1994 the Senior Captain Scott Medal for his outstanding research contributions to
biological control science.
Helmuth Zimmermann obtained a PhD degree at Rhodes University, graduating
in 1980. In 1968, he joined the staff of the PPRI, and was sent to Argentina
(1969–1973) to study the natural insect enemies of invasive cacti of South American
origin. In 1992, he became the Division Manager of Weed Research at the PPRI.
When the South African government initiated the Working for Water programme in
1995 (hereafter WfW, see Sect. 2.10), Zimmermann approached WfW’s Steering
Committee, outlining the available expertise in biological control, and stressing the
importance of the approach. As a result, WfW generously funded (and continues to
fund) research into biological control. The situation was later summarised by
Zimmermann et al. (2004) as follows: “There is little doubt, in retrospect, that if it
had not been for the active intervention of Working for Water, the practice of weed
biological control in South Africa would have languished, perhaps almost stopped.
Invasive alien plant biological control research and support personnel at the PPRI
are beleaguered by numerous regulatory, political and financial restraints, but the
funding and support from Working for Water has at least stabilised the situation,
and, in many respects, has invigorated the practice”.
Carina Cilliers obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Pretoria,
and initially worked on the biological control of pests of cotton and citrus. Following a
sabbatical in Australia in 1974, she focussed her efforts on the biological control of
alien plants invading natural ecosystems. She was responsible for the introduction of
16 species of natural enemies on Lantana camara (Lantana), six of which established,
substantially reducing the invasiveness of this species. The evaluation of the effect of
the insects on Lantana earned her a PhD from Rhodes University in 1982. After 1985,
her research centred on controlling several invasive alien aquatic plant species. She
was responsible for introducing successful biological control agents against Salvinia
molesta (Kariba Weed) and Pistia stratiotes (Water Lettuce). She worked towards
developing an integrated control project for water hyacinth locally, where “the most
difficult part . . . was to win over successive managers to giving biological control a
fair chance” (Anon. 2005). She has received several awards for her work, including
the Dave Annecke Award from the South African Weed Science Society.
Following Annecke’s death in 1981, research continued at the PPRI, and the role
of academic mentor in the field was adopted by Prof. Vincent C. (Cliff) Moran (van
de Venter 1999). Moran’s interests in biological control were aroused by Annecke in
1972, while Moran was a lecturer in entomology at Rhodes University. Moran went
on to become Dean of Science at Rhodes in 1983, and then Dean of Science at the
University of Cape Town in 1986. Despite the demands of these posts, he remained
active in the field of biological control. He always insisted that South African
invasion scientists should conform to the highest international standards, and his
role in ensuring that South Africa became one of the leading nations in the field of
invasive alien plant biological control has been pivotal (van de Venter 1999).
The plant biological control community (as it refers to itself) has, since 1973, held
annual meetings to discuss issues relating to their work. The first meeting, convened
by Moran at Rhodes University, was attended by five people. These meetings have
expanded in size over time both in terms of attendees and topic. By 2016 the meeting
38
B. W. van Wilgen
biological control science.
Helmuth Zimmermann obtained a PhD degree at Rhodes University, graduating
in 1980. In 1968, he joined the staff of the PPRI, and was sent to Argentina
(1969–1973) to study the natural insect enemies of invasive cacti of South American
origin. In 1992, he became the Division Manager of Weed Research at the PPRI.
When the South African government initiated the Working for Water programme in
1995 (hereafter WfW, see Sect. 2.10), Zimmermann approached WfW’s Steering
Committee, outlining the available expertise in biological control, and stressing the
importance of the approach. As a result, WfW generously funded (and continues to
fund) research into biological control. The situation was later summarised by
Zimmermann et al. (2004) as follows: “There is little doubt, in retrospect, that if it
had not been for the active intervention of Working for Water, the practice of weed
biological control in South Africa would have languished, perhaps almost stopped.
Invasive alien plant biological control research and support personnel at the PPRI
are beleaguered by numerous regulatory, political and financial restraints, but the
funding and support from Working for Water has at least stabilised the situation,
and, in many respects, has invigorated the practice”.
Carina Cilliers obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Pretoria,
and initially worked on the biological control of pests of cotton and citrus. Following a
sabbatical in Australia in 1974, she focussed her efforts on the biological control of
alien plants invading natural ecosystems. She was responsible for the introduction of
16 species of natural enemies on Lantana camara (Lantana), six of which established,
substantially reducing the invasiveness of this species. The evaluation of the effect of
the insects on Lantana earned her a PhD from Rhodes University in 1982. After 1985,
her research centred on controlling several invasive alien aquatic plant species. She
was responsible for introducing successful biological control agents against Salvinia
molesta (Kariba Weed) and Pistia stratiotes (Water Lettuce). She worked towards
developing an integrated control project for water hyacinth locally, where “the most
difficult part . . . was to win over successive managers to giving biological control a
fair chance” (Anon. 2005). She has received several awards for her work, including
the Dave Annecke Award from the South African Weed Science Society.
Following Annecke’s death in 1981, research continued at the PPRI, and the role
of academic mentor in the field was adopted by Prof. Vincent C. (Cliff) Moran (van
de Venter 1999). Moran’s interests in biological control were aroused by Annecke in
1972, while Moran was a lecturer in entomology at Rhodes University. Moran went
on to become Dean of Science at Rhodes in 1983, and then Dean of Science at the
University of Cape Town in 1986. Despite the demands of these posts, he remained
active in the field of biological control. He always insisted that South African
invasion scientists should conform to the highest international standards, and his
role in ensuring that South Africa became one of the leading nations in the field of
invasive alien plant biological control has been pivotal (van de Venter 1999).
The plant biological control community (as it refers to itself) has, since 1973, held
annual meetings to discuss issues relating to their work. The first meeting, convened
by Moran at Rhodes University, was attended by five people. These meetings have
expanded in size over time both in terms of attendees and topic. By 2016 the meeting
38
B. W. van Wilgen