Page 26 - State of Biodiversity Report 2022/2023

ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY’S INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES (IAS)
MANAGEMENT PLAN WORKSHOP
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Management Workshop was organized by Restoration
Ecology Branch of the Biodiversity Management Department (BMD) in line with
the requirement of the National Environment: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA, Act 10 of
2004) that local authorities must prepare IAS Management Plans for their respective
jurisdictions. The workshop was attended by various departments ranging from Local,
Provincial, and National government. Mr Bheka Nxele, who is the programme manager
for the Working for Ecosystems programme introduced and chaired the workshop. Mr Nxele gave an overview of the IAS work that has been done by the Biodiversity Management Department of eThekwini Municipality emphasising the responsibilities of the municipality, different organs of state and private landowners with regards to the management of Invasive Alien Species in their respective properties.
Dr Rahlao of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, presented on the work that has been done through the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on the global assessment of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and their control. Dr Rahlao mentioned that IAS invasions are increasing at an alarming rate and have become a global health issue, stating that only 14.5% of IAS impacts are documented.This means that strategies aimed at IAS require global and concentrated efforts.The presentation by Mr Kotze spoke to the NEMBA legislation and Post Border compliance on IAS. The presentation also highlighted landowner responsibilities such as ensuring that landowners develop IAS control plans for properties of 1ha or more and that they need to take the necessary steps to control the listed IAS on their property. Non-compliance with the legislation will result in the issuing of a directive (landowners may be fined or arrested). In his conclusion, Mr Kotze stressed that category 2 species that do not have permits, become category 1b species therefore must be eradicated and that IAS in protected areas needs to be controlled.
Ms. Shabalala’s presentation was zooming into Cat 1a species. Only six of the category 1a species under the supervision of the SANBI are found in the EM: Triplaris americana, Rubus ellipticus, Furcraea foetida, Diplocyclos palmatus, Sagittaria platyphylla, and Corvus splendens.
In closing she highlighted the challenges such as having access to private property therefore leading to some IAS not being controlled. Debbie Muir’s presentation focused on the use of pesticides in IAP control and should be used as per the pesticides policy issued by DFFE, any pesticide that falls under hazard risk of 7 to 8 should have a risk assessment conducted. Ms Muir also spoke on the importance of an Integrated Pest Management and the need to be compliant with pesticides policies and bodies. She also mentioned the need to prioritise species and their methods of control and ensure that pesticide use is not harmful to human lives and the environment.
Ms Claudette James’ presentation looked at the impacts of IAS in the KwaZulu-Natal region. Ms James presentation touched on the five threats to biodiversity which included changes in the sea and land use, pollution, over exploitation, climate change and invasive alien species. Ms James focused on the impacts of IAS on biodiversity, economy, animal and human health, livelihoods, and socio-economic impacts. She concluded that studying the impacts of IAS on the mentioned factors allows for proper planning, research and awareness, and the formulation of policy and strategies.
To coordinate IAS efforts across the eThekwini Municipality, the eThekwini Invasive Alien Species working group (EIASWG) was formed to collect, compile, research and share IAS efforts with relevant stakeholders that conduct IAS control within the eThekwini Municipality boundary. The EIASWG is further tasked with formulating policies for IAP management, provide awareness and education of IAS within the eThekwini Municipal boundary.
24 STATE OF BIODIVERSITY REPORT 2022/2023