Cynthia Mapendere, Zimbabwe / South Africa
Cynthia Mapendere , MSc Environmental Ecology (Candidate), University of Pretoria
2020 Scgis International Committee Conservation Software Honoree
Geography Room 3.1.1, Cnr Lynnwood and University Roads
Hatfield, South Africa 0083
2018 Article: World Wildlife Day – Will YOU Play Your Part? ( From the “The Revolutionary Girls of Zimbabwe” site)
2017 Society for Conservation Biology Poster: “Spotted hyena den site selection criteria in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe"
e Student Award from American Society of Mammalogists: "
“Cynthia Mapendere a Zimbabwean conservationist doing her MSc in Environmental Ecology with the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She is interested in the dynamics and implications of human and wildlife interactions. “
(2020 Video Introduction, courtesy Cynthia Mapendere)
Excellent 2017 story about Cynthia’s life (from the site “The Weight She Carries”)
From Dust to Success: A Village Girl’s Story from Devastation to Triumph
“She was a happy teenager with big dreams. One fateful day, the trajectory of her life changed when she received devastating news about her father. With no source of income, her family struggled to make ends meet, and the future seemed bleak. But she refused to let her dream die.”
“NEVER LET YOUR BACKGROUND DEFINE YOU, YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THINK ABOUT MY JOURNEY AND BE INSPIRED TO BE BETTER OFF.” – CYNTHIA MAPENDERE
2014 Tropical Biology Association Field Course: “In summary, my participation in the TBA field course in Kirindy, Madagascar has elevated my interest in ecology and conservation. Currently, I work as an operations manager at Spencer’s Creek Crocodile Ranch in Zimbabwe. To all young biologists who want to be groomed and nurtured to be real scientists, a TBA course is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss!”
2014 TBA Article: "Effect of logging on the abundance of plants eaten by Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy forest"
2020 Scgis International Profile:
“ I have always been passionate about conservation. This is probably because I grew up on the fringes of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. I am constantly on the lookout of opportunities to improve my chances of making an impact in the field of conservation.
Growing in a typical third world country and having had the privilege of interacting with conservationists from other parts of the world has made me aware how far behind my country lags in using technology to address conservation challenges. I therefore hope I will be able take advantage of this SCGIS honor to improve and update my GIS skills..
One of my long term goals is to be an influential figure in conservation practice in Africa and beyond. Thus, I relish the chance to indulge my creative side in the dynamic world of conservation and be able to come up with new initiatives and push for policies that promote effective conservation of wild species in the region and the whole world.
I have been with the University of Pretoria for 5 years as a Masters student. Basically my task is to collect data which will enable me to understand the Ecology and Epidemiology African Swine Fever (ASF), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) wild and domestic suids in and around Ndumo Game reserve (NGR), South Africa. This was achieved through collecting data using transects, questionnaire surveys, focused group discussions, collecting ticks from warthog burrows and collecting blood samples from both wild and domestic pigs. I have been able to identify high risk areas for the disease transmission, movement ecology of the study animals. In form of publications and presentations that include maps I will report findings to communities and policy makers. I am also one of the tutors in the Centre for Environmental studies on courses such as Sustainable development and Climate Change.
Despite my current epidemiological work, I recognize the need to broaden my understanding of how fellow conservationists in other countries tackle problems similar to mine. The SCGIS training and conference will thus allow me to interact with like-minded individuals and have a better understanding of conservation on a broader scale. It will surely equip me with practical skills to effectively contribute to conservation in Zimbabwe and hopefully build future collaboration with other attendees.
It is now clearer than ever to me that GIS and related technologies are important in conservation science. I have been exposed, minimally though, to what GIS software can achieve and it is my desire to be proficient in its use. Coming from a third world country where the application of technology is limited, I feel it is the duty of young and budding conservationist like myself to introduce new technologies into the main stream administration of resources. This can only be achieved if I am proficient in the use of the software and I am conversant with the terminology, theories and equipment involved.
I have used ArcView version 10.6 and I am familiar with basic GIS techniques like loading a shape file or a CSV sheet. I am also familiar with geoprocessing tools used for buffering and clipping as well as the aspect tool of the spatial analysis tool box. I can draw maps and I can perform some analysis. I also assist undergraduate students with assignments. The maps below are some of my work and some of the maps are extracts from one of the papers am writing for publication.
Fig 1 Map of the study my study area. Mathenjwa community which in adjacent to Ndumo game Reserve in South Africa
Just looking at the tools set listed in ArcMap’s toolbox is enough for one to desire to learn how to use them. I believe every conservationist should be able to use tools like the Spatial Analyst Tools and not only be limited to creating maps. It is also my desire that one day I will be able to write my own scripts to use in addressing a unique challenge in my country.
Most of what I know is self-taught. I obviously lack deeper theoretical understanding of various concepts. I feel the SCGIS program will fill that gap in my knowledge of GIS and Its potential to aid in conservation.
My career goal is to make an impact in the conservation landscape in my country. I strongly believe GIS technologies will be crucial in my being able to achieve that target. I relish a chance to be exposed to the cutting edge of GIS technologies and be able to shape new initiatives and push for polices that promote effective conservation of wildlife and habitats in my home country,Zimbabwe.
By meeting experts in GIS in conference and workshops, I have seen how far behind Zimbabwe is in technology. As a country we have an opportunity to tap into existing knowledge to improve our livelihoods. As a passionate conservationist, I am interested in technologies such as GIS that we can use to effectively utilise resources countrymen. Among many, one of the key challenges has been the absence of effective policies focused on protection of wild species and habitats. Another challenge is the lack of trained and experienced personnel in the field of conservation. Most of the available personnel seem to have the adequate academic achievements in this field. However, most lack the appropriate practical skills and experience needed to make meaningful contribution to conservation. In this regard, I have found it necessary to seek adequate training and experience needed to be effective in the field of conservation. I therefore strongly believe that the abundant expertise at your institution is a useful starting point in transferring technology to my fellow countrymen.
The determination, it took me to successfully complete several academic programs I have undertaken thus far and other research projects, has ignited a work ethic which I strongly believe will help me to successfully complete and derive the maximum benefit I can from the GIS Training Programme. I strongly believe that from the training, I will gain practical skills needed to contribute effectively to conservation research and action in Southern Africa and beyond. I am a resourceful and resilient person and I am proud of the way I have developed as a researcher and conservationist. I can describe myself as an enthusiastic conservationist who is hardworking, adaptable and results oriented.
HISTORY: With GIS, most of the knowledge I have is self-taught. I often assist when there undergraduate students who need help on their 
assignments. My passion to learn more has seen me attending a month long course offered by Tropical Biology association course in Madagascar Kirindy. This course was a real eye opener as it exposed me to conservation challenges outside Zimbabwe. It also exposed me to a number of research methods that I even use in my current study. I also got to mingle with other young scientists from different parts of the world. The program provided a unique forum through which I was able to build links with experts in conservation and other like-minded biologists.
In 2017, other conservation oriented activities I carried out include volunteering in a community conservation project called the Ndumo Community project in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa. Its main goal is to stimulate young minds to consider conservation related careers and also to disseminate knowledge on nature conservation.
In an effort to grow my network I have also attended the 6th World Sustainability Forum in Capetown South Africa where I presented my proposal for the current project and I also attended the COP17 at the CITES (Convention for International Trade on Endangered Species.
In the past I have been affiliated with some organizations in my home country. At CNRS I was a student and was responsible for preparing field equipment as well as data entry and statistical analysis. I also compiled reports at the end of the month for the Hwange National Parks Authorities and the reports included maps for easy understanding. I was also an integral member of the team that did outreaches in the local communities in a bid to promote biodiversity conservation awareness. One of our mandates at CNRS was to conduct weekly awareness campaigns. This was a way of curbing poaching. I would create some of the biodiversity conservation lessons and quizzes. I was the team leader for these campaigns since I was fluent in the local language. Our target audience was high schools students but we were able to make a huge impact that we were even invited to address community leaders. Though this was a small project, I am confident that I am a good leader as I do not shy away from taking initiative and I am resourceful.
In 2013 I joined Cheetah conservation project Zimbabwe. My involvement at Cheetah conservation project was through a cheetah survey whose aim was to get an estimate of cheetahs in Zimbabwe; this was done through a questionnaire. I was actively involved in interpreting for Dr. Van Deer Meer as the some of the personnel where not conversant with English.
At Painted Dog Research Trust I was an assistant tracker and, as a team, we tracked collared wild dogs in and around Hwange National Park. I was occasionally part of the team that did the capture and collaring of dogs with both VHF and satellite collars. Later, I manned the laboratory and my duties included collecting faecal and blood samples from wild dogs in the field and maintaining a database for all collected samples. We also carried out lab analyses on faecal samples looking for evidence of internal parasites as well as to understand the prey the dogs ate.
Another one of my duties were to teach primary school kids about conservation as well as talking to tourists about the conservation project we were running. I excelled in this and now I am very confident in standing in front of a class and talk. This has proved to be a valuable lesson since I am now frequently giving talks to community members in my study area and I have also presented at symposiums and international conferences.
In 2013 I also joined the She build Africa and The Revolutionary Girls of Zimbabwe as mentor. The platforms have enabled me to improve and showcase my leadership skills. This was achieved by empowering marginalized girls in my home country through mentorship
My current affiliation is the University of Pretoria. The University of Pretoria (UP) was established in 1908 Today, it is one of the largest research universities in South Africa and it has transformed into a dynamic university community of staff and students who come from a range of diverse backgrounds and cultures showcasing South African and global societies.
Its Vision is to be a leading research‐intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally. Its mission is pursuing recognition and excellence in its core functions of research, teaching and learning, and integrating engagement with society and communities into these, the University of Pretoria will use quality, relevance, diversity and sustainability as its navigational markers.One of its values is that it recognises that in a resource‐constrained world where vast disparities remain, it must endeavour to produce graduates who appreciate the importance of community service, entrepreneurial endeavours and innovative actions in generating employment and development in our local communities.
Last but not least, I have successfully completed a course in lead auditing. Having had a chance to work with a number of conservation oriented institutions, I have come to understand the need to preserve the environment and also ethical environmental stewardship.
Current GIS Interests?
I first got exposed to GIS when I was an undergraduate student doing my field work in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. I never got proper training except a short explanation by a PhD student on how to add shape files, add points as CSV files and how to create simple maps.
I have however realized that GIS is an integral part of any ecologist or environmental science practitioner. I have been performing some statistical analysis for my Masters project and the little GIS knowledge have enabled me to create maps that enable other scientist to visualize my work, particularly the movement patterns of domestic pigs in the community adjacent to the Game reserve I worked in (see Fig 4 on previous section). This has allowed me to visualize the power GIS has and I have been teaching myself more by watching YouTube videos. I have also subscribed to a free online course offered by my institution.
The closest person to a mentor I have is my roommate who is doing her Masters in Geography. She used to help me to some extent and at times we explore her assignments together. The assistance was however limited because she is not majoring in GIS but is just a module she has done. Most of the techniques I stated above were acquired that way. In addition to that I assist undergraduate student with assignments and also offer one on one basic GIS training to colleague who indicate interest.
I hope that this program will help me in developing skills that can be used to analyse animal movements as well as habitat change. I believe there is a wealth of free resources in form of satellite images that are currently being underutilised in my country. It is therefore my hope that I will use the knowledge gained to help organisations like the parks authority and the environmental management body of my country in fully utilising these free resources.
Unlike in other countries, spatial data for Zimbabwe is not available on the internet for other people to use. I hope I can devote some of my time and expertise in helping make such important information free and easily accessible.
I would very much like to produce land cover maps for some areas in Zimbabwe. This is because even though there is general sentiment that drastic deforestation is taking place, most people do not have the visual picture of the scale of the challenges. I therefore hope to be able to make such images showing changes in land cover over time and make them accessible to the general public via the internet and even on A1 charts.
I am also interested in learning how to use more tools from the toolbox especially those to do with hydrological modeling and processing of satellite imagery. I also would want to have the basic knowledge on how to write Python scripts.
What is the most unique and the most challenging about the conservation/GIS work that you do?: Wild pigs can be central in the transmission of livestock diseases depending on the geographic setting and contact rate with domestic pigs. Though a number of studies have been conducted concerning the role of wild pigs in the epidemiology of various diseases, studies targeting population dynamics and farmer to consumer value chain remain patchy. This is particularly true in Southern Africa where very limited work has been done in the field of pathogen transmission between wild and domestic pigs, with the exception of ASF, but often without considering the populations dynamic or the role of the value chain in this transmission. My study in its uniqueness, seeks to address an urgent need to investigate wild-domestic animals’ demographics, to assess the value chain and the potential existence of an interface between wild and domestic suids in Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa.
What makes this study unique is that Ndumo Game Reserve shares the boarder with Mozambique where African swine fever virus (ASF) is endemic and Swaziland where Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) reports are frequent. Through understanding the extent which wild and domestic pigs interact in Ndumo Game Reserve, the study will enable setting up early warning systems and ultimately controlling the spread of diseases such as FMD and ASF as the area has been declared ASF and FMD control area. This will enable crafting more effective measures to curb the transmission of the disease from wild pigs to domestic pigs and a more directed intervention in the event of an outbreak.
The challenges that I have faced during my data collection period were that at the inception of the project I faced a lot of resistance from the farmers who owned domestic pigs. These farmers were often shy to disclose some of the informatio,n as they were skeptical about my intentions. It took a lot of probing for them to actually tell me much. With time I got accepted in the community which made my data collection period easier.
Title of your 2020 Paper: Ecology and Epidemiology of wild and domestic suids with special reference to African Swine Fever (ASF) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and in Northern KwaZulu Natal (KZN).
Abstract/summary "Wild pigs play a very important role in transmitting livestock diseases, depending on their geographic location and contact rate with domestic pigs. This study focuses on the ecology and epidemiology of Africa Swine Fever Virus and Foot and Mouth Disease in the wild and domestic suids in Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa adjacent to communal areas. Ndumo Game Reserve the ASF control zone share their western boundaries with eSwatini, which is ASF free with FMD outbreaks occurring. The northern boundaries with Mozambique where ASF is endemic and outbreaks of FMD in cattle are regularly reported. We detail levels of interactions between the domestic and wild suids populations and hotspots of possible of disease transmission. In addition to enabling responsible authorities to put measures to curb disease transmission, this will also facilitate the crafting of effective intervention measures in case of disease outbreaks.
x2020 x2020International x2020Talk xInternational xAfrica xZimbabwe xSouthAfrica xBiodiversity xStatistics xAgriculture xCommunity xEpidemiology xEducation xMammal xMitigation xPark xPlan xRemote xSustainable xPOC xWomen
