ʼn PRAKTIESE GIDS VIR DIE BEHEER VAN UITHEEMSE INDRINGERPLANTE

This 2021 practical guide published by WWF South Africa provides comprehensive instructions for landowners, managers, and contractors on controlling invasive alien plants (IAPs) within the Cape Floral Region. It covers the ecological importance of the region, legal obligations under South African law, strategic planning for removal, various control methods (manual, mechanical, chemical, and biological), health and safety protocols, and long-term rehabilitation strategies.

• The Cape Floral Region is a global biodiversity hotspot and World Heritage site, housing over 9,000 species, with more than 20% of Africa's mainland plant species concentrated in just 0.5% of the continent's surface area.
• Invasive alien plants significantly impact South Africa's water security, with the country losing up to 2,500 million cubic meters of water annually. A single large invasive tree can consume between 100 and 1,000 liters of water per day.
• Under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No. 10 of 2004), landowners have a 'duty of care' to take reasonable steps to control invasive species and prevent environmental damage. Failure to comply can result in fines up to R10 million or imprisonment for up to 10 years.
• Effective invasive plant control relies on two core principles: early action, which is cheaper and easier than managing dense infestations, and consistent follow-up to prevent regrowth and secondary invasions.
• The guide recommends a prioritized approach to clearing: first preventing new invasions, then performing follow-up treatments, limiting wildfire risks near infrastructure, and working from the highest point of a slope downwards to prevent seed dispersal into cleared areas.
• Control methods are categorized into four main types: manual (hand-pulling, cutting, ring-barking), mechanical (bulldozers, chainsaws, heavy rollers), chemical (foliar spray, stump treatment, basal bark application), and biological (introducing natural enemies from the plant's origin).
• Biological control is highlighted as a cost-effective and environmentally responsible long-term strategy. By 1998, it was estimated that bio-control programs had saved South Africa R1.38 billion in control costs.
• Strict health and safety protocols are required for chemical control, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the use of spill kits, and the prohibition of mixing herbicides near water bodies or in the rain.
• Long-term rehabilitation is essential to restore ecosystem functions and prevent re-invasion. This process follows four phases: site assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Funding for invasive plant control can be accessed through government programs like LandCare and the Natural Resource Management (NRM) program, through collaboration with neighbors, or by utilizing the biomass of cleared plants for commercial products like charcoal or timber.

APA

Martens, C., Deacon, G., Ferreira, D., Auret, W., Dorse, C., Stuart, H., Impson, F., Barnes, G., & Molteno, C. (2021). ʼn PRAKTIESE GIDS VIR DIE BEHEER VAN UITHEEMSE INDRINGERPLANTE. WWF South Africa. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/afrikaans_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. ʼn PRAKTIESE GIDS VIR DIE BEHEER VAN UITHEEMSE INDRINGERPLANTE. WWF South Africa, 2021. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/afrikaans_managing_invasive_alien_plants_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{martens2021praktiese, 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 = {{ʼn PRAKTIESE GIDS VIR DIE BEHEER VAN UITHEEMSE INDRINGERPLANTE}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2021}, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/afrikaans_managing_invasive_alien_plants_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }