Invasive alien plant management River course infested with - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Invasive alien plant management River course infested with Blackwattle trees (Category 2 species)

Invasive alien plant management Invasive alien plants infest approximately 200 000 km² of South Africa. The impacts of these infestations are overwhelmingly negative in terms of their ecological, economic and social impacts, which include the loss of nearly 695 million m³ in water yield each year as well as devastating fires . Benefits • Invasive alien plants have a negative impact on the ecological Use control methods that are appropriate for the listed integrity of our natural systems, the productive potential of land, invasive alien plants and the environment. Investing in projects that clear invasive alien plants from the intensity of fires, flooding, erosion, the health of estuaries, water quality and quantity and the livelihoods of communities natural areas can pay huge dividends in terms social The regulations also require all organs of state, in all spheres of who depend on these life-support systems. government, to prepare invasive alien plant control plans for land development, economic prosperity and biodiversity under their control. management. One of the most substantial impacts of invasive alien plants in South Africa is their impact on water availability and increased Control plans for municipalities must be part of their integrated fire risk. It is estimated that they create a loss of nearly 695 development plans (IDPs) and be reviewed every five years. 1. Clearing invasive alien plants creates job million m³ in water yield each year and fires in invasive flora can burn up to 10 times hotter than indigenous vegetation opportunities and promotes skills development Regulation 29 of the AIS Regulations state that no property may 2. Investing in invasive alien plant management be sold without the seller notifying the buyer of listed invasive The removal of invasive alien plants in riparian zones and the alien plants present on the property. contributes to diversifying rural livelihood options by restoration of indigenous riparian vegetation to reduce the impact of flooding events can pay huge dividends in terms of disaster creating direct jobs, improving the productive potential risk reduction The NEMBA AIS Regulations divide invasive alien plants into of the land and creating secondary industry options. four categories: 3. Removing invasive alien plants from river banks 1a. Species must be combated or eradicated. The National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA) Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations reduces the risk of damage to infrastructure during 1b. Species must be controlled. and Lists came into effect in October 2014. 2. Species require a permit to carry out a restricted activity. flooding events 3. Species subject to exemptions and prohibitions. 4. The effective control of invasive alien plants reduces The new legislation requires all landowners in South Africa to the impact of vegetation fires on community undertake the following: Should landowners not comply, a directive will be issued. Non- • Develop a monitoring control and eradication plan for listed infrastructure and livelihoods. compliance can result in a criminal offence punishable by a fine invasive alien plants for properties bigger than 1 ha of up to R5 million for a first offence or a period of imprisonment 5. Clearing invasive alien plants from important water • Take steps to control the listed invasive alien plants and of up to 10 years. supply areas can improve water supply. prevent them from spreading • Take required steps to minimise harm to biodiversity Large fire burning in invasive alien vegetation (Argus, 2000)

Hakea plant (Category 1b species ) Pine trees (Category 1b species) in catchment area Dense infestations of Blackwattle (Category 2 species) trees surrounding water bodies Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Invasive alien plant management and Species Compilation of Category 2 invasive alien Legal compliance Project implementation compliance lifecycle Environmental restoration identification and monitoring, control and plants requirements monitoring mapping eradication plans ▪ The National Environmental ▪ All landowners must determine ▪ The Regulations require that all ▪ Any landowner who would like to ▪ The Regulations require that the ▪ Invasive alien plants have a range if they have any listed invasive landowners who have a property Management Biodiversity Act 10 of commercially grow a Category 2 implementation of invasive alien of negative impacts on ecological 2004 (NEMBA) Alien and Invasive alien plants on their property larger than 1 hectare compile a invasive alien plants such as plant control projects must be infrastructure Species (AIS) Regulations and Lists prioritised monitoring, control and Pine trees requires a permit to monitored to ensure the success of ▪ If a property has listed invasive eradication plan for the identified ▪ Ecological infrastructure refers to came into effect in October 2014 carry out a restricted activity. the project. alien plants a detailed list and invasive alien plants on the property naturally functioning ecosystems ▪ The Regulations requires all ▪ A restricted activity includes the ▪ Measurable indicators of invasive distribution map of all listed such as rivers that deliver valuable landowners in South Africa who ▪ The plan must ensure compliance invasive alien plants must be importing, growing and selling of alien plant control project services to people, such as water have listed invasive alien plants on compiled: with the National Environmental these plants. Before a restricted implementation progress and their properties to undertake the Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) activity can commence a risk success must be included in ▪ Active and passive restoration - All listed invasive alien following: and include the following key assessment must be undertaken invasive alien plant control plans strategies should be implemented plants present on a property - Take steps to control the listed components: must be identified and in areas where invasive alien invasive alien plants and ▪ A risk assessment will evaluate plants have been removed to aid described - Describe appropriate invasive prevent them from spreading the threat or potential threat to the recovery of indigenous alien plant control methods - The extent of invasive alien - Take required steps to minimise ecosystems, habitats, other vegetation and prevent the re- that cause as little harm as plant infestations located on harm to the environment species, the economy, the growth of invasive alien plants possible to the natural a property must be mapped environment environment or human health or - Implement control methods that - The portions of a property well-being posed by a restricted are appropriate for the listed - The control methods must that are infested with listed activity involving a listed invasive invasive alien plants and the address offspring, propagating invasive alien plants must alien plant environment material and re-growth, in be described order to prevent the re- ▪ The Regulations require all spheres establishment of invasive alien ▪ All landowners who have listed of government to prepare invasive plants invasive alien plants on their alien plant control plans for land properties must control them - The control plan must indicate under their control clear project implementation with appropriate methods that timescales cause as little harm to the ▪ Section 28 (1) of the National natural environment - A realistic invasive alien plant Environmental Management Act control budget must be imposes Duty of Care on every included person who causes , has caused or - Occupational health & safety may cause significant pollution or degradation of the environment to aspects must be included take reasonable measures to - Equipment and herbicide prevent such pollution or requirements must be degradation from occurring, identified continuing or recurring - Methods for the removal of - Invasive alien plants degrade invasive alien plant biomass the environment generated by control operations must be included

Contact details Paul Buchholz 079 881 4447 p.buchholz@outlook.com Cobus Meiring 083 626 7619 cobus@naturalbridge.co.za