Q to Justin Sheffield from B-REsilient webinar: All the above is setting the context for asking my main question, namely whether it would be possible to access the data held within MSWEP/MSMET, and similarly the vegetation monitoring data held by VITO? We are working with Kartoza (https://kartoza.com/en/) to look at a number of indicator spatial layers that can be used to design both the optimal configuration of the WBR boundaries whilst building adaptation and resilience into the human livelihoods of the area by conserving the ecological infrastructure and promoting Ecosystem-based Adaptation within this South African Strategic Water Area. Hence the use of the vegetation indices going back over time would probably aid our arguments for enlarging boundaries & increasing habitat connectivity, as well as conserving key watersheds & a RAMSAR site. The MSWEP data would also be hugely valuable in statistically exploring heterogeneity in weather factors in this semi-arid area, as well as giving insight into both drought & flood likelihoods. We are planning to use the local records collected by some farmers over many years, but they do not have the data regarding e.g. soil moisture, stream flow, and vegetation response
from Richard email 5 Aug: