research supported by the WRC, and conclude with ideas on the role of the WRC in advancing future research in support of the protection and management of our valuable estuarine resources.