Lutendo holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Lutendo’s primary interests relate to plant eco-physiology, biodiversity conservation, ethnobotany, restoration ecology, ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem services mapping, invasive alien plant management (biological, chemical, mechanical and integrated control methods) and ecological agriculture. Lutendo has adopted a trans-disciplinary research approach. Lutendo strongly believes that sustainability science can be achieved by trans-disciplinary research, because trans-disciplinary research involves actors / stakeholders from within and outside academia (e.g., local communities and civil society organisations) in the research process (co-design and co-implementation) in order to integrate the best available knowledge (scientific and indigenous), reconcile values and preferences, as well as create ownership for problems and solution options. Lutendo has over 11 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, invasive alien plant management and restoration of degraded ecosystems. This experience was acquired at both the academic and research institutions. Lutendo worked as; a Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology, a Technical Assistant at the University of Pretoria, a Teaching Assistant / Research Assistant at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and a Trainee Researcher at the Agricultural Research Council: Plant Protection Research Institute. Lutendo is open to research collaboration in his field of interest, so feel free to contact him. To view his research output, please follow him on ResearchGate