Chapter 24
The Social Dimensions of Biological
Invasions in South Africa
Ross T. Shackleton , Ana Novoa , Charlie M. Shackleton ,
and Christian A. Kull
Abstract This chapter examines current knowledge relating to the human and social
dimensions of biological invasions in South Africa. We do so by advancing 12 propositions and examining the evidence for or against each using South African literature.
The propositions cover four broad issues: how people cause invasions; how they
conceptualise them; effects of invasive species on people; and peoples’ responses to
them. The propositions we assess include: (1) intentional introductions were and
continue to reflect the social ethos of the time; (2) people go to great lengths to ensure
that newly introduced species establish themselves; (3) human-mediated modifications
help invasive species to establish; (4) how people think about and study invasive species
is strongly shaped by social-ecological contexts; (5) knowledge and awareness of
invasive species is low amongst the general public; (6) personal values are the primary
factor affecting perceptions of invasive alien species and their control; (7) specific
social-ecological contexts mediate how invasive species affect people; (8) research on
social effects of invasive species primarily focuses on negative impacts; (9) the negative
social impacts of invasive species on local livelihoods are of more concern to people
than impacts on biodiversity; (10) people are less willing to manage species regarded as
‘charismatic’; (11) social heterogeneity increases conflicts around the management of
biological invasions; and (12) engagement with society is key to successful management. By advancing and questioning propositions, we were able to determine what is
known, provide evidence for where gaps lie, and thus identify areas for future research.
R. T. Shackleton (*)
Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
e-mail: rtshackleton@gmail.com
A. Novoa
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences,
Průhonice, Czech Republic
C. M. Shackleton
Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
C. A. Kull
Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
© The Author(s) 2020
B. W. van Wilgen et al. (eds.), Biological Invasions in South Africa, Invading
Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology 14,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_24
701
The Social Dimensions of Biological
Invasions in South Africa
Ross T. Shackleton , Ana Novoa , Charlie M. Shackleton ,
and Christian A. Kull
Abstract This chapter examines current knowledge relating to the human and social
dimensions of biological invasions in South Africa. We do so by advancing 12 propositions and examining the evidence for or against each using South African literature.
The propositions cover four broad issues: how people cause invasions; how they
conceptualise them; effects of invasive species on people; and peoples’ responses to
them. The propositions we assess include: (1) intentional introductions were and
continue to reflect the social ethos of the time; (2) people go to great lengths to ensure
that newly introduced species establish themselves; (3) human-mediated modifications
help invasive species to establish; (4) how people think about and study invasive species
is strongly shaped by social-ecological contexts; (5) knowledge and awareness of
invasive species is low amongst the general public; (6) personal values are the primary
factor affecting perceptions of invasive alien species and their control; (7) specific
social-ecological contexts mediate how invasive species affect people; (8) research on
social effects of invasive species primarily focuses on negative impacts; (9) the negative
social impacts of invasive species on local livelihoods are of more concern to people
than impacts on biodiversity; (10) people are less willing to manage species regarded as
‘charismatic’; (11) social heterogeneity increases conflicts around the management of
biological invasions; and (12) engagement with society is key to successful management. By advancing and questioning propositions, we were able to determine what is
known, provide evidence for where gaps lie, and thus identify areas for future research.
R. T. Shackleton (*)
Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
e-mail: rtshackleton@gmail.com
A. Novoa
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, The Czech Academy of Sciences,
Průhonice, Czech Republic
C. M. Shackleton
Department of Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
C. A. Kull
Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
© The Author(s) 2020
B. W. van Wilgen et al. (eds.), Biological Invasions in South Africa, Invading
Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology 14,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_24
701