Staff Reporter
Invasive Alien Plants (IAP) are non-native plants impacting biodiversity negatively and destroy indigenous species. These plants disrupt local ecosystems and its functions and destroy transmission of pathogens.
The ability of IAP’s to ruin the soil and arable land increases poverty and threaten agricultural development in Africa with its accumulative negative impact on agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The water hyacinth is an especially predatorous plant jeopardising the continent’s water sources, reduces fish availability and even negatively affects hydro-electric stations reducing generation capabilities.
Various other IAP’s such as the Silverleaf nightshade found in South Africa (SA) and whitetop weed in East Africa lead to water shortages and destroys agricultural land. Many of these IAP’s are also extremely toxic to livestock. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations’ (FAO) had already established a strategy for Africa to manage these plants on the continent.
A report by the FAO indicated that the IAPs have a major negative impact on three sustainability dimensions of agricultural production, Agro-ecological-, Economic- and Socio-territorial sustainability, reducing employment opportunities. With no natural enemies, these plants use more water than indigenous types and directly affect food scarcity. These impacts had been found to mostly affect the poor and women. The African youth would be particularly affected by reduced employment opportunities as a consequence of these negative impacts.
The FAO strategy for addressing this took into consideration five specific areas -coordination and leadership in solving the problem at continental, sub-regional and national levels, the development and implementation of policies, laws and regulatory frameworks for prevention and management of invasive and alien species, research to strengthen capacity building and management and implementation of solutions for preventing and reducing the impact of IAPs. Lastly, proper communication, awareness and information had been identified to be of extreme importance.
The three research and capacity development areas would fit ideally into creation of employment opportunities for young Africans. SA has already embarked on such a drive, the Working for Water Programme. The Department for Water and Forestry in the country launched the project in conjunction with jobless young people from disadvantaged communities.
While the FAO strategy does not yet have a strategic objective on youth employment, it holds promise for creating employment opportunities for youth during the implementation phase at country level.
Not only would it eradicate poverty, but management of IAP’s would improve sustainability of agricultural production systems making them more attractive to youth for investment and sustainable employment. It would boost food security for the continent’s growing population. Proper education of the youth on managing natural resources could be shared with their communities and instil a comprehensive pride in their natural heritage.
With grain and wheat considered African staple food, especially by poorer households on the continent, Grain SA had published a comprehensive list of management tools and plans. According to this organisation, IAP’s cost SA billions of rand annually in lost agricultural productivity and resources spent on removing or managing them.
As many as 559 alien species, including 383 plant species as invasive in four different categories and a further 560 species had thus far been listed as prohibited and may not be introduced into the country.
Alien vegetation management
There are a number of ways to control the growth and spread of alien invasive plants. Such treatment would depend on the species being controlled.
Biological
Some alien plants have natural enemies, such as insects and diseases only affecting a specific species. The controlling agents (beetles, viruses) could be imported from the country of origin and released in the country where an invasive species had gained a foothold.
Manual
Young or small invaders can be manually removed from the soil. The plants should be stacked and disposed of responsibly to prevent regrowth. This could also provide regular jobs for poorer communities and the unemployed.
Mechanical
Larger plants and trees can be chopped or cut down. Trees can also be killed by removing a 30 cm – 40 cm strip of bark around their trunks (‘ring-barking’). This prevents food going to the leaves and kills the tree.
Chemical
Two or more methods can be used at the same time e.g. ring-barking and then spraying herbicides on the stump.
IAP’s and the law
The task of managing alien vegetation lies mainly with landowners. In August 2014, the Minister of Environmental Affairs published the ‘Alien and Invasive Species Regulations’ to limit the negative effects of IAPs. The regulations call on landowners and sellers of land to assist the Department of Environmental Affairs to conserve indigenous fauna and to foster sustainable use of land. Non adherence can result in a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to five million rand (ten million if a second offense) and or a period of imprisonment of up to ten years.
