Hundred years of Botany at the NWU: contributions towards understanding plant and algae function, diversity and restoration in a changing environment

The Department of Botany on the Potchefstroom Campus (formerly University for Christian Higher Education) North-West (NWU) had its centenary in 2020. In this paper we celebrate milestone by giving an overview history at campus, including recent establishment and expansion NWU Mahikeng North-West). A brief is presented advances teaching research over years, development relevance important plant collections botanical garden, two herbaria national diatom collection. main emphasis contribution is, however, a reflection advancement significance conducted various disciplines algae function, diversity ecological restoration years. different NWU, from oldest to more recent, are Plant Taxonomy, Ecophysiology, Terrestrial Ecology, Aquatic Sciences, Urban Settlement Geoecology, Proteomics. Different aspects contributing changes occurring environment, such as pollution, land degradation, urbanisation, overexploitation resources subsequent effect these function especially addressed our current research. results inter alia led solutions problems landscape contribute well-being people using water restoring ecosystem services.