A few weeks ago, the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy had the privilege of hosting a fascinating and insightful workshop with Wesley Soule from SoilScopes. SoilScopes is a new organisation that was established in 2022 and has already left a big impact on the South African agricultural world over the past few years. SoilScopes brings in modern, regenerative agricultural practices to farmers on how to tend to their soil more naturally. 

Wesley introduced us to a whole new world hidden beneath our feet, the complex and essential ecosystem of soil microorganisms. Through practical demonstrations and expert insights, we learned how healthy soil is the foundation of any productive landscape. When soil ecosystems are in balance, they provide plants with the nutrients they need to improve water retention and increase overall resilience to drought and disease.
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One of the most exciting parts of the workshop was the microscope session, where we examined soil samples up close and got to see the microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and much more that live in the soil. These tiny life forms might be invisible to the naked eye, but they are critical to soil health. Continuously disturbing the soil will hinder these little microbial organisms, making the soil unfit for them to live in, and will result in an infertile soil ecosystem with degraded plant growth.

Wesley showed us that by identifying the microorganisms present in the soil, we can better understand what is missing or out of balance. Whether certain microbes are lacking or others are overly dominant, this knowledge allows us to assess the situation and introduce natural microbial elements—such as compost teas or organic amendments—to help restore balance. This targeted, nature-based approach enables landowners, conservationist and farmers to regenerate their land in a sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way.
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The workshop also covered practical topics such as soil sampling techniques, making organic compost suited to the plant species that are growing within our nursery, and the principles of regenerative agriculture. The training also focused on better understanding the microorganisms that live in water and within wetland soils. This is essential as we embark on new projects that focus on the wetland environment and to help us better understand our river health. It was an inspiring session filled with knowledge, laughter, and muddy hands, and it was the best kind of learning!  We were also happy to include our partners at the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve to attend this training.

​Thank you to Linda Oosthuizen, who made contact with SoilScopes through a prize that she won for us on Facebook. The prize included some free microbial testing, free soil manuals and a compost thermometer. We were then able to use our funding from IUCN and IKI Small Grants to obtain this more in depth training. This opened a whole new field for us that will improve our conservation efforts in both our Alien Clearing and Restoration Projects!

​SASS5 (pronounced "Sass Five") stands for the South African Scoring System. But what does it score and why? It’s a framework – a way of thinking and observation – centred around understanding how micro-invertebrates, nestled within rivers, influence the health and function of those ecosystems. Recently, Philip Dairies and Jessi Venter had the opportunity to attend the SASS5 training course offered by the Freshwater Research Centre in Cape Town. 

What is SASS5

The SASS5 system is an empirical, carefully designed and refined methodology used to provide a scientific and credible assessment of the status or health of a river by means of examining the aquatic macroinvertebrates found in a particular reach of river. Each taxon of the macro-invertebrates (up to family level) is assigned a quality score, based on its susceptibility or resistance to pollution. The lowest scores are assigned to the resistant taxa and the highest score to those susceptible to pollution and habitat disturbances.

Philip explained that the SASS5 training wasn’t about complex equations or sophisticated instrumentation. Rather, it centered on a core principle: understanding what small aquatic creatures reveal about the health of their environment. He noted that the training emphasised observation, pattern recognition, and developing a holistic understanding of ecosystems at a microscopic level. It equipped him with tools to better interpret these systems. Philip also highlighted the value of conversations with other learners—not just data discussions, but shared experiences, probing questions, and the realisation that diverse perspectives often led to deeper insights.

Interested in SASS5

There’s something truly rewarding about the journey to becoming an accredited SASS5 practitioner. For Jessi and Philip, it's not just about certification—it’s about spending meaningful time by the river, learning from the incredible freshwater invertebrates that tell the story of ecosystem health.

At the Grootvadersbosch Conservancy, we’re proud to already have three accredited practitioners on our team (plus Neli who is almost there!). We love mentoring and supporting new staff members through the accreditation process, and we're always excited to welcome others who share this passion.

If you’re interested in becoming accredited, we recommend contacting the FRC to complete the SASS5 course. Once you've completed it, reach out to us! You’ll have the chance to join our monitoring sessions across more than 50 sites. The key to success? Practice, practice, practice.

To support your journey, we also highly recommend getting a copy of the SASS5 handbook by Christian Fry—a fantastic resource that we were proud to be involved with.
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Let’s work together to protect our freshwater ecosystems—one sample at a time.