Tshwane part of minister’s plan to clear invasive plants

Tshwane is included in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s five-year programme worth R2.67- billion to implement the Working for Water programme to eradicate invasive alien plants from communities.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy, on Friday, November 17 launched this programme to the value of R152-million to implement projects across the five Gauteng municipalities.

These include Tshwane, Joburg, West Rand, Sedibeng, and Ekurhuleni.

In Gauteng, the programme will clear 74 781 hectares over a five-year period from 2023/2024 during which period, the department hopes to create 13 615 job opportunities through the expanded public works model.

This model aims to provide poverty and income relief through temporary work for the unemployed.

Creecy said biological invasions by alien plants are a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services, water resources and sustainable livelihoods.

“Invasive species exacerbate floods, droughts and wildfires, and have negative impacts on the forestry and agriculture sectors. In short, biological invasions will exacerbate the effects of the context of climate change and the extreme weather events associated with global warming,” said Creecy.

The SA national biodiversity institute (SANBI) 2019 report on biological invasions and their management details the impact of the species on South Africa’s biodiversity and economy.

Invasive trees use 3-5% of South Africa’s runoff water every year, which is a significant loss for a water-scarce country.

“Thus, by clearing waterways and managing the spread of invasive species we are restoring natural habitats and simultaneously restoring ecosystem services that will assist us in the fight against the effects of climate change,” she said.

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