Discover the four categories of invasive species
Did you know that 379 invasive plants in South Africa? Now is the time to check if you have any ofย these invaders in your garden and to get rid of them.
It is estimated that there are approximately 27 000 indigenous species in South Africa and 9 000ย foreign or exotic plant species that have been introduced to the country over the past fewย centuries. Of all these plants, only 379 have been listed as invasive species in governmentย legislation.
What is NEMBA?
A total of 559 invasive species are governed by the National Environmental Management:ย Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act no. 10 of 2004). The Alien and Invasive Species Regulations (AIS) for thisย legislation became law on 1 October, 2014. A further 560 species are listed as prohibited fromย entering the country.
The National List of Invasive Species includes 559 species divided into the following groups:
Terrestrial and freshwater plants (379), marine plants (4), mammals (41), birds (24), reptiles (35),ย amphibians (7), freshwater fish (15), terrestrial invertebrates (23), freshwater invertebrates (8),ย marine invertebrates (16) and microbial species (7).
Invasive species are divided into 4 different categories that must be controlled. Under thisย legislation, โControlโ means โthe systematic removal of all visible specimens of an alien or invasiveย species from within a specified area of or the whole of the Republicโ.
Categories
Invasive species are divided into four categories:
Category 1a
These are invasive species which must be combatted and where possible, eradicated. Any form ofย trade or planting is strictly prohibited. Category 1a species are usually species which are newlyย established and have small populations. These fall under the mandate of the South African Nationalย Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in terms of control and management.ย 
Category 1a – Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Category 1a – Snake grass (Equisetum hyemale)
Category 1b
These are established invasive species which must be controlled and wherever possible, removedย and destroyed. Any form of trade or planting is strictly prohibited and landowners are obligated toย control Category 1b plants and animals on their properties. A species management plan should beย drafted for large properties.
Category 1b – Chandelier plant (Bryophyllum delagoense)
Category 2
Invasive species or species deemed to be potentially invasive, in which a permit, issued by theย Department of Environmental Affairs, is required to carry out a restricted activity.
Category 2 โ Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Category 2 – European blackberry (Rubus fruticosa)
Category 3
Invasive species which may remain in prescribed areas or provinces. Further planting, propagationย or trade is however, prohibited.
Category 3 โ Mulberry (Morus alba)
Why are invasives a problem?
Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are highly adaptable, vigorous growers that easily invade a wide range ofย ecological niches.
They:
* Have invaded and taken over 10% of the country. This is well over 10 million hectares of land (orย an area the size of KwaZulu-Natal).
* Use 7% of the water resources in South Africa. This is roughly the same amount of water neededย by humans to survive in this country.
* Threaten our rich biodiversity by replacing indigenous and endemic vegetation. This will result inย a loss of insect species that are dependent on these plants and the ripple-effect loss of the birds,ย reptiles and mammals that feed on those insects.
* Invade land better used for crops and livestock grazing.
* Are often toxic to man or animals.
