Box 1.1 South Africa’s Alien & Invasive Species Regulations
South Africa is one of the few countries that has regulations in place on
biological invasions, and many parts of the regulations are highly innovative.
In many places throughout this book, reference is made to these regulations,
and here we provide a brief overview as background.
The Alien & Invasive Species Regulations were published in 2014 in terms
of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA; Act
10 of 2004). These regulations place restrictions on the use of listed alien
species and regulate how they are to be managed. In addition, the regulations
prescribe the process to be followed if a new alien species is to be imported
into the country, and list species that are prohibited from importation. The
intent of the regulations is to: reduce the risk of importing alien species that
could become invasive and harmful; reduce the number of alien species
becoming invasive; limit the extent of invasions; and reduce the impacts
caused by these invasions—while recognising that society should continue
to benefit from alien species.
Currently, 559 invasive taxa are listed in terms of the regulations in
different categories:
• Category 1a species are those targeted for national eradication.
• Category 1b species must be controlled as part of a national management
programme, and cannot be traded or otherwise allowed to spread.
• Category 2 species are the same as category 1b species, except that permits
can be issued for their usage (e.g. invasive tree species can still be used in
commercial forestry providing a permit is issued that specifies where they
may be grown and that permit holders “must ensure that the specimens of
the species do not spread outside of the land or the area specified in the
permit”).
• Category 3 are listed invasive species that can be kept without permits,
although they may not be traded or further propagated, and must be
controlled if they occur in protected areas or riparian zones. In essence,
this is for species that are being phased out—e.g., feature trees can be kept
(as it is too costly and unpopular to remove them), but they may not be
replaced.
In terms of the regulations, permits are required for the import of alien
species, and these will only be granted if a risk analysis is conducted and the
results deemed by the government to be acceptable (see Kumschick et al.
2020). However, 560 taxa have been listed as prohibited, i.e. an import permit
will not be considered for these species.
(continued)
1 Biological Invasions in South Africa: An Overview
15
South Africa is one of the few countries that has regulations in place on
biological invasions, and many parts of the regulations are highly innovative.
In many places throughout this book, reference is made to these regulations,
and here we provide a brief overview as background.
The Alien & Invasive Species Regulations were published in 2014 in terms
of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM:BA; Act
10 of 2004). These regulations place restrictions on the use of listed alien
species and regulate how they are to be managed. In addition, the regulations
prescribe the process to be followed if a new alien species is to be imported
into the country, and list species that are prohibited from importation. The
intent of the regulations is to: reduce the risk of importing alien species that
could become invasive and harmful; reduce the number of alien species
becoming invasive; limit the extent of invasions; and reduce the impacts
caused by these invasions—while recognising that society should continue
to benefit from alien species.
Currently, 559 invasive taxa are listed in terms of the regulations in
different categories:
• Category 1a species are those targeted for national eradication.
• Category 1b species must be controlled as part of a national management
programme, and cannot be traded or otherwise allowed to spread.
• Category 2 species are the same as category 1b species, except that permits
can be issued for their usage (e.g. invasive tree species can still be used in
commercial forestry providing a permit is issued that specifies where they
may be grown and that permit holders “must ensure that the specimens of
the species do not spread outside of the land or the area specified in the
permit”).
• Category 3 are listed invasive species that can be kept without permits,
although they may not be traded or further propagated, and must be
controlled if they occur in protected areas or riparian zones. In essence,
this is for species that are being phased out—e.g., feature trees can be kept
(as it is too costly and unpopular to remove them), but they may not be
replaced.
In terms of the regulations, permits are required for the import of alien
species, and these will only be granted if a risk analysis is conducted and the
results deemed by the government to be acceptable (see Kumschick et al.
2020). However, 560 taxa have been listed as prohibited, i.e. an import permit
will not be considered for these species.
(continued)
1 Biological Invasions in South Africa: An Overview
15