Page 6 - Impact Fall 2022

Sharing the science behind invasives
Restoring his native soil
When Esakakondo “Al” Lohese began his PhD in land and atmospheric science, he had a mission: To restore the soil in Sankuru province, which lies in the geographic center of his home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
“As I was growing up, food was everywhere,” recalls Lohese, who comes from a family of farmers. Today, hunger is a major issue, and 26 million people are acutely food insecure. Increased demand for food in some regions has led to soil overuse.
Seeing the connection between agriculture and soil, Lohese obtained a soil science degree in Zaire, and worked for Congo’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He earned
a master’s degree in agricultural economics at The Ohio State University, later moving to raise his family in the Twin Cities.
As he got older, Lohese learned that agricultural production
in DRC had diminished, especially in rural areas. He decided to continue his soil science education and pursue a PhD at the U of M, with the intention of returning to Congo. During his PhD, he mapped and classified the soils of Sankuru province and spent eight months traveling across the region, collecting samples, and connecting with farmers.
“Al conducted his PhD research near his birthplace, so it has been both professional and deeply personal; a labor of both love and duty,” said Nic Jelinski, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate and Lohese’s PhD advisor.
Lohese is encouraged by the enthusiasm of U of M faculty
to collaborate and support him as he transitions from graduate student to faculty member at L'Université Notre Dame de Tshumbe in Sankuru. He hopes to establish a partnership with the U of M for training students in Sankuru and sharing knowledge via seminars.
“We can make some good noise around here, and people will notice and remember,” said Lohese.
Do you have a CFANS alumni story you’d like to share? Email lfligge@umn.edu with ideas for consideration.
Minnesota’s aquatic and terrestrial species invaders don’t come from outer space, but they do come from outside of the state and cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
Our natural resources are threatened by a wide variety of invasive species on land and in the water. At CFANS, the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) and the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center (MITPPC) focus their research on the prevention, detection, and control of such invaders, which range from aquatic zebra mussels and starry stonewort to terrestrial buckthorn and jumping worms—and everything
in between.
This summer, CFANS hosted a statewide invasive species conference via its system of 10 Research and Outreach Centers (ROCs). The free hybrid event was open to the public and featured experiential learning and experts discussing the science behind invasive species.
During the sessions, attendees had direct access to field and research sites where they deepened their understanding of invasive species specific to their region. Armed
with this comprehensive information of the latest science and scenarios, community leaders and residents can take what they learned home to make a real impact in their communities.
CITIZEN SCIENTISTS WORK TO CONTROL INVASIVE BUCKTHORN.