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Current Projects
MAPWAPS National
MAPWAPS National
MapWAPS - Mapping woody invasive plant species
Aims
1. Map the distribution of key woody invasive alien plant taxa nationally using satellite imagery and field data.
2. Delineate and map homogeneous bush type units across South Africa to support monitoring and management.
PI: Dr Alanna Rebelo
Funder: South African National Department of Agriculture
Years: 2026-2030
GEF8 Peatlands Project
GEF8 Peatlands Project
A transdisciplinary approach towards restoring selected South African peatland ecosystems and their catchments
Aim: Ecosystem functions and biodiversity are restored in three South African peatland systems and their catchments for improved provision of benefits to communities
Global targets: 9000 ha under restoration, 43 200 ha under improved practices, 8.4 million tCO2eq mitigation, 900 people direct beneficiaries.
PI for the research component: Dr Alanna Rebelo
Funder: Global Environment Facility
Years: 2026-2030
Flood Risk & Damage Mapping
Flood Risk & Damage Mapping
Remote Sensing for Flood Damage Detection, Risk Assessment, and Prevention
Aims
1. Develop a cost-effective method for detecting flood inundation in South Africa using satellite data.
2. Update floodline maps from observed inundation to inform municipal planning and risk management.
PI: Dr Alanna Rebelo
Funder: Unfunded
SATWAT Project
SATWAT Project
Space-based assessment of invasive alien trees on evapotranspiration and water security in southern Africa
Aims
1. Quantify the impact of key invasive alien tree taxa on evapotranspiration across different South African biomes.
2. Develop a demo tool to estimate the water use impacts of invasive alien trees.
PI: Dr Alanna Rebelo/Dr Elisa Van Cleemput
Funder: European Space Agency
Years: 2025-2027
Read more: https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-iscw/WaterScienceSCW/Documents/Rebello%20Projects/SATWAT%20Project.pdf
Announcement: https://www.eoafrica-rd.org/announcing-the-eo-africa-rd-research-projects-awarded-proposals-fourth-call/
Data-Use in Hydro Modelling (D2M)
Data-Use in Hydro Modelling (D2M)
Foundations for updating water resources assessments: guidelines for reliable use of field and remote sensing data and global runoff products in South African
hydrological modelling.
Aims
1. Develop practical, evidence-based guidelines for integrating field data, remote sensing, and global runoff products into catchment-scale hydrological modelling.
2. Assess how different data-use scenarios (e.g. remote sensing products, field monitoring data, global model outputs) influence model performance and uncertainty.
PI: Dr Julia Glenday
Funder: Water Research Commission
Years: 2025-2028
Read more here.
Peatland Dissemination Project
Peatland Dissemination Project
Dissemination of knowledge around peatland management and interventions in South Africa
Aims
1. Produce three short films and three accompanying information sheets on peatlands, covering peatland management, peat soils, and peat fires
2. Develop two practical management tools focused on (i) peatland management and (ii) peat fire management
PI: Dr Jason le Roux/Dr Alanna Rebelo
Funder: Water Research Commission
Years: 2025-2026
Read more here.
BioSCape Project: Water
BioSCape Project: Water
Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
A BioSCape (Biodiversity Survey of the Cape) Project: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/projects/bioscape
Aims
1. Advance understanding of how invasive alien trees affect biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning using high-resolution Earth observation data and causal inference.
2. Quantify how biodiversity might impact alien tree invasion at a landscape scale using remote sensing derived counter-factuals and causal inference (biotic resistance H0)
PI: Prof Peter Adler/Prof Laura Dee
Funder: NASA
Selected publication:
Van Cleemput, E. P.B. Adler, K. Nash Suding, A.J. Rebelo, B. Poulter, L.E. Dee (2025). Scaling-up ecological understanding with remote sensing and causal inference, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2024.09.006.
BioSCape Project: Fire
BioSCape Project: Fire
Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
A BioSCape (Biodiversity Survey of the Cape) Project: https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/data/projects/bioscape
Aim: Advance understanding of how invasive alien trees influence fire regimes using Earth observation data and causal inference.
Team: Alanna Rebelo, Ben Poulter, Ayia Lindquist
Funder: Unfunded
Riparian Restoration
Riparian Restoration
Evaluating medium-term restoration success in a riparian Mediterranean-type ecosystem in South Africa
Aim: Quantify medium-term ecological recovery following riparian restoration in a Mediterranean-type ecosystem using vegetation and soil properties as indicators of restoration success.
PI: Dr Alanna Rebelo/Prof Karen Esler
Funder: Unfunded
Past Projects
MAPWAPS
MAPWAPS
Aim: To map woody invasive alien plants and assess their impacts on water resources in strategic water source areas using freely available satellite imagery and cloud computing.
PI: Dr Alanna Rebelo
Funder: Water Research Commission
Final project report: https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/3193%20final.pdf
Selected publications:
Cogill, L. S. et al. (2026). Supporting ecological restoration: leveraging satellite data and machine learning to map invasive alien tree biomass. Ecological Informatics.
Skosana, T. E., et al. (2025). Exploring the trade-offs between spatial and spectral resolution in mapping invasive alien trees. Ecological Informatics.
Cogill, L.S., et al. (2025). Evaluating the performance of satellite-derived evapotranspiration products across varying bioclimates in South Africa. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment.
MURRA Project
MURRA Project
Modelling uncertainty and reliability for water resource assessment in South Africa
Aims
1. To improve shared understanding of model structural uncertainty, and its potential scale of impact, across the hydrological modelling community
2. To empower the community to identify practical strategies for assessing, communicating, and ideally reducing modelling uncertainty
PI: Dr Julia Glenday
Funder: Water Research Commission (C2022/2023-00967)
Publication: Rebelo, A.J., et al. (2024). Structural differences across hydrological models affect certainty of predictions of nature-based solution benefits. Ecological Modelling. 110940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2024.110940.
Final project report: https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/3149%20final.pdf
Hydrological Modelling Intercomparison Project
Hydrological Modelling Intercomparison Project
Critical catchment model inter-comparison and model use guidance development
Aims
1. To compare the model structure options and capabilities of different commonly used modelling software tools
2. Model four different case study catchments, including scenarios of change, using this set of tools to explore practical implications of their differences
PI: Dr Julia Glenday
Funder: Water Research Commission (K5-2927)
Project website: https://hydromodel-sa-wiki.saeon.ac.za/wiki/Model_inter-comparison_study
Final project report: https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2927_Final%20Report.pdf
The NATWiP Project
The NATWiP Project
Nature-Based Solutions for Water Management in the Peri-Urban: Linking Ecological, Social and Economic Dimensions
Aim: To connect NBS science with society by enhancing the knowledge of different stakeholders regarding forms and feasibility of nature-based solutions (NBS) for addressing peri-urban water challenges.
PI: Dr Nandita Singh
Funder: WaterJPI
Project website: https://natwip.solutions/
Selected Publications:
de Lima, A.P.M., et al. (2022). Framework for Planning and Evaluation of Nature-Based Solutions for Water in Peri-Urban Areas. Sustainability. 14:1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137952.
Hale, S.E., et al. (2023). Evaluating Nature-Based Solutions for Water Management in Peri-Urban Areas. Water 15 (5), 893. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050893.
The SEBEI Project
The SEBEI Project
Socio-Economic Benefits of Investing in Ecological Infrastructure (SEBEI) Project
Aim: To develop an evidence-based integrated framework and prototype “investment case” for strengthening water-related Ecological Infrastructure (EI) while: 1) supporting well-functioning livelihood strategies/value chains; 2) creating new livelihood opportunities and value chains; and 3) reducing hydroclimatic risks.
PI: Prof Mark New
Funder: Danida
Project website: https://acdi.uct.ac.za/acdi-research/socio-economic-benefits-ecological-infrastructure-sebei
Selected Publications:
Holden, P.B., et al. (2022). Nature-based solutions reduce impact of anthropogenic climate change on hydrological drought risk. Nature Communications Earth & Environment. 3(51). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00379-9.
Rebelo, A.J., et al. (2022). The hydrological benefits of investing in ecological infrastructure: Invasive alien tree clearing in the Berg and Breede Catchments, South Africa. Journal of Hydrology. 610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127771.
Peatfire Project
Peatfire Project
Development of management and rehabilitation protocols for peatlands in South Africa
Aims
1. Estimate the potential loss of peat in three burnt South African peatlands
2. Quantify ecosystem services provided by the peatlands
3. Develop guidelines for the prevention, management and rehabilitation of degraded peatlands
4. Develop protocols to control peat fires.
PI: Dr Jason le Roux
Funder: Water Research Commission (2019/2020-00098)
Final project report: https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/TT907%20final%20web.pdf
Biodiversity-Climate Nexus Project
Biodiversity-Climate Nexus Project
Biodiversity-Climate Nexus for Wetland Management
Aim: This project aimed to produce a short film on South African peatlands, what we know about them and the threats they face.
PI: Dr Althea Grundling
Funder: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
View the project website. Watch the film: The Plight of South Africa's Peculiar Peatlands.
Mapping Flood Impacts on Peatlands
Mapping Flood Impacts on Peatlands
Aim: To use satellite imagery and historical photographs to map the impacts of the September 2023 floods on palmiet wetland systems throughout the Cape Floristic Region.
PI: Dr Alanna Rebelo
Funder: Unfunded
Read a summary of the research here.
Research paper: Maketa, M., K. J. Esler, S. Roffe and A. J. Rebelo (2026). Investigating the Impact of Severe Floods on Biogeomorphic Change in Wetlands Using Remote Sensing. Wetlands. 46: 24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-026-02043-w.
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