4 August 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mangosuthu University of Technology hosts second Global Congress on Ecosystems, Rehabilitation and Restoration
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) kicked off its second three-day Global Congress on Ecosystems, Rehabilitation and Restoration (GCERR) on 4 August 2026 at its main campus. Guided by the theme “UN Sustainable Development Goals in Action,” this year’s three-day landmark conference brings together researchers, industry leaders, traditional authorities, and policymakers to address critical environmental and sustainability challenges.
Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 edition, the 2026 congress introduces a vital expansion in stakeholder inclusion. Notably, traditional leaders, including chiefs (Amakhosi) from the Dududu tribal area on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, are participating in the event.
Dr Sithembile Nkosi, Lecturer in the Department of Nature Conservation at Mangosuthu University of Technology and Chairperson of the Global Congress on Ecosystem Rehabilitation and Restoration (GCERR), emphasised the importance of involving traditional leadership in ecosystem restoration initiatives. “The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise that sustainable development can only be achieved through inclusive partnerships. Traditional leaders are key stakeholders because much of our research, conservation work and community engagement take place within their traditional communities. We are committed to strengthening and formalising these partnerships, ensuring that conservation and restoration initiatives are implemented in collaboration with local leadership. This Congress provides an important platform for Amakhosi to engage with researchers, practitioners and policymakers, learn from successful approaches implemented elsewhere, and explore strategies that can be adapted to strengthen environmental stewardship and sustainable development within their own communities.”
The Congress also features representations from key government, research, and corporate sectors, including, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the eThekwini Municipality, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Economic and Impact Assessment, International Water Management Institute, Umngeni-Thukela Water, and Njeremoto Biodiversity Institute from Zimbabwe.
With the global community nearing the target year for the UN SDGs, GCERR 2026 serves as a crucial milestone for evaluation. Dr Nkosi noted that the congress aims to “critically assess progress made over the past 15 years since we only have a few years before the 2030 UN SDGs target. We want to take stock of what has been achieved in the last 15 years, and see where we need to close gaps.”
Delegates will hear from distinguished industry and academic experts throughout the three-day event. The keynote speaker will be Professor Samuel Mphosi, Managing Director of the Limpopo Agrofood Technology Station at the University of Limpopo, and an expert in Agrofood Technology. Professor Mphosi will deliver a keynote address titled: “Sustainable Goals in Action: Integrating Agro-Innovation, Environmental Sustainability, and Ecosystem Restoration for a Resilient Future.”
Another speaker will be Thomas Varghese, Director at Kishugu Business School and specialist in governance, risk, and strategic leadership, will present on: “Integrated Fire Management: a Catalyst for Sustainable Goals in Action.”
Another speaker will be Professor Simeon Materechera from North-West University, a distinguished soil scientist and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) scholar with decades of experience in research, higher education, and community engagement across Africa. He will present a plenary address titled: “Restoring Nature through Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Empowering Traditional Leadership to Deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Additionally, the programme features extensive contributions, research presentations, and insights shared by MUT’s own dedicated staff and students.
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Please contact Bheki Hlophe, 082 432 1805