Rid your garden of these invaders

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) workers were out in full force in Helderkruin on the afternoon of 11 October. Sounds of chainsaws and trees falling echoed through the sky.

Approximately 60 workers from JCPZ, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and Invasive Species SA were hard at work in an attempt to clear invasive plants and trees on Hercules Close, Helderkruin. They were removing Bugweed, Lantana and castor oil plants among many other alien invasive species.

Invasive plants may look beautiful in your garden, but they can cause losses in agricultural production, harm biodiversity and have a negative impact on human health. These plants tend to grow and reproduce very fast and very aggressively. They can flourish in a wide variety of environments, enabling them to invade new habitats with ease and in the process out-compete indigenous plants.

In South Africa invasive species are regulated in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA) in association with the Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations.

All of us are impacted by these species, either directly or indirectly. This means we have a shared responsibility to manage this problem. It is all landowners’ responsibility to identify the listed invasive species and to rid their property of them, and to comply with the corresponding duties for each category of species. The list can be found at www.invasives.org.za/legislation.

This endeavour was part of JCPZ’s Mega Blitz alien invasive campaign, which was launched in October last year. This campaign aims to create awareness and educate communities on alien invasive plants and their adverse effects on our environment. These alien plants’ impact on biodiversity and indigenous plants not only disrupts the ecosystem but also places a big strain on the greening economy of the City of Johannesburg.

These alien invasive campaigns are being held in various wards in the city and need urgent attention to ensure Johannesburg is well maintained. Noeleen Mattara, JCPZ media relations officer said,

“Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo encourages communities to be part and parcel of this initiative and take ownership of their neighbourhoods”.

For more information or to notify the DEA of the presence of listed invasive species on your property or your neighbour’s, send an email to AIScompliance@environment.gov.za or call 012 399 9679 or 012 441 2816/2789.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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