Chapter 1
Biological Invasions in South Africa:
An Overview
Brian W. van Wilgen , John Measey , David M. Richardson ,
John R. Wilson , and Tsungai A. Zengeya
Abstract South Africa has much to offer as a location for the study of biological
invasions. It is an ecologically diverse country comprised of nine distinct terrestrial
biomes, four recognised marine ecoregions, and two sub-Antarctic Islands. The country has a rich and chequered socio-political history, and a similarly varied history of
species introductions. There has been a long tradition of large-scale conservation in the
country, and efforts to manage and regulate invasions began in the nineteenth century,
with some notable successes, but many setbacks. With the advent of democracy in the
early 1990s, South Africa established large alien species control programmes to meet
the dual demands of poverty alleviation and conservation, and has since pioneered
regulatory approaches to address invasions. In terms of research, South Africa has
played an important role in the development of invasion science globally. It continues
to have one of the most active communities anywhere in the world, with strengths in
theoretical and applied invasion science, and world-leading expertise in specific
sub-disciplines (e.g. the classical biological control of invasive plants).
In this introductory chapter to the book “Biological Invasions in South Africa”,
we highlight key events that have affected biological invasions, their management,
and the research conducted over the past two centuries. In so doing, we build on
earlier reviews—from a national situational review of the state of knowledge in
B. W. van Wilgen (*) · J. Measey · D. M. Richardson
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University,
Stellenbosch, South Africa
e-mail: bvanwilgen@sun.ac.za
J. R. Wilson
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University,
Stellenbosch, South Africa
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town,
South Africa
T. A. Zengeya
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town,
South Africa
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa
© The Author(s) 2020
B. W. van Wilgen et al. (eds.), Biological Invasions in South Africa, Invading
Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology 14,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_1
3
Biological Invasions in South Africa:
An Overview
Brian W. van Wilgen , John Measey , David M. Richardson ,
John R. Wilson , and Tsungai A. Zengeya
Abstract South Africa has much to offer as a location for the study of biological
invasions. It is an ecologically diverse country comprised of nine distinct terrestrial
biomes, four recognised marine ecoregions, and two sub-Antarctic Islands. The country has a rich and chequered socio-political history, and a similarly varied history of
species introductions. There has been a long tradition of large-scale conservation in the
country, and efforts to manage and regulate invasions began in the nineteenth century,
with some notable successes, but many setbacks. With the advent of democracy in the
early 1990s, South Africa established large alien species control programmes to meet
the dual demands of poverty alleviation and conservation, and has since pioneered
regulatory approaches to address invasions. In terms of research, South Africa has
played an important role in the development of invasion science globally. It continues
to have one of the most active communities anywhere in the world, with strengths in
theoretical and applied invasion science, and world-leading expertise in specific
sub-disciplines (e.g. the classical biological control of invasive plants).
In this introductory chapter to the book “Biological Invasions in South Africa”,
we highlight key events that have affected biological invasions, their management,
and the research conducted over the past two centuries. In so doing, we build on
earlier reviews—from a national situational review of the state of knowledge in
B. W. van Wilgen (*) · J. Measey · D. M. Richardson
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University,
Stellenbosch, South Africa
e-mail: bvanwilgen@sun.ac.za
J. R. Wilson
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University,
Stellenbosch, South Africa
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town,
South Africa
T. A. Zengeya
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town,
South Africa
Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa
© The Author(s) 2020
B. W. van Wilgen et al. (eds.), Biological Invasions in South Africa, Invading
Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology 14,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_1
3