strongly. The CÁIÁB has nonetheless emerged as a leading institute in the global field
of invasion biology, with several unique features that differentiate it from similar
research institutes elsewhere including a broad research focus leading to a diverse
research program that has produced many integrated products; an extensive network
of researchers with diverse interests, spread over a wide geographical range; and the
production of policy- and management-relevant research products arising from the
engaged nature of research conducted by the C∙I∙B.
2.12 Work on Biological Invasions at the South African
National Biodiversity Institute (2008–Present)
In 2008, the Working for Water programme funded the establishment of a
programme within the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) to
work on biological invasions. Its goals were specifically to detect and document new
invasions; provide reliable and transparent post-border risk assessments; and provide
the cross-institutional coordination needed to successfully implement national eradication plans (Wilson et al. 2013). SANBI’s work on biological invasions has since
expanded to include the curation of data relevant to biological invasions and their
management, the compilation of a national status report on biological invasions, and
specific functions such as acting as the secretariat for the national annual symposium
on biological invasions, and establishing and running a South African Alien Species
Risk Analysis Review Panel (Kumschick et al. 2020; Chap. 20).
SANBI’s work was initially established and led by Philip Ivey (now at the Centre
for Biological Control) and, as it developed into a full directorate within SANBI, led
by Dr. Sebataolo Rahlao (a C∙I∙B graduate). Scientific guidance was provided
throughout by Prof. John R. Wilson (a SANBI employee and a former CÁIÁB postdoctoral researcher). Wilson has a PhD from Imperial College, London, UK, based
on work on the biological control of aquatic plants, and he has broad interests in the
ecology and management of biological invasions. He is based at the CÁIÁB at
Stellenbosch University, a move intended to facilitate collaboration between
SANBI, academic researchers, and students. SANBI’s Biological Invasions Directorate funds postgraduate projects to work on particular species or taxa, and has
produced an increasing number of papers.
South Africa’s Alien and Invasive Species Regulations require the SANBI to
produce a national status report every 3 years (van Wilgen et al. 2020a, Box 1.1 in
Chap. 1; Fig. 2.14). SANBI teamed up with the CÁIÁB to produce South Africa’s first
such report in 2018 (van Wilgen and Wilson 2018). The report covered all aspects of
biological invasions (i.e. it addressed pathways of introduction and spread, the status
of individual species, the degree of invasion in particular areas, and the effectiveness
of management and regulatory interventions). The report was a world first—no other
country had yet produced a comprehensive report at a national scale—and its release
attracted international interest. The status report project also generated additional
products, including a detailed set of indicators for monitoring biological invasions at
54
B. W. van Wilgen
of invasion biology, with several unique features that differentiate it from similar
research institutes elsewhere including a broad research focus leading to a diverse
research program that has produced many integrated products; an extensive network
of researchers with diverse interests, spread over a wide geographical range; and the
production of policy- and management-relevant research products arising from the
engaged nature of research conducted by the C∙I∙B.
2.12 Work on Biological Invasions at the South African
National Biodiversity Institute (2008–Present)
In 2008, the Working for Water programme funded the establishment of a
programme within the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) to
work on biological invasions. Its goals were specifically to detect and document new
invasions; provide reliable and transparent post-border risk assessments; and provide
the cross-institutional coordination needed to successfully implement national eradication plans (Wilson et al. 2013). SANBI’s work on biological invasions has since
expanded to include the curation of data relevant to biological invasions and their
management, the compilation of a national status report on biological invasions, and
specific functions such as acting as the secretariat for the national annual symposium
on biological invasions, and establishing and running a South African Alien Species
Risk Analysis Review Panel (Kumschick et al. 2020; Chap. 20).
SANBI’s work was initially established and led by Philip Ivey (now at the Centre
for Biological Control) and, as it developed into a full directorate within SANBI, led
by Dr. Sebataolo Rahlao (a C∙I∙B graduate). Scientific guidance was provided
throughout by Prof. John R. Wilson (a SANBI employee and a former CÁIÁB postdoctoral researcher). Wilson has a PhD from Imperial College, London, UK, based
on work on the biological control of aquatic plants, and he has broad interests in the
ecology and management of biological invasions. He is based at the CÁIÁB at
Stellenbosch University, a move intended to facilitate collaboration between
SANBI, academic researchers, and students. SANBI’s Biological Invasions Directorate funds postgraduate projects to work on particular species or taxa, and has
produced an increasing number of papers.
South Africa’s Alien and Invasive Species Regulations require the SANBI to
produce a national status report every 3 years (van Wilgen et al. 2020a, Box 1.1 in
Chap. 1; Fig. 2.14). SANBI teamed up with the CÁIÁB to produce South Africa’s first
such report in 2018 (van Wilgen and Wilson 2018). The report covered all aspects of
biological invasions (i.e. it addressed pathways of introduction and spread, the status
of individual species, the degree of invasion in particular areas, and the effectiveness
of management and regulatory interventions). The report was a world first—no other
country had yet produced a comprehensive report at a national scale—and its release
attracted international interest. The status report project also generated additional
products, including a detailed set of indicators for monitoring biological invasions at
54
B. W. van Wilgen