Weedbuster Week 2007 – Protect Our Natural Resources

Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) create enormous costs to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, conservation and many other enterprises as they are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. Ten million hectares of South Africa have been invaded by IAPs and because they multiply so fast, if left unchecked, the problem could double in the next 15 years. Mandisa Mangqalaza, General Manager of the government’s flagship Expanded Public Works Programme, Working for Water (WfW), said that the programme was calling on communities to protect their natural resources by being more aware of and taking responsibility for the removal of IAPs. “We are encouraging communities to safeguard their natural heritage by planting indigenous species. The theme for WeedBuster Week, which takes place from the 8 -12 October 2007 is “Protect Our Natural Resources,” said Mangqalaza. The cost to human economic interests is immense – IAPs reduce crop yields, increase control and management costs and decrease water supply by degrading water catchment areas and fresh water systems such as rivers and dams. “Working for Water’s Limpopo project has spent over R35 million per annum and created approximately 1800 short term employment opportunities in the region on an annual basis,” says Brendan Mashabane, Working for Water’s Area Manager for Tzaneen in the Limpopo province. “Annually around 10 000 hectares of follow up work are successfully controlled and there is an ongoing effort to keep such invasion under control by handing over responsibility to private land owners and users through the engagement of the National and Provincial Department of Agriculture,” said Mashabane. IAPs found in the Limpopo province differ across districts, however the most prevalent are the subtropical type of invasion, including shrubby plants that disturb indigenous floral diversity. These include the Chromolaena odorata, also known as triffid weed, siam weed or paraffin bush, the Lantana camara (Lantana), Caesalpinia decapetala (Mauritius thorn), Solanum mauritianum (bugweed) and Rubus cuneifolius (American bramble). There are also a number of big tree species that are known to affect water availability, the most dominant being the Eucalyptus and Acacia varieties. Mashabane said that chemical control was the main method of control in the province, together with a significant integration of biological control. “Clearing assistance is continually being given to private land owners and users in areas of high hydrological and ecological importance, and public and communal or tribal land continues to receive on-going treatment,” he said. Challenges in the province included the difficulty in maintaining areas already cleared of IAPs, due to inadequate CARA legislation, as well as insufficient collaboration with sister departments in the fight against IAPs. However, Mashabane stated that the National Department of Agriculture had been engaged to proactively conduct inspections and spot checks in areas previously cleared by Working for Water. He also said that plans were in place at district level to establish forums that would foster fruitful partnerships between these governments departments and NGOs sharing a similar interest in the issue of IAPs. Mandisa Mangqalaza, General Manager of WfW explained that IAPs were introduced into foreign countries and took over from indigenous species as they are vigorous growers. “IAPs are highly adaptable and can invade a wide range of ecological niches. They have few natural enemies, and mature and bear enormous amounts of seeds within a few years and their growth outstrips that of local plants. They crowd out local plants to the detriment of the environment and economies,” she said. “Of most concern in South Africa is the fact that most of these species consume vast amounts of water”. Experts maintain that more than 7% of all water run off is lost to alien plants. That’s some 3,3 billion cubic metres of water in excess of that used by indigenous vegetation every year. In addition, IAPs destroy the ecological balance and impact negatively on the hydrological functioning of large water catchment areas – a severe problem in water-scarce South Africa. The incremental water use of alien plants has been estimated at 3 300 million cubic metres a year; this volume is equivalent to the mean annual run-off of the Vaal River. This is an enormous amount of water when one considers that the Vaal River supplies South Africa’s biggest urban centre. Invading alien plants use nearly three times more water than commercial forestry. IAPs intensify flooding and cause erosion. This destroys riverbanks and leads to the siltation of dams and estuaries, and consequent poor water quality. WfW’s clearing of invasive alien plants during the 2006/7 financial year has yielded an estimated release of 48-56 million cubic meters of additional water for alternative uses annually. Over 30 000 previously unemployed beneficiaries receive employment and training through the programme annually. According to Mangqalaza, “The Working for Water programme has also spearheaded a massive catchment rehabilitation programme of more than 300 clearing sites, in addition to work on aquatic weeds and the use of biological control agents and has established programmes in eight fire-prone regions of South Africa”. WeedBuster Week represents the annual culmination and highlight of the ongoing campaign aimed at the management and containment of invasive alien plants. The campaign is a multi-departmental initiative led by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry through the Working for Water (WfW) programme, and supported by various partners and stakeholders. The South African campaign is linked bi-laterally to invasive plant control initiatives by countries such as Australia and New Zealand, and multi-laterally to the broader Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and other structures and frameworks. This WeedBuster Week you can protect our natural resources by: Planting indigenous plant species. Talking to your neighbours, so that your land is not invaded as a result of “seed pollution” from invasive alien plants on your neighbours’ land. Not buying invasive alien plants from nurseries and other outlets. Not bringing foreign plants or animals into our country (or take our plants and animals to other countries). Joining a volunteer clearing (“hacking”) group, and adopting a piece of land to keep it clear. Encouraging your local authority, agricultural union, school, church, community bodies and others to work with the WfW programme. Remembering that a “stitch in time saves nine” – the sooner the work is done, the less it will cost, and the lower the damage. Contacting the WfW programme on 0800 005 376, for advice on invasive alien plants and how best to remove these species.