Read the full Annual Report in PDF format - CSIR

The natural environment is both an important source of economic opportunity -
agriculture, forestry, fi sheries, ecotourism - and an irreplaceable habitat for humans
and other species. CSIR research in this domain embraces both of these aspects,
and the critical tradeoffs between them. It is about the environment that we live in
and use, rather than exclusively about undisturbed nature.
Our research aims to develop innovative R&D platforms to provide strategicallyfocused
environmental solutions in support of a resilient economy. This involves:
• Strategic investment in state-of-the-art platforms for assessing and monitoring the
state of the natural resource base
• Apply systems analysis and integrated modelling for complex decision making
and resource planning support
• Develop and deploy R&D capabilities in environmental technology and
engineering.
Read about the CSIR’s work to assist in decision making on aspects around freshwater
in South Africa and the development of an atlas to outline priority areas for the
country’s freshwater ecosystems. Also read about the CSIR’s investigation into the
threat of acid mine drainage at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site; and
about measurement and modelling at the heart of work done to establish a seasonally
unbiased estimate of CO 2
ocean-atmosphere fl uxes for the Southern Ocean.
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