Guidelines for phytosociological classifications and descriptions of vegetation in southern Africa

Changes in the environment are first observed in changes in the vegetation. Vegetation survey, classification and mapping form the basis on which informed and scientifically defendable decisions on the environment can be taken. The classification and mapping of vegetation is one of the most widely used tools for interpreting complex ecosystems. By identifying different plant communities we are essentially identifying different ecosystems at a particular hierarchical level. Phytosociologists in Europe have been involved in such studies following, in particular, the Braun-Blanquet approach since the early 1900s. In South Africa, such studies were undertaken on a limited basis from the early 1970s and have since then steadily increased. The surveying of the enormous diversity of South African vegetation is one of the objectives of phytosociological studies. The demand for such data has steadily increased over the past few years to guide conservation policies, biodiversity studies and ecosystem management. In South Africa, numerous publications on the vegetation of conservation and other areas in the different biomes have been produced over the last few decades. However, vegetation scientists in South Africa experience unique problems. The purpose of this article is therefore to provide an overview of the history and the specific focus of phytosociological studies in South Africa and to recommend minimum requirements and methods to be followed when conducting such studies. It is believed that the incorporation of these requirements will result in scientifically justifiable research of high quality by phytosociologists in South Africa.Conservation implications: Effective conservation cannot be obtained without a thorough knowledge of the ecosystems present in an area. Consistent vegetation classifications and descriptions form the basis of conservation and monitoring exercises to maintain biodiversity. The incorporation of these guidelines and requirements will facilitate quality phytosociological research in South Africa.

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Online appendix 2:Guidelines for phytosociological classifications and descriptions of vegetation in southern Africa

Koedoe ◽

10.4102/koedoe.v55i1.1103-2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leslie R. Brown ◽

Pieter J. Du Preez ◽

Hugo Bezuidenhout ◽

George J. Bredenkamp ◽

Theo H.C. Mostert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Hierarchical Level ◽

Vegetation Survey ◽

Conservation Policies ◽

The Past ◽

Online Appendix ◽

Minimum Requirements ◽

Limited Basis ◽

Effective Conservation

Changes in the environment are first observed in changes in the vegetation. Vegetation survey, classification and mapping form the basis on which informed and scientifically defendable decisions on the environment can be taken. The classification and mapping of vegetation is one of the most widely used tools for interpreting complex ecosystems. By identifying different plant communities we are essentially identifying different ecosystems at a particular hierarchical level. Phytosociologists in Europe have been involved in such studies following, in particular, the Braun-Blanquet approach since the early 1900s. In South Africa, such studies were undertaken on a limited basis from the early 1970s and have since then steadily increased. The surveying of the enormous diversity of South African vegetation is one of the objectives of phytosociological studies. The demand for such data has steadily increased over the past few years to guide conservation policies, biodiversity studies and ecosystem management. In South Africa, numerous publications on the vegetation of conservation and other areas in the different biomes have been produced over the last few decades. However, vegetation scientists in South Africa experience unique problems. The purpose of this article is therefore to provide an overview of the history and the specific focus of phytosociological studies in South Africa and to recommend minimum requirements and methods to be followed when conducting such studies. It is believed that the incorporation of these requirements will result in scientifically justifiable research of high quality by phytosociologists in South Africa.Conservation implications: Effective conservation cannot be obtained without a thorough knowledge of the ecosystems present in an area. Consistent vegetation classifications and descriptions form the basis of conservation and monitoring exercises to maintain biodiversity. The incorporation of these guidelines and requirements will facilitate quality phytosociological research in South Africa.

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A Review of Medical Waste Management in South Africa

Open Environmental Sciences ◽

10.2174/1876325101810010034 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 34-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olaniyi FC ◽

Ogola JS ◽

Tshitangano TG

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Waste Management ◽

South African ◽

Management Practice ◽

National Policy ◽

Medical Waste ◽

African Government ◽

The Past ◽

Government Documents ◽

Medical Waste Management

Background:Poor medical waste management has been implicated in an increase in the number of epidemics and waste-related diseases in the past years. South Africa is resource-constrained in the management of medical waste.Objectives:A review of studies regarding medical waste management in South Africa in the past decade was undertaken to explore the practices of medical waste management and the challenges being faced by stakeholders.Method:Published articles, South African government documents, reports of hospital surveys, unpublished theses and dissertations were consulted, analysed and synthesised. The studies employed quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods and documented comparable results from all provinces.Results:The absence of a national policy to guide the medical waste management practice in the provinces was identified as the principal problem. Poor practices were reported across the country from the point of medical waste generation to disposal, as well as non-enforcement of guidelines in the provinces where they exit. The authorized disposal sites nationally are currently unable to cope with the enormous amount of the medical waste being generated and illegal dumping of the waste in unapproved sites have been reported. The challenges range from lack of adequate facilities for temporary storage of waste to final disposal.Conclusion:These challenges must be addressed and the practices corrected to forestall the adverse effects of poorly managed medical waste on the country. There is a need to develop a medical waste policy to assist in the management of such waste.

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“Traditional” Venḓa Women’s Beadwork Accessing the Contemporary Tourist Market in South Africa

African Journal of Gender, Society and Development (formerly Journal of Gender, Information and Development in Africa) ◽

10.31920/2634-3622/2021/v10n3a10 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 199-224

Author(s):

Mathodi F. Motsamayi ◽

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

The Past ◽

African Heritage ◽

Trading Networks

Beads and beadwork have played a role in South Africa’s Limpopo Province dating back to the pre-colonial times. Whether the beads were produced locally or imported via trading networks, the region already had a rich tradition of constructing beadwork before the arrival of Europeans. Today, this tradition is continued by new generations of women beaders. It has been found that literature on contemporary Limpopo beadwork produced by Vhavenḓa women is scarce. This article addressed this imbalance. It is vital to state that, during the last decade and in the context of South African heritage and tourism, there has been a steadily increasing number of scholarly studies on Nguni beadwork. This study offered new insights into contemporary beadwork traditions. It also contributed to an understanding of Vhavenḓa beading by drawing on the knowledge and experience of beadworkers, identifying influences from the past, and countering some stereotypical perceptions of beadwork production.

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Challenges South African youth face in education and their quest to eradicate issues of the past

10.35293/ah.vi.3540 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lauren Kim Barnes

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Education System ◽

Daily Lives ◽

The Past ◽

African Youth ◽

Democratic Elections ◽

Unequal Opportunities

The youth of South Africa today face many challenges in their daily lives. The majority of South Africa's population is made up of youth- people aged between 15 and 35 years old. The youth in South Africa face challenges such as crime, unemployment, poverty, and most importantly unequal opportunities in education. These challenges should not be present in the daily lives of South African youth, especially since it has been over two decades since South Africa’s first democratic elections. The challenges that are faced in the education system is explored and solutions are suggested to help end the chain of poverty.

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In Search of the Perceived Quality and Impact of Accredited South African Law Journals: Exploring the Possibility of a Ranking System. A Baseline Study: 2009 – 2014

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad ◽

10.17159/1727-3781/2018/v21i0a3459 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

pp. 1-50

Author(s):

Marita Carnelley

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Research Output ◽

Rejection Rate ◽

Journal Ranking ◽

Bibliometric Data ◽

Ranking System ◽

System A ◽

Ranking Systems ◽

Minimum Requirements

The DHET Research Output Policy (2015) indicates that there has been a change in the government’s approach to research funding. Previously all research published in any accredited journal was rewarded equally. A decision has been taken, however, that a shift will be made towards rewarding better quality and higher impact peer-review research. Additional mechanisms such as biometric/bibliometric data, including citations, assessments by discipline-specific panels of experts and/or post-publication reviews may be used to determine the quality and impact of publications. The policy notes that the DHET may distinguish between "high" and "low" impact journals after proper consultation. This article highlights the need for consultation by the legal fraternity with the DHET about the implementation of these possible mechanisms in the light of the special considerations applicable to the evaluation of law journals: most journals publish mainly local legal content, there is a limited number of active legal academics, the nature of legal research is not empirical, and a premium is placed on the writing of books. The research evaluates the available data between 2009 and 2014 in an attempt to assess if it would be appropriate to introduce a legal journal ranking system in South Africa. The article discusses direct and indirect forms of quality evaluation to inform possible ranking systems. This includes the data from the ASSAf expert panel evaluation of law journals in 2014 and other bibliometric data based on whether the journal is featured in international accredited lists, the size of its print-run, author prominence, rejection-rate, usage studies, and evaluations based on citations. An additional ranking system is considered, based on the five best outputs submitted to the National Research Foundation by applicants applying for rating. The article concludes that a law journal ranking system would be inappropriate for South Africa. None of the systems meet the minimum requirements for a trustworthy ranking of South African law journals, as the data available are insufficient, non-verifiable and not based on objective quality-sensitive criteria. Consultation with the DHET is essential and urgent to avoid the implementation of inappropriate measures of quality and impact assessmen

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The birth of educational archaeology in South Africa

Antiquity ◽

10.1017/s0003598x00066291 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 74 (283) ◽

pp. 159-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Amanda B. Esterhuysen

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

African Education ◽

The Past ◽

The Future ◽

South African Education

Archaeology in education has been introduced in South Africa only recently as the politics of the past precluded the application of archaeology in the classroom. This paper presents the background to South African education and educational archaeology and discusses some of the issues and studies undertaken in South Africa. It also offers comment on the factors which determine and shape educational archaeology of the present and those that may affect the discipline of archaeology in the future.

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The potential for voluntary instruments to achieve conservation planning goals: the case of conservancies in South Africa

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605310001559 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 357-364 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Linda Downsborough ◽

Charlie M. Shackleton ◽

Andrew T. Knight

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Protected Areas ◽

South African ◽

Conservation Planning ◽

Nationwide Survey ◽

Land Conservation ◽

Private Land ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Private Land Conservation ◽

Effective Conservation

AbstractSpatial prioritizations and gap analyses are increasingly undertaken to allocate conservation resources. Most spatial prioritizations are conducted without specifying the conservation instruments to be implemented and gap analyses typically assess formally protected areas but increasingly include private land conservation instruments. We examine conservancies to see if these voluntary instruments contribute towards achieving goals of South African conservation planning initiatives. We conducted a nationwide survey and interviews with conservancy members in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape. Conservancies have potential for assisting South Africa to achieve conservation planning goals at national and local scales but their inclusion in spatial prioritizations and gap analyses predicates improved protection for nature, operational refinement and increased support. We sound a warning to conservation planning initiatives that incorporate voluntary instruments on private land, and present recommendations for strengthening such instruments to make them more effective. Our findings may assist conservation planners elsewhere to design more effective conservation planning initiatives focused on private land.

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New Directing Voices in South African Cinema

Kinema: A Journal for Film and Audiovisual Media ◽

10.15353/kinema.vi.1108 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Martin P. Botha

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

South African ◽

Documentary Film ◽

Film Industry ◽

Boer War ◽

African Cinema ◽

The Past ◽

Film Distribution ◽

Younger Generation ◽

Audience Development

NEW DIRECTING VOICES IN SOUTH AFRICAN CINEMA: GRADUATES FROM FILM SCHOOLS IntroductionAlthough 1994 saw the birth of democracy in South Africa our film industry is much older; in fact, our great documentary film tradition dates back to 1896 and the Anglo Boer War.(1) While celebrating the past ten years of democracy we shouldn't forget those filmmakers, who created films against all the odds. Jans Rautenbach (Jannie Totsiens)(2), Ross Devenish (Marigolds in August)(3) and the younger generation of the 1980s challenged moral and political censorship, a severe lack of audience development and inadequate film distribution to shape progressive texts, which became the foundation of a new, critical South African cinema during the 1990s. Publications by Balseiro and Masilela (2003), Botha and Van Aswegen (1992), Blignaut and Botha (1992), Botha and Dethier (1997), Davis (1996), Gutsche (1972), Louw and Botha (1993) and Tomaselli (1989) documented developments in South...

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Privacy in wearable health devices: How does POPIA measure up?

10.29007/qsp7 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Munyaradzi Katurura ◽

Liezel Cilliers

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Real Time ◽

Health Information ◽

South African ◽

Health Monitoring ◽

Personal Information ◽

Wearable Devices ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

The Past ◽

Social Disclosure

The market for wearable devices that is used for health monitoring has steadily increased over the past few years. South Africa has also seen an increase in the adoption of these wearable device. This is partly because these devices allow users to monitor their health and wellbeing in real time. However, to be efficient, the devices must collect a large amount of data. Some of the data that is collected include personally identifiable and health information which could be considered sensitive to the user. This study investigated if the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) provides adequate protection to South African users of wearable health devices. The POPIA and the privacy policy of the 2 most popular wearable health devices in South Africa, the Apple watch and Fit- bit, were qualitatively compared making use of Hutton et al’s (2018) heuristic framework. The study found that POPIA protected the users’ privacy when it came to notice, users’ awareness, choice and consent, access and participation. The Act did not cover any privacy matters related to social disclosure of information by users. The study also found that Apple watch and Fitbit did well in protecting users’ privacy with regards to notice and awareness as well as access and participation. The two wearables performed poorest in regards to choice and consent as well as social disclosure controls to protect users’ privacy. The study recommend that users educate themselves in regard to how their data collected by wearable health devices are collected and protected.

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