Edmund February

Edmund C February is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. His main research interest are in obtaining a better understanding of where plants get their resources and how this affects vegetation structure. He explores the processes that define the boundaries between different vegetation types, as well as the anthropogenic effect on the environment.

He is also well known internationally as a rock climber, being perhaps the most prominent black climber in South Africa. Named after one of the two climbers first confirmed to reach the summit of Everest, Edmund Hillary, and living in the shadow of Table Mountain, Edmund was destined to be a climber. He had to overcome immense challenges to become one: during Apartheid he wasn’t welcome in the Mountain Club of South Africa and had to outwit authorities to climb on restricted land.

Prof. February has opened more than 500 new climbing routes throughout Africa and has been on climbing expeditions to Australia, America, Britain, Cameroon, France, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Thailand, and Zimbabwe.

Excerpts from an interview with Ed February where recently added to the BBC Scotland, Great Climb video archive.