Controlling Invasive AustralianAcaciaSpecies: The South African Story

CABI eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 416 - 437

Published: Nov. 13, 2023

Australian Acacia species ('wattles') were introduced to South Africa for a range of purposes from the early 19th century onwards. Some wattle continue be grown and utilized timber bark products, but since mid-20th management has increasingly had focus on reducing their impacts as invasive species. Wattles are thus 'conflict species' that generate both positive benefits negative impacts, legislation have accommodate often opposing views needs various stakeholders. Proposals introduce biological control agents in 1970s initially strongly resisted, only ten seed-feeding flower-galling insects one gall-forming rust fungus been released between 1982 2020, although several other currently under consideration future release. Released provide levels against Legislation was passed 1983 required landowners manage wattles species, also allowed continued growing some commercial purposes. In 1995, African government initiated nationwide campaigns alien plants, including wattles, reduce create employment. To date, ZAR 1.4 billion spent physical chemical through this programme (2020 values), reached < 6% estimated invaded area. The effectiveness is not monitored, so outcomes investment largely unknown. Seven limited distributions systematically controlled with view achieving eradication, extirpating even small populations could take decades given many large persistent seed banks. When cleared ecosystems left self-recover, active restoration historically displaced vegetation clearly needed instances. Future will build lessons learnt over past century, constrained by insufficient funds competing interests. development national species-level policies, clear attainable goals, guide integrated into future.

Language: Английский

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From planning to implementation: a multi-stakeholder partnership for managing plant invasions in tropical island ecosystems

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 17, 2024

Effective management of invasive species within protected areas requires innovative solutions. In the Mascarene's archipelago, national park Reunion contains largest area intact vegetation, which faces alarming threats from alien plant species. response, local government initiated an inclusive partnership in 2018 involving decision-makers, managers, and scientists to address An operational framework planning implementation has been established encompassing five key steps: (1) conduct a comprehensive site assessment, (2) model future threats, (3) prioritise interventions, (4) implement actions through multi-stakeholder programme spanning multiple years, (5) evaluate effectiveness implemented interventions. This study provides in-depth examination research-action framework, illustrating outputs for priority sites. Our survey covered over 2500 ha, quantifying invasion degree three vegetation strata at fine-scale, revealed significant subalpine remain remarkably pristine. By adapting participatory conservation approaches, we developed implementation-level scale useful managers guided interventions on ground. The exemplifies transdisciplinary approach with broad array stakeholders. Drawing checklist essential components successful partnerships, highlight insights this initiative, providing valuable lessons managing invasions other regions. holds promise addressing several Global Biodiversity Framework Targets concerning island ecosystems or landscapes characterised by multi-layered governance.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem restoration coupled with poverty alleviation in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu‐Natal Province, South Africa

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(7)

Published: July 7, 2024

Ecosystem restoration is a necessity for addressing socio‐ecological challenges by improving ecosystem resilience and alleviating poverty through local community involvement. Here, we review community‐based, large‐scale program, Working Ecosystems, implemented eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa, between 2007 2022. For this study, interrogated monthly annual reports generated the program 2011 2021 to describe how worked suppress invasive alien plants (IAPs) provided employment opportunities marginalized groups (women, youth, military veterans, people living with disabilities). Annual budget was positively correlated area cleared of IAPs effort (person‐days field). The successfully incorporated groups, but veterans disabilities remained smaller numbers were not well quantified. Participants encouraged constitute companies—Small, Medium, Micro Enterprises—that then subcontracted or could progress other endeavors, allowing members enter program. A steady increase implementation emphasized need long‐term plan ensure accountability sustainability systems.

Language: Английский

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Soil seed bank resilience in passively restored endangered Sand Fynbos following a century of pine plantations

Plants People Planet, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 30, 2024

Societal Impact Statement Ecosystems are rapidly being transformed, pushing us towards irreversible losses and even extinctions. The Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to curb biodiversity decline. An intriguing solution lies in seed banks—where plants store seeds the soil. Restoration efforts can revive lost ecosystems by leveraging these banks. In fynbos of South Africa, this study found that it is possible bring back were as long ago 100 years if conditions right. Managers achieve best results applying a dry season prescribed burn following removal driver degradation (e.g. pine plantations or invasions). Summary Soil‐stored banks critical evolutionary strategy for they stabilize population dynamics response environmental fluctuations such droughts natural disturbances fires, thus improving ecosystem resilience. This aimed assess resilience during first restoration cycle endangered Sand Fynbos harvesting Africa. We compared above ground populations soil‐stored bank composition focused on six perennial focal species five 1 m 2 plots. All obligate reseeders with but represent variety important growth forms types. native soil‐seed density over century plantation forestry 10 after was comparable to, exceeded, densities measured other studies, especially alien‐invaded ecosystems. early likely provide pest‐ predator‐free window opportunity which may re‐establish flourish. Our show old areas, ecological historic vegetation community feasible, where there retained resilience, through combination passive active methods. Ecological cases soil persist therefore viable critically method attain 30% conservation terrestrial land less than remaining, part Framework.

Language: Английский

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A Review of Best Management Practices for the Control of Invasive Prosopis Trees

CABI eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 157 - 177

Published: Dec. 23, 2024

Language: Английский

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