In 1983, the publication of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act
43 of 1983) instituted the regulation of 47 invasive alien plant species that required
compulsory control. This was subsequently increased to 198 species in 2001 (Lukey
and Hall 2020, Chap. 18, Sect. 18.6). These species were listed in three categories:
(1) invasive species of no value; (2) recognised invasive species that also have
commercial value; and (3) recognised invasive species that have ornamental, but no
commercial value.
With respect to invasive animals, a long-term campaign to eradicate feral Domestic Cats (Felis catus) from Marion Island began in 1973, was declared a success in
1992 (Bester et al. 2002; Greve et al. 2020). This was the first large-scale eradication
in South Africa, and the second overall (Wilson et al. 2013).
South Africa became a constitutional democracy in 1994, and ratified the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1995. Article 8 (h) of the CBD
requires each Contracting Party to, as far as is possible and as appropriate, “prevent
the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species”. This commitment was strengthened when
South Africa adopted a new constitution in 1996 that enshrined the right to an
environment protected from degradation. Section 24(b) of the Constitution guarantees the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of future
generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent “ecological degradation, promote conservation, and secure ecologically sustainable
development”.
In 1995, the Working for Water programme was launched (van Wilgen and
Wannenburgh 2016). This programme had the dual purpose of protecting a vital
resource (water) from reduction due to invasive plants, while at the same time
providing employment and developmental opportunities to disadvantaged people
in rural areas. It went on to become the largest environmental programme on
the African continent. Working for Water has substantially broadened the scope
and extent of alien species management projects in South Africa, and these
are reviewed in van Wilgen et al. (2020a), Chap. 21, and Davies et al. (2020),
Chap. 22.
In 2014, the then Department of Environmental Affairs published the Alien &
Invasive Species (A&IS) regulations, which essentially replaced the regulations
under the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Box 1.1), and broadened
the scope and coverage by addressing all invasive alien taxa (not just plants). The
A&IS regulations listed 559 taxa that would require compulsory control. In 2018, the
national report on the status of biological invasions was produced under the auspices
of the A&IS regulations (van Wilgen and Wilson 2018; Box 1.2).
14
B. W. van Wilgen et al.
43 of 1983) instituted the regulation of 47 invasive alien plant species that required
compulsory control. This was subsequently increased to 198 species in 2001 (Lukey
and Hall 2020, Chap. 18, Sect. 18.6). These species were listed in three categories:
(1) invasive species of no value; (2) recognised invasive species that also have
commercial value; and (3) recognised invasive species that have ornamental, but no
commercial value.
With respect to invasive animals, a long-term campaign to eradicate feral Domestic Cats (Felis catus) from Marion Island began in 1973, was declared a success in
1992 (Bester et al. 2002; Greve et al. 2020). This was the first large-scale eradication
in South Africa, and the second overall (Wilson et al. 2013).
South Africa became a constitutional democracy in 1994, and ratified the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1995. Article 8 (h) of the CBD
requires each Contracting Party to, as far as is possible and as appropriate, “prevent
the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species”. This commitment was strengthened when
South Africa adopted a new constitution in 1996 that enshrined the right to an
environment protected from degradation. Section 24(b) of the Constitution guarantees the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of future
generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent “ecological degradation, promote conservation, and secure ecologically sustainable
development”.
In 1995, the Working for Water programme was launched (van Wilgen and
Wannenburgh 2016). This programme had the dual purpose of protecting a vital
resource (water) from reduction due to invasive plants, while at the same time
providing employment and developmental opportunities to disadvantaged people
in rural areas. It went on to become the largest environmental programme on
the African continent. Working for Water has substantially broadened the scope
and extent of alien species management projects in South Africa, and these
are reviewed in van Wilgen et al. (2020a), Chap. 21, and Davies et al. (2020),
Chap. 22.
In 2014, the then Department of Environmental Affairs published the Alien &
Invasive Species (A&IS) regulations, which essentially replaced the regulations
under the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Box 1.1), and broadened
the scope and coverage by addressing all invasive alien taxa (not just plants). The
A&IS regulations listed 559 taxa that would require compulsory control. In 2018, the
national report on the status of biological invasions was produced under the auspices
of the A&IS regulations (van Wilgen and Wilson 2018; Box 1.2).
14
B. W. van Wilgen et al.