Regions and the environment: experiences of environmental research networks in southern Africa

This paper analyses how the main environmental research networks in southern Africa have adopted a regional approach to environmental issues. Documented information is used to assess and discuss the experiences of the regional environmental research networks on the basis of four criteria: structure and functionality, productivity, impact and sustainability. It is apparent from the analysis that of the seven main regional environmental research networks studied, only the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network shows some signs of being on course towards consolidating a regional outlook. The other environmental research networks have structural, operational, funding and capacity constraints that hinder them from making meaningful contribution to environmental issues at a regional level. The paper recommends that an effective regional research network should have a Secretariat, operate as a broker between funding agencies and researchers based in other institutions, be 'home-grown' or at least have the support of the majority of local researchers, have a scope that is broader than just academic research and scientific publications and have diversified sources of funding to hedge it against the undue influence, whims and fancies of funding agencies, governments and research trusts.