Biography

Dr. Onalenna Gwate is a registered Environmental Scientist with the South African Council of Natural Scientific Professions. He holds a PhD in Water Resource Science from Rhodes University, South Africa, where his thesis focused on carbon and water vapour fluxes in rangelands and environmental sustainability in Southern African ecosystems. With over a decade of research and academic experience, Dr. Gwate has contributed to key environmental research initiatives in the Savanna, Grasslands, and Albany Thicket biomes of Southern Africa.

His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of rangeland ecology, water and carbon fluxes, and the broader impacts of global change on catchment hydrology. More recently, his research has broadened to include the dynamics of mountain ecosystems and the development of sustainable natural resource management strategies in the Anthropocene. Dr. Gwate’s research has resulted in over 36 peer-reviewed scientific publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5BdO28IAAAAJ, including three book chapters, and he has delivered more than 18 conference presentations globally. His work has provided critical insights into the resilience of ecosystems to global change, offering practical recommendations for both ecological management and policy development.

His publications span topics such as rangeland ecology, evapotranspiration measurement and modeling, and the socio-ecological implications of environmental change, which have informed both scientific discourse and applied environmental practices. Dr. Gwate has held academic positions at leading institutions, including Lupane State University (Zimbabwe), Rhodes University (South Africa), the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), and the University of the Free State (South Africa). He has mentored and collaborated with graduate students, fostering the next generation of environmental scientists and researchers. His teaching and research efforts focus on applied ecology, environmental change, and sustainable resource management. In addition to his academic research, Dr. Gwate has a robust background in environmental management, having worked with the Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Management Agency (Zimbabwe). His work in environmental impact assessments (EIA), environmental quality monitoring, and disaster preparedness provided him with practical expertise in translating research into actionable policy and management frameworks. His efforts have supported the integration of scientific research into national environmental governance, helping to shape sustainable development practices across various sectors.

Dr. Gwate has also worked extensively in the humanitarian sector, providing project design, monitoring, and evaluation services for organizations such as World Vision International and CARE International. His expertise in integrating environmental considerations into humanitarian response and development programs has informed projects in water, sanitation, hygiene, food security, and livelihoods, with a particular focus on integrating environmental sustainability in emergency response strategies. Currently, Dr. Gwate’s research is focused on understanding how global environmental changes impact ecosystem services, with a specific emphasis on water resources, carbon cycling, and biodiversity conservation. His research aims to develop adaptive management strategies that enhance environmental resilience and support sustainable natural resource governance in the context of climate change and socio-economic development.

Education

  • PhD Water Resource Science (Rhodes University, RSA)

  • MSc in Ecological Resources Management (MSU, Zimbabwe)

  • BSc hons. Geography and Environmental Studies (MSU, Zimbabwe}

  • Diploma in Disasters and Development (NUST, Zimbabwe)

Publications

  1. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5BdO28IAAAAJ