For the past 12 years, the WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium has been held annually across eastern and southern African regions. The series has helped forge a regional family of water professionals concerned with the wise use of water and has become the key annual event in water research in East and Southern Africa. This year the Symposium was hosted by the University of Dar-es-Salaam’s Department of Water Resources Engineering.

Top water researchers from East and Southern Africa, Belgium, Canada, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands attended the event. Tanzania’s Minister of Water, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, was also in attendance as well as the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Gharib Bilal. Dr Bilal gave a key note address on the theme “Transboundary Water Cooperation: Building Partnerships.” Sub themes included Hydrology, Water and Land, Water and Society, Water Supply and Sanitation, Water Resources Management and Water and Environment.

Danga’s winning poster was titled “Ecosystem Services, Conservation and Perceptions of the Wakkerstroom Wetland, South Africa” and fell under the Water and Environment sub theme. The theme of her work on wetland management in South Africa is a topic of great concern to those who have always benefitted directly from wetlands in the broader integrated water resources management arena. She will continue in her research efforts on strategies for the wise use of water resource ecosystems within the confines, and outside boarders, of South Africa.