RCE KwaZulu Natal - 2021

Location

GroundTruth
9 Quarry Road Hilton
South Africa
See map: Google Maps
ZA
The Stream Assessment Scoring System (miniSASS) and SDG 6
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
The Stream Assessment Scoring System (miniSASS) and SDG 6
Submitting RCE: 
RCE KwaZulu Natal
Contributing organization(s) : 
University of KwaZuu-Natal
GroundTruth
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Jim Taylor
Organizational Affiliation: 
University of KwaZulu-Natal
E-mail: 
jimtaylor835@gmail.com
Name: 
Mark Graham
Organizational Affiliation: 
GroundTruth
E-mail: 
mark@groundtruth.co.za
Format of project: 
Manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Web link: 
www.minisass.org
Additional resources: 
N/A
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Sustainable Development Goal 6.3.2 and 6b
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
South Africa
Location(s): 
This project is now being applied globally
Address of focal point institution for project: 
GroundTruth
9 Quarry Road
Hilton
South Africa
Ecosystem(s):
Fresh water
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed., Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
miniSASS is a biomonitoring technique for measuring water quality. Using the technique citizen scientists can establish a River Health Index (RHI) simply by studying 13 macro-invertebrates that occur in most perennial rivers in the world. Such has been the acclaim this project has received that UN Water are now recommending it as a level 2 indicator, for all countries in the world, to achieve SDG Target 6.3.2 and 6b.
The technique now appears in the latest UN Water Manual (2021) as well as in the latest Water Policy Journal (2021)
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
SDG 6 clarifies how water quality, quantity and access are crucial to human well-being, and yet human activities are compromising water resources through over-exploitation, pollution, as well as contributing to the spread of disease.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2004 to January, 2030
Rationale: 
Fresh water quality, quantity and access is a challenge all over the world. Physico-chemical methods to measure water quality are expensive and usually require scientists, sampling and laboratories. The Stream Assessment Scoring System (miniSASS) is a biomonitoring project that is based on visible life that occurs in most perennial rivers of the world. By identifying just 13 organisms, using a simply dichotomous key, a River Health Index can be derived at no cost to the user. The data can then be placed on a Google Earth Plane for every single region of the world at www.minisass.org.
Objectives: 
To provide a water quality monitoring technique that can be applied at no cost, through citizen science, for every perennial stream or river in the world.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
miniSASS has been thoroughly researched since 2004. In 2007 the technique was taken up by RCE KwaZulu-Natal and further developed. It has now been adopted by the United Nations (UN Water Manual 2021) as a level two indicator for SDG Target 6.3.2 and SDG Target 6b.
Size of academic audience: 
So far about 35 000
Results: 
The miniSASS technique is being widely applied in South and southern Africa. Results are documented on the Google Earth Plane and to date has been recorded in Tanzania, Germany, Vietnam, India, Canada, Brazil, Kenya, Lesotho and Mexico.
Lessons learned: 
That citizen science can be mobilised to address the SDGs. In this case SDG 6.3.2 and SDG 6b.
The project has also proved that biomonitoring is a rigorous method for measuring water quality and can be used by citizens to establish a River Health index.
Key messages: 
Unless citizen participation is mobilized around key life-support-systems like fresh water the future of human life on Earth will be seriously compromised. The miniSASS technique demonstrates that if given the right tools citizens can mobilize to achieve the SDGs. Citizen science is thus a valid and crucial requirement if the SDG targets are going to be realized by 2030.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
RCE Makana and Lesotho are both partners in the miniSASS technique.
The technique is being incorporated into policy, through the SDGs, by the United Nations.
Funding: 
At present the proejct is funded in an ad hoc way through public spirited commitment, in their own time by scientists and citizens alike. A grant through the Water Research Commission (WRC) helped secure the projects viability.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Traditional Leaders do miniSASS.jpg (159.42 KB) Traditional Leaders do miniSASS J. Taylor
References and reference materials: 
File MiniSASS biomonitoring reaches UN Water.docx
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Agriculture 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Indirect
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Indirect
Update: 
No