ASSET RESEARCH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Co - Trustee of the Ecological Health Network While Working Closely With
James Aronson is a co-founder and co-trustee of the Ecological Health Network while working closely with ASSET Research in Africa. He has participated in and consulted on numerous restoration and rehabilitation projects and programs in Latin America, Africa, Madagascar, and the Mediterranean region, and published many books and articles over the past 30 years. From 1992 until 2016, he was part of the Restoration Ecology Group at the Center of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (CNRS), Montpellier, France and from 2016-2020 was senior scientist in the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden, USA (where is now emeritus scientist). Currently, he devotes most of his time to the EcoHealth Network, which focuses its efforts at the interface between ecological restoration and human health. He also served two terms on the board of directors of the Society of Ecological Restoration (SER) and since 2002 has been editor of the Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration book series published by Island Press in collaboration with SER.
James Blignaut is currently professor extraordinaire attached to the SPL of the Stellenbosch University and honorary research associate of SAEON. He is also director of ASSET Research and Beatus, and is the originator of ReStory.
Leandri van der Elst is a freelance editor and typesetter and partners with ASSET regarding the general administration of projects, publishing stakeholder and client communications (such as the project reports).
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Dekker Biotech
Len Dekker is the managing director of Dekker Biotech and specialises in industrial wastewater treatment, water reuse, algal biotechnology and soil bioremediation. He initiated his consulting career in 2000 and in 2003 obtained a PhD in Biotechnology from Rhodes University (entitled Development of integrated algal ponding systems in the treatment of wine distillery wastewaters). From 2002-2006, he was the lead biotechnologist responsible for the design and operation of a commercial spirulina (algal) production facility in South Africa. Len has since consulted on numerous commercial wastewater projects in South Africa for clients in the food processing and abattoir industries, with the implementation of low-energy natural biological treatment systems suited to climatic conditions. The focus has been on closing the loop between wastewater treatment and implementation of reuse technologies towards effective potable water production to address the client's water supply risks. Rehabilitation of polluted terrains forms an integral part of his work, due to past prolonged wastewater irrigation practices or accidental chemical spillages. Len is a member of both the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) and the International Water Association (IWA). He has also assisted on steering committees for water research projects of the South African Water Research Commission (WRC).