Invasive Aliens: Early Detection Rapid Response: What we do

The programme is structured around the activities of early detection of plant invasions, identification and verification of the invasive plants, risk assessment and response planning and rapid response actions.

1. Early detection

There are relatively few highly knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dedicated experts who are able to 'spot' invasive plants amongst the 22 000 indigenous and over 8 000 exotic species already present in the country. However there are numerous individuals who spend time observing the vegetation they walk and work in and can determine changes in plant communities and identify particularly noticeable plants if well trained. Early detection will make use of both the experts and the observers in order to survey areas that may be subject to invasion.

People who are encouraged to support this programme include those with strong local knowledge whether they are school teachers involved in greening programmes, farmers involved in stewardship programmes, Mountain Club members, Botanical Society members or professional botanists engaged in field work. It is sensible to build the initial efforts in early detection around the skills of these knowledgeable experts. The efforts of both experts and observers will be managed by Regional Co-ordination Units to be established at regional or biome levels. The efforts of the local co-ordination units will be co-ordinated by a national programme co-ordinator.

2. Identification and verification

Taxonomic expertise is based at herbaria and universities around the country. SANBI has three herbaria, the National Herbarium in Pretoria, the KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium in Durban and the Compton Herbarium in Cape Town. Plant specimens gathered by the early detection spotters and local co-ordination units are identified, confirmed and verified by taxonomists at one of these Herbaria. The process of identification will be facilitated by the employment of para-taxonomists to co-ordinate the identification efforts.

3. Risk assessment

An Invasive Plant Assessment Panel will be formed with permanent representation of the government departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Water and Environmental Affairs as well as co-opted experts from research institutions to deal with different species as appropriate. This panel would meet regularly throughout the year and in response to the need for rapid assessment of new incursions.

4. Rapid response planning and implementation

The Invasive Plant Assessment Panel gives a recommended course of action for dealing with a newly detected invasion. The Regional co-ordinator will consult with appropriate representatives of provincial and local government and control experts to compile a regional eradication, follow up and management plan appropriate to the specific circumstances and invasive alien plant or aquatic weed. The Rapid Response teams will need to report their planned actions to representatives from the national government departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Water and Environmental Affairs. Regional co-ordinators within SANBI, with assistance of the SANBI National Co-ordination Unit, will provide the necessary information to co-ordinate the work of these Rapid Response teams.