A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS

The guide details the ecological threats posed by invasive alien plants in the Cape Floral Region, including water depletion and biodiversity loss. It outlines legal obligations under the Biodiversity Act and CARA, provides a structured four-step planning process, and describes four primary control methods: manual, mechanical, chemical, and biological. The document also emphasizes health and safety protocols for herbicide use and the importance of long-term ecological rehabilitation.

• The Cape Floral Region is a global biodiversity hotspot and World Heritage Site, hosting over 9,000 species, with approximately two-thirds being endemic.
• Invasive alien plants (IAPs) significantly impact South Africa's water security, with the country losing up to 2,500 million cubic metres of water annually to these species.
• IAPs increase the risk and intensity of wildfires by increasing available biomass and, in some cases, containing flammable compounds, making fires harder to contain than in natural vegetation.
• Landowners have legal obligations under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 and the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (CARA) to control listed invasive species, with potential fines up to R10 million or 10 years imprisonment for non-compliance with the Biodiversity Act.
• Effective IAP management follows a three-phase approach: initial control to reduce the population, follow-up to control regrowth and seedlings, and ongoing maintenance to sustain low numbers.
• The guide recommends a specific priority sequence for clearing: targeting new invasions first, prioritizing follow-up treatments, addressing wildfire risks, starting with low-density stands, and working from the highest point downslope.
• Four main control methods are detailed: manual (hand pulling, cutting, ring barking), mechanical (bulldozers, felling equipment, heavy rollers), chemical (foliar, blanket spraying, cut stump treatment), and biological control.
• Biological control involves introducing host-specific natural enemies from the plant's country of origin; it is a long-term strategy that can take 10 to 20 years to become effective.
• Strict safety protocols for herbicide use include using only registered products, wearing approved personal protective equipment (PPE), and ensuring that mixing and refuelling are conducted on spill blankets.
• Long-term rehabilitation of cleared land is necessary to restore ecosystem services and prevent secondary invasions, utilizing passive, active, or manipulated succession methods.

APA

Martens, C., Deacon, G., Ferreira, D., Auret, W., Dorse, C., Stuart, H., Impson, F., Barnes, G., & Molteno, C. (2021). A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS. WWF South Africa. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/a_practical_guide_to_managing_invasive_alien_plants_web.pdf

Chicago

Martens, Chris, Guy Deacon, Dean Ferreira, Willie Auret, Clifford Dorse, Helen Stuart, Fiona Impson, Garth Barnes, and Clarrisa Molteno. A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS. WWF South Africa, 2021. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/a_practical_guide_to_managing_invasive_alien_plants_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{martens2021practical, author = {Martens, Chris and Deacon, Guy and Ferreira, Dean and Auret, Willie and Dorse, Clifford and Stuart, Helen and Impson, Fiona and Barnes, Garth and Molteno, Clarrisa}, title = {{A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2021}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/a_practical_guide_to_managing_invasive_alien_plants_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }