But these inferences may not be valid, because correlations do not necessarily imply causality. Consequently, poor coun- tries should increase significantly their numbers of doctoral graduates. It then follows that, in poor countries, scientists should be encour- aged to do more research, and to publish more papers. From this, it is often inferred (i) that scientists contribute directly to the wealth of a nation (by means of discoveries and patents). But what is the relative importance of the elimination of illiter- acy the strengthening of primary, sec- ondary and tertiary education and of establishing centres of excellence devoted to research in certain scientific fields? Relevant to this question is that the wealth of a nation is correlated with the citations earned by the publications of its scientists: those scientists, normally with doctorates, are more numerous in rich than poor countries. Revegetation may be a cheaper strategy in the long term, avoiding the maintenance costs that are required to stabilize banks and to remove re-invading alien species.ĮDUCATION IS CRITICAL TO SOUTH AFRICA'S efforts to alleviate poverty, the country's highest priority. Though revegetation is more expensive than allowing for natural recruitment, recent evidence has shown that recovery of the natural vegetation without intervention may be limited, and not without risks. Prior to species selection, it is necessary to assess the range of riparian habitats available in the project reach. It is recommended that revegetation plans make use of a mixture of the listed species, whilst maintaining separation of Wet and Dry Bank species. The most dominant species for each of these community types have been listed in a synoptic table that can be used for revegetation purposes. Twenty-six riparian communities were recognized, which were clustered into ten community Groups based on physical bank attributes. Relevés were sampled from as many Wet Bank and Dry Bank subzones as were present in each case. Braun–Blanquet vegetation belt transects were sampled on five undisturbed rivers that originate in the Hottentots Holland mountain range. There is a need for species descriptions from undisturbed riparian zones to guide post-project appraisal and revegetation strategies, especially in areas with high species turnover like the fynbos biome. This can be referred to as the demerse ecotope, or Wet Bank, and the emerse ecotope, or Dry Bank, and these zones can also be further subdivided. The presence of lateral zonation in riparian vegetation is well documented: flooding events shape the vegetation on riverbanks and the zones that are inundated annually have different vegetation than those that are inundated interannually. Revegetation is an important restoration strategy especially since riverbanks that have been cleared of alien vegetation are extremely susceptible to erosion. When considering revegetation strategies for particular restoration projects, data on community composition and structure should, whenever possible, be obtained from reference sites. The climate change debate, and its associated climate education and outreach opportunities, can help to narrow the gap between scientists and laymen and build an appreciation for the marvellous complexity of the natural phenomena that support life on our planet. Climate change, while being one of many challenges faced by the African continent, is also an opportunity.

Climate science is at a particular advantage when it comes to addressing these challenges. A scientific field wishing to prosper in South Africa has to support itself by actively engaging in activities that will strengthen the base of the scientific pyramid (primary, secondary and tertiary education), as well as attract Masters and PhD students representative of the population’s potential. We motivate for why scientists in countries like South Africa can’t behave purely like those in richer nations if they want to guarantee the success of their field. Stemming from a presentation given at the 2012 Philander Symposium entitled Why is Global Warming so Polarising? An African Perspective, this article discusses the challenges and opportunities facing climate science within Africa, and South Africa in particular.

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