Use one sheet per each type of information submitted
NAME OF COUNTRY or ORGANIZATION
CONTACT PERSON ON TECHNICAL CONTENTS OF THE INFORMATION
Name of the contact person / Ms Ntakadzeni Tshidada
Name of her/his organization / Department of Environmental Affairs
Postal address of the organization / Private Bag X447
Pretoria
0001
South Africa
Phone number
+ (country code)-(area code)-(phone number) / +27 12 399 9572
E-mail address /
TYPE OF INFORMATION SUBMITTED – Tick one information source in the right column
Peer reviewed journal publication / √
Other publication, e.g. case study, legislation, best practice / √
Unpublished (sharable)
Suggested citation in the CBD document(s), if any preference exists
SUGGESTED CATEGORY OF THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED
Tick in the right column for relevant session (multiple answers allowed if needed)
Wildlife trade
e-commerce
Positive case of biological control on IAS / √
Negative case of biological control on IAS
A tool on assessing or evaluating social consequences of IAS introduction
A tool on assessing or evaluating economic consequences of IAS introduction / √
A tool on cost-benefit analysis for eradication of IAS / √
Management measures on IAS / √
Control measures on IAS / √
A tool for examining impact of climate change on IAS establishment/spread / √
A tool for examining impact of land-use change on IAS establishment/spread / √
Other
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED
Synthesis on information from Parties, scientific institutions, and other relevant organizations, on experiences in the use of biological control agents against invasive alien species, in particular the release in the wild of alien species for this purpose, including positive and negative cases and cases of the application of appropriate risk assessment (paragraph 9 (g) of decision XII/17);
South Africa is among the countries that have a long colonial history of invasive alien species. Several thousand species of alien plants have been introduced into South Africa. Many of these have become naturalised and some, following a long ‘lag’ phase which may last many decades, suddenly increase in abundance and become invasive weeds. The introduction of invasive species in South Africa is dated back to the 1600s and peaked in the 1800s, which has resulted in over 500 species being listed as damaging in agricultural and natural ecosystems. Several invasive species are also responsible for decreasing water run-off and groundwater reserves at rates that are far in excess of water usage by the natural vegetation types, which is especially problematic in this water-scarce country.
The history of the regulatory system for biological control agent importations and releases in South Africa is dated back to 1906. On 26 June 1906, the fourth Parliamentary Select Committee on Agricultural Cooperation met in Cape Town to debate the apparently intractable scourge to agriculture, and the wider community, of dense infestations of sweet prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) in the Eastern Cape and Karoo. The ficus-indica originates from Central America and it had been in South Africa since the 1750s, and by the 1890s it had invaded an estimated 314 000 ha, which increased to about 1 million ha by the 1950s.
Currently, the introduction and release of biological control agents in South Africa is subject to Agricultural Pests Act, No. 36 of 1983 which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), No. 24 of 2004 administered by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The Agricultural Pests Act, which is aimed primarily at preventing and combating agricultural pests, stipulates that controlled goods, including all plants, pathogens and insects, may be imported into the country only on the authority of a permit. The Act also provides a mandate for biological control by making provision for the importation of non-indigenous pathogens or insects for the purpose of combating undesirable plants, pathogens, insects or exotic animals. The regulatory process for the import and release of biological control agents by DAFF is in accordance with the International Plant Protection Convention and the relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
In South Africa the process of issuing a permit requires the applicant to provide specific information on the target weed; the candidate biological control agent and the envisaged research; as well as a prediction on the potential impact of the biological control agent on the environment. Import permits for candidate biological control agents are issued by DAFF subject to the requirement that the candidate agents be confined to an approved quarantine facility. During that period the biology, behaviour and host range of the candidate agents are examined, together with any other aspects (e.g. impact on the target weed in the laboratory) necessary to convince the decision makers of their safety for release into the environment. A comprehensive report is then submitted to DAFF, which incorporates the results of quarantine trials, and sometimes field surveys in the native range of the agents, as well as information obtained from the literature. Based on this report, the Bio-control Release application Review committee takes the decision whether or not to authorize the release of the biological control agent into the environment. Since 1993, each application submitted in terms of the Agricultural Pest Act, was submitted to three independent reviewers, who provide recommendations to the committee.
As aforementioned, the importation and release of bio-control agents in South Africa is one of the regulated activities in terms of the NEMBA. The NEMBA provides for the management and conservation of South Africa’s biodiversity within the framework of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998. Chapter 5 of NEMBA addresses issues that deal with alien species and organisms that pose a potential threat to biodiversity. This chapter is also supported by the Alien Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations, 2014. The AIS Regulations are aimed at preventing the introduction of more species that may be potentially invasive in the country, as a first priority. The DEA also forms part of the Bio-control Release application Review committee, which is chaired by the South African National Biodiversity Institution (SANBI). Kindly refer to Annexure A on the list of Bio-control agents released in South Africa.
OTHER INFORMATION, IF ANY
URL to download
Submission of Information on Invasive Alien Species Management
Synthesis on information from Parties, scientific institutions, and other relevant organizations, on experiences in the use of biological control agents against invasive alien species, in particular the release in the wild of alien species for this purpose, including positive and negative cases and cases of the application of appropriate risk assessment (paragraph 9 (g) of decision XII/17);
Abdulkadir, F., Marsburg,T., Knox, C., Hill, M.P. and Moore, S.D. 2013. Morphological and genetic characterisation of a South African Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) isolate.African Entomology,21(1): 168–171.
Baars, J-R., Coetzee, J.A., Martin, G.D., Hill, M.P. and Caffrey, J.M. 2010. Natural enemies from South Africa for biological control ofLagarosiphon major(Ridl.) Moss ex Wager (Hydrocharitaceae) in Europe.Hydrobiologia, 656: 149-158
Bownes, A., Hill, M.P. and Byrne, M.J. 2013. Nutrient-mediated effects onCornops aquaticumBrüner (Orthoptera: Acrididae), a potential biological control agent of water hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes(Mart.) Solms (Pontederiaceae).Biological Control,67: 548-554.
Bownes, A., Hill, M.P. and Byrne, M.J. 2013. The role of nutrients in the responses of water hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes(Pontederiaceae) to herbivory by a grasshopperCornops aquaticumBrüner (Orthoptera: Acrididae).Biological Control,67: 555-562.
Canavan, K., Coetzee, J.A., Hill, M.P. and Paterson, I.D.2014. Effect of water trophic level on the impact of the water hyacinth mothNiphograpta albiguttalisonEichhornia crassipes.African Journal of Aquatic Science, 39(2): 203-208.
Canavan, K., Paterson, I.D. and Hill, M.P. 2014. The herbivourous arthropods associated with the invasive alien plant,Arundo donax, and the native analogous plantPhragmites australisin the Free State Province, South Africa.African Entomology,22(2): 454-459.
Cheek, M.D. (2015) First official record of a naturalised population of Mimosa albida Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. var. albida in Africa. BioInvasions Records, 4, 61–65.
Coetzee, J.A., Bownes, A. and Martin, G.D. 2011. Prospects for the biological control of submerged aquatic macrophytes.African Entomology,19(2): 469–487.
De Lange, W.J. and van Wilgen, B.W. (2010). An economic assessment of the contribution of weed biological control to the management of invasive alien plants and to the protection of ecosystem services in South Africa. Biological Invasions 12, 4113 – 4124.
Faulkner, K.T., Robertson, M.P., Rouget, M. & Wilson, J.R.U. (2014) A simple, rapid methodology for developing invasive species watch lists. Biological Conservation, 179, 25–32.
Faulkner, K.T., Spear, D., Robertson, M.P., Rouget, M. & Wilson, J.R.U. (2015) An assessment of the information content of South African alien species databases. Bothalia: African Biodiversity and Conservation, 45, 11 pages (Art. #1103).
Heshula, L.U.P. & Hill, M.P. 2014. The effect ofFalconia intermediafeeding on emission of volatile organic compounds from aerial parts ofLantana camaravarieties.Africa Entomology, 22: 210-213.
Heshula, L.U.P. and Hill, M.P. 2011. The effect of Lantana camara leaf quality on the performance of Falconia intermedia.BioControl56: 925 – 933.
Jacobs, L.E.O., van Wyk, E. & Wilson, J.R.U. (2015) Recent discovery of small naturalised populations of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake in South Africa BioInvasions Records, 4, 53–59.
Jones, R.W., Weyl, O.L.F., Swartz, E.R. and Hill, M.P. 2013. Using a unified invasion framework to characterize Africa’s first loricariid catfish invasion.Biological Invasions, 15(10): 2139-2145.
Kaplan, H., van Niekerk, A., Le Roux, J.J., Richardson, D.M. & Wilson, J.R.U. (2014) Incorporating risk mapping at multiple spatial scales into eradication management plans. Biological Invasions, 16, 691–703.
Keet, J.-H., Visser, B., du Preez, J. & Cindi, D. (2014) Barberry pirates: two species of Berberis could become problem invaders in South Africa. Veld and Flora, December, 174–175.
Lalla, R. (2014) South Africa – A global player in the battle against alien plant invasions. South African Journal of Science, 110, Art. #a0073, 0073 pages.
Madeira, P.T., Center, T.D., Coetzee, J.A., Pemberton, R.W., Purcell, M.F., Hill, M.P. 2013. Identity and origins of introduced and native Azolla species in Florida.Aquatic Botany,111: 9-15.
Marlin, D., Hill, M.P. and Byrne, M.J. 2013. Interactions within pairs of biological control agents on water hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes. Biological Control,67:483-490.
Marlin, D., Hill, M.P., Ripley, B.S., Strauss, A.J. and Byrne, M.J. 2013. The effect of herbivory by the mite Orthogalumna terebrantis on the growth and photosynthetic performance of water hyacinth.Aquatic Botany, 104: 60-69.
Marsh, A., Ivey, P., Adams, R., Ngubane, N. (2013) Invasive Species Programme: EDRR. Five Year Review 2008 – 2013.
Martin, G.D., Coetzee, J.A. and Baars, J-R. 2012.Hydrellia lagarosiphonDeeming (Diptera: Ephydridae), a potential biological control agent for the submerged aquatic weed,Lagarosiphon major(Ridl.) Moss ex Wager (Hydrocharitaceae). African Entomology. 21:151-160.
Moodley, D., Geerts, S., Rebelo, T., Richardson, D.M. & Wilson, J.R.U. (2014) Site-specific conditions influence plant naturalization: the case of alien Proteaceae in South Africa. Acta Oecologica, 59, 62–71.
Motloung, R.F., Robertson, M.P., Rouget, M. & Wilson, J.R.U. (2014) Forestry trial data can be used to evaluate climate-based species distribution models in predicting tree invasions. NeoBiota, 20, 31–48.
Opoku-Debrah, J.K., Hill, M.P., Knox, C. and Moore, S.D. 2013. Overcrowding of false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) leads to the isolation of five new Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus (CrleGV-SA) isolates.Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 112: 219-228.
Roura-Pascual, N., Richardson, D.M., Krug, R. M., Brown, A., Chapman, R. A., Forsyth G. G., Le Maitre D.C., Robertson, M.P., Stafford, L., van Wilgen, B.W., Wannenburgh, A., Wessels, N. (2009). Ecology and management of alien plant invasions in South African fynbos: Accommodating key complexities in objective decision making. Biological Conservation, 142 (8): 1595–1604
Paterson, I.D. and Zachariades, C. 2013. ISSRs indicate thatChromolaena odoratainvading southern Africa originates in Jamaica or Cuba.Biological Control,66: 132-139.
Paterson, I.D., Coetzee, J.A., Hill, M.P. and Downie, D.A. 2011. A pre-release assessment of the relationship between the invasive alien plant,Pereskia aculeataMiller (Cactaceae), and native plant biodiversity in South Africa.Biological Control,57: 59-65.
Paterson, I.D., Downie, D.A. and Hill, M.P. 2009. Using molecular methods to determine the origin of weed populations ofPereskia aculeatain South Africa and its relevance to biological control.Biological Control,48: 84-91.
Paterson, I.D., Hill, M.P. and Downie, D.A. 2012. The effect of host plant intraspecific genetic variation on the fitness of a monophagous biological control agent.Biocontrol Science and Technology,22(5):513-525.
Paterson, I.D., Hoffmann, J.H., Klein, H., Mathenge, C.W., Neser, S. and Zimmermann, H.G. 2011. Biological control of Cactaceae in South Africa.African Entomology, 19(2): 230-246.
Paterson, I.D., Mdodana, L.A., Mpekula, O., Mabunda, D.B.X. and Hill, M.P. 2014). A promising biological control agent for the control of the invasive alien plant,Pereskia aculeataMiller (Cactaceae), in South Africa.Biocontrol Sceince and Technology,24(10):1083-1095.
Paterson, I.D., Vitorino, M.D, de Cristo S.C., Martin, G. and Hill, M.P. 2014. Prioritization of potential agents for the biological control of the invasive alien weed,Pereskia aculeata(Cactaceae), in South Africa.Biocontrol Science and Technology,24:407-425.
Ray, P & Hill, M.P. 2013. Microbial agents for control of aquatic weeds and their role in integrated management. CAB Reviews 8 No. 014: 1-9.
Richards, C, Paterson, I. D. and Villet, M. 2008. Estimating the age of immatureChrysomya albiceps(Diptera: Calliphoridae), correcting for temperature and geographical latitude.International Journal of Legal Medicine,122: 271-279..
Taylor, S.J., Downie, D.A., and Paterson, I.D. 2011. Genetic diversity of introduced populations of the water hyacinth biological control agentEccritotarsis catarinensis(Hemiptera: Miridae).Biological Control,58: 330-336.
Uyi, O., Hill, M.P. and Zachariades, C. 2014. The life history traits of the erebid mothPareuchaetes insulata, a biological control agent ofChromolaena odoratain South Africa.Africa Entomology,22: 611–624.
Uyi, O., Hill, M.P. and Zachariades, C. 2014. Variation in host plant has no effect on the performance and fitness-related traits of the specialist herbivore,Pareuchaetes insulataEntomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 153: 64-75.
Van Wilgen BW, De Lange WJ. The costs and benefits of biological control of invasive alien plants in South Africa. Afr Entomol. 2011;19:504–514. dx.doi.org/10.4001/003.019.0228
Van Wilgen BW, Moran VC, Hoffmann JH. Some perspectives on the risks and benefits of biological control of invasive alien plants in the management of natural ecosystems. Environ Manage. 2013;52(3):531–540. org/10.1007/s00267-013-0099-4
Venter, N., Hill, M.P., Hutchingson, S-L. and Ripley, B.S. 2013. Weevil borne microbes contribute as much to the reduction of photosynthesis in water hyacinth as does herbivory.Biological Control64: 138-142.
Wilson, J.R.U., Caplat, P., Dickie, I., Hui, C., Maxwell, B.D., Nuñez, M.A., Pauchard, A., Rejmánek, M., Richardson, D.M., Robertson, M.P., Spear, D., Webber, B.L., van Wilgen, B.W. & Zenni, R.D. (2014) A standardized set of metrics to assess and monitor tree invasions. Biological Invasions, 16, 535–551