Alien Species.vp - IUCN

have lived in the KNP for some 20–30 years, are extremely resistant to the removal of these
plants, as they have spent much time on their gardens. Relatively newer people in the KNP
generally cooperate and allow the plants to be removed. Due to the very unique position and
nature of living in a National Park, people employed and living in the KNP have few
recreational opportunities, and therefore it enhances the great pride in the gardens and time and
effort spent in tending them. This personal attachment to the gardens is possibly emphasised
further in the KNP, as they resemble an “oasis” in the relatively drier, harsh landscape of the
KNP. Further, houses in the National Parks are rented for the period of service, which is leading
to a situation where people are increasingly reluctant to invest in redeveloping the gardens after
being cleared of alien species and therefore strongly resist the removal of any plants.
Unfortunately a negative connotation has been formed with the Alien Biota Section, due to
the persistent manner in which the control efforts were done in the past and the relatively low
priority status afforded to the alien plant section by park management. Although efforts have
been made to address this issue and the section is now represented at higher management and
committee levels, the change of attitude towards the section is a slow process.
It also appears that a number of misperceptions may exist, and are the basis for arguments
against the control of alien plants. Many people believe that there are no suitable indigenous
plants to replace the exotic species. This has proved to be unfounded, as discussions with the
Skukuza Indigenous Nursery (Davies, pers. comm., 2000) provided a substantial list of
indigenous species that may be used to replace the alien species removed. These species will
effectively replace and fulfil the same function as the alien species, will attract an abundance of
birdlife and require less irrigation, as they are adapted to the harsh, frequently dry environment
of KNP.
It is an important fundamental principle to ensure that where working with personnel
gardens or in any situation where there is personal attachment involved, high standards of
supervision at ground level is maintained to prevent accidental removal or damage of
indigenous species and incorrect control methods. Should mistakes occur, an immediate and
almost irreversible negative reaction and feeling towards alien control measures will result.
This is possibly an aspect that the KNP Alien Biota Section neglected to address previously and
which also probably enhanced the negative connotation of the section.
It further appears that although efforts are made to educate and inform the residents, due to
negative perceptions of the damage the section causes to their gardens and other reasons, a
unwillingness to cooperate with the control of these plants prevails. This is continued even
though invasive alien plants are regarded as the greatest single threat to the integrity of the KNP
(Lotter and Hoffmann, 1998; Anon., 1997). The control of alien plants in staff villages, which
have already caused a number of species to escape into the natural surroundings and cost large
sums of money to combat, should be a priority and controlled before further species become out
of control, which is in the best interests of the National Park and its goals. Fortunately, at the
present time, this perception is changing and the personnel generally cooperate and assist in the
removal of alien species. To further alleviate this problem, education and awareness efforts for
KNP staff about the threats alien plants pose need to intensified and expanded.
Lessons learned through the implementation of control programmes in the staff villages,
however obvious, have indicated important aspects to consider when working in such a unique
community or situation which is relatively remote and offers few other recreational
opportunities. It is important to ensure that species are removed before becoming widespread.
Beyond easier control and lower levels of seed development etc., people are more willing to
cooperate while there are still relatively few individuals in the gardens. Once common
throughout the village, there is enormous resistance. Species which were never regarded as
invasive and were allowed in the staff villages often became invasive at a later stage, due to the
lack of information regarding the invasive potential of species and also a lack of vigilance in
controlling the species before it escaped into surrounding environs. Of paramount importance
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Human dimensions of invasive alien species