(Fig. 1.2), and marine species are drawn from three major biogeographic zones
(Indo-Pacific, Atlantic and Antarctic). Well-known marine ecosystems range from
cold-water kelp forests to tropical coral reefs. There are several marine islands close
to the shore of South Africa, and biological invasions and their management on these
inshore islands are dealt with in Chaps. 9 and 22 (Robinson et al. 2020; Davies et al.
2020). South Africa’s southernmost territory, the Prince Edward Islands (Marion
Island and Prince Edward Island) lie ~2000 km south-east of Cape Town in the
Southern Ocean. The native biota, invasive alien species, and the management of
biological invasions on these islands are discussed in Chap. 8 (Greve et al. 2020).
The status of freshwater invasions are discussed in Chap. 6 (Weyl et al. 2020). Given
this diversity, it is unsurprising that large areas of the planet have climatic and
environmental analogues to South Africa (Fig. 1.3; see also Richardson and Thuiller
2007).
1.1.2 A Rich and Varied History of Biodiversity Conservation
The first protected areas in Africa were established in South Africa in the 1890s,
initially for “game” protection. The Sabi Game Reserve in the (then) Transvaal
Republic was proclaimed in 1895, and together with the Shingwedzi Game Reserve
(proclaimed in 1903) went on to become South Africa’s first National Park (Kruger
National Park, proclaimed in 1926) (Greyling and Huntley 1984). A different
philosophy was followed by the Department of Forestry, who sought to protect
water and forest resources rather than game. The Department of Forestry was
responsible for the early establishment of protected areas in mountain water catchments (e.g. the Langeberg in 1896 and the Cederberg in 1897), coastal areas
(e.g. Walker Bay in 1895), and indigenous forest areas (Knysna forests in 1894;
Greyling and Huntley 1984). Today, terrestrial protected areas cover 8.85% of the
country (Fig. 1.1b), while marine protected areas have recently been increased to
~5% of the ocean around the coastline, an area in excess of 50,000 km
2 .
1.1.3 A Rich and Varied History of Introductions
South Africa is believed to be the place where the complex behaviours typical of
modern humans first appeared (Marean et al. 2014). These peoples inhabited coastal
areas about 110 thousand years ago, and interacted closely with native plants and
animals in small hunter-gatherer communities (Marean et al. 2014; Marean 2016).
Their descendants are believed to be the Khoisan people who were widespread in
South Africa prior to the arrival of migrating peoples (Marean et al. 2014). The
Khoisan continue to inhabit parts of South Africa and southern Namibia today.
South Africa has a rich social history formed by immigration predominantly from
Africa, Europe, and Asia. From about 200 AD, Bantu-speaking people from central
and eastern Africa migrated into South Africa. They brought with them livestock and
1 Biological Invasions in South Africa: An Overview
7
(Indo-Pacific, Atlantic and Antarctic). Well-known marine ecosystems range from
cold-water kelp forests to tropical coral reefs. There are several marine islands close
to the shore of South Africa, and biological invasions and their management on these
inshore islands are dealt with in Chaps. 9 and 22 (Robinson et al. 2020; Davies et al.
2020). South Africa’s southernmost territory, the Prince Edward Islands (Marion
Island and Prince Edward Island) lie ~2000 km south-east of Cape Town in the
Southern Ocean. The native biota, invasive alien species, and the management of
biological invasions on these islands are discussed in Chap. 8 (Greve et al. 2020).
The status of freshwater invasions are discussed in Chap. 6 (Weyl et al. 2020). Given
this diversity, it is unsurprising that large areas of the planet have climatic and
environmental analogues to South Africa (Fig. 1.3; see also Richardson and Thuiller
2007).
1.1.2 A Rich and Varied History of Biodiversity Conservation
The first protected areas in Africa were established in South Africa in the 1890s,
initially for “game” protection. The Sabi Game Reserve in the (then) Transvaal
Republic was proclaimed in 1895, and together with the Shingwedzi Game Reserve
(proclaimed in 1903) went on to become South Africa’s first National Park (Kruger
National Park, proclaimed in 1926) (Greyling and Huntley 1984). A different
philosophy was followed by the Department of Forestry, who sought to protect
water and forest resources rather than game. The Department of Forestry was
responsible for the early establishment of protected areas in mountain water catchments (e.g. the Langeberg in 1896 and the Cederberg in 1897), coastal areas
(e.g. Walker Bay in 1895), and indigenous forest areas (Knysna forests in 1894;
Greyling and Huntley 1984). Today, terrestrial protected areas cover 8.85% of the
country (Fig. 1.1b), while marine protected areas have recently been increased to
~5% of the ocean around the coastline, an area in excess of 50,000 km
2 .
1.1.3 A Rich and Varied History of Introductions
South Africa is believed to be the place where the complex behaviours typical of
modern humans first appeared (Marean et al. 2014). These peoples inhabited coastal
areas about 110 thousand years ago, and interacted closely with native plants and
animals in small hunter-gatherer communities (Marean et al. 2014; Marean 2016).
Their descendants are believed to be the Khoisan people who were widespread in
South Africa prior to the arrival of migrating peoples (Marean et al. 2014). The
Khoisan continue to inhabit parts of South Africa and southern Namibia today.
South Africa has a rich social history formed by immigration predominantly from
Africa, Europe, and Asia. From about 200 AD, Bantu-speaking people from central
and eastern Africa migrated into South Africa. They brought with them livestock and
1 Biological Invasions in South Africa: An Overview
7