Jordan Siebert, a PhD student at the University of Pretoria, is studying the ecological importance of aardvark burrows in conservation, specifically in the agricultural industry. And she needs the help of farmers and farm workers.
By Joanie Bergh, journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Her research focuses on aardvark burrows, specifically how they provide refuge and create more temperate microclimates for other species, and improve soil conditions.
A Bridge Between Conservation and Agriculture
Jordan says she has always been drawn to the intersection of conservation and human-modified landscapes, particularly how to better integrate biodiversity protection into working environments such as farmland.
“With agricultural expansion placing increasing pressure on natural ecosystems, I believe it is crucial to understand whether conservation objectives can be achieved alongside productive land use,” she says.
“This projects investigates whether agricultural areas – particularly in grassland environments – can serve as viable conservation spaces. In grassland biomes that are particularly under threat, finding ways to optimise the biodiversity value of human-managed systems is increasingly important.
“Aardvark burrows provide critical resources that support broader biodiversity, making them ideal focal points for exploring conservation opportunities in agricultural landscapes.”
Farmers as Conservation Partners
With her research, Jordan aims to promote more sustainable practices in agriculture, including the use of wildlife-friendly fencing.
The importance of these shy animals and the role their burrows play in sustaining biodiversity and in maintaining an ecologically healthy environment is often overlooked, she says.
Her supervisor, Prof Natalie Haussmann of the Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, says this is not the first study to focus on the aardvark that she has supervised, but it is one of only a handful of studies that look at the animal from an agricultural perspective.
By examining the effects that aardvark burrows have on the environment and broader ecology, Jordan hopes to show how agricultural landscapes can complement conservation areas – two sectors that have long been at odds due to conflicting interests.
These animals are underrated ecosystem engineers, Jordan says. Their burrows create thermal refuges, improve soil aeration and provide shelter for many other species – including several of conservation concern. In Southern Africa, they are widespread across grassland and savannah systems, yet remain elusive due to their nocturnal habits. As a result, the aardvark is often overlooked in conservation discussions.
They don’t usually damage crops, but their burrows can cause localised issues. For example, they might dig under farm roads, which can weaken the structure, or create burrows that livestock might accidentally step into and injure themselves. Fortunately, these incidents are relatively rare and manageable.”
Study Participants Needed
To investigate whether agricultural landscapes can serve as wildlife conservation spaces as well, Jordan’s research requires participants from farming communities. One part of her research takes place in a protected area with largely untransformed habitats, and another part has to take place on farmland if the study is to meet its objectives.
Farmers and farm workers will be key in locating aardvark burrows on farmland, and will help by installing monitoring cameras near them. They’ll receive training to identify species that use these burrows, a key part of the study.
Farmers who would like to participate in the study can contact Prof Natalie Haussmann at natalie.haussmann@up.ac.za
