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.
