Invasive alien plants and their management in Africa - Cabi

184 Pages·2013·7.75 MB·English

in invasive alien plants
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arne witt is currently the Regional africa gordon Boy is a freelance writer, reporter and
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(Africa and Asia) Coordinator for Invasive a editor who specialises in topics relating to natural
Species for CABI, based in Nairobi, Kenya. africa n history, the environment and conservation. Born
He still is and has been actively involved in t in Kitale, in western Kenya, he has travelled
s
a number of regional UNEP-GEF projects in widely in sub-Saharan Africa, as a journalist. His
A
Africa, the Caribbean and Asia dealing with first book, Snowcaps on the Equator, published in
N
issues pertaining to the strengthening of the The removing Barriers to invasive plant management in africa project, implemented in four African D London in 1989, was about the mountains of East
policy/legislation framework with regard to and Central Africa.
nations (Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia) between 2005 and 2010, stands out as one of the most
T
iwnvitah srieveg asprde tcoie tsh, efoir smtearinnagg reegmioennat,l ccroeoaptienrga tion wide-ranging and ambitious campaigns yet undertaken in the global effort to ‘scale up’ the fight against HE gordon Boy & arne witt Since then, hundreds of his articles and features
awareness about the threats they pose and damaging impacts arising from the spread of invasive alien species. IR have been published in magazines, and for eight
building capacity for the implementation of years (2000–2008) he was the Editor of Swara – the
M
sustainable IAS management and prevention This informative and beautifully illustrated book is one of many outcomes of this four-year UNEP/GEF quarterly journal of the East African Wild Life Society.
A
strategies. He is also involved in a number of project. It sheds valuable light, not just on the huge challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa and many
N More recently, he has produced a number
other IAS projects in Africa and Asia. other parts of the developing world wracked by alien plant invasions, but also on the broader global
A of acclaimed natural history and ecology
Prior to joining CABI Africa, Witt worked in South dimensions of the invasive alien species’ menace – now universally recognised as one of the gravest G guidebooks, while also writing and editing
Africa as a Senior Researcher and Division threats to the ecological, social and economic well-being of the planet. E scientific and project reports for global
Manager for the Plant Protection Research M environment and conservation agencies.
Institute of the Agricultural Research Council E He now lives in Nairobi.
caBi-arc ethiopian institute for Council for Scientific and national agricultural Zambia environmental N
(ARC-PPRI). He has extensive experience
Box 633-00621 agricultural research (eiar) industrial research (csir) research organization management agency T
researching the biological control of invasive Nairobi Box 2003 Box M 32 (naro) (Zema) (formerly ECZ) I
N
alien species, particularly plants. Kenya Addis Ababa Accra Box 295 Plot no. 6975
T: [phone]/62 Ethiopia Ghana Entebbe Cnr of Church and Suez
a
Witt has a PhD with the University of the www.cabi.org T: [phone] T: [phone] Uganda Roads, Ridgeway, Lusaka f
www.eiar.gov.et www.csir.org,gh T: [phone] Zambia
Witwatersand. He has a Masters of Science in r
www.naro.go.ug T: [phone]/59
i
Entomology and Conservation Biology, as well www.zema.org.zm c
as a Bachelors of Science in Geography and a
Entomology.
Boy How a multi-country ‘war on weeds’ project is Helping an infested
Space for bar code with
ISBN included witt continent to stem tHe colonising onslaugHt of invasive species
UNEP
EIAR
in invasive alien plants
v
a
s
invasive alien plants i
v
e AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN

a
l
i
AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN e
n

p
arne witt is currently the Regional africa gordon Boy is a freelance writer, reporter and
l
(Africa and Asia) Coordinator for Invasive a editor who specialises in topics relating to natural
Species for CABI, based in Nairobi, Kenya. africa n history, the environment and conservation. Born
He still is and has been actively involved in t in Kitale, in western Kenya, he has travelled
s
a number of regional UNEP-GEF projects in widely in sub-Saharan Africa, as a journalist. His
A
Africa, the Caribbean and Asia dealing with first book, Snowcaps on the Equator, published in
N
issues pertaining to the strengthening of the The removing Barriers to invasive plant management in africa project, implemented in four African D London in 1989, was about the mountains of East
policy/legislation framework with regard to and Central Africa.
nations (Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia) between 2005 and 2010, stands out as one of the most
T
iwnvitah srieveg asprde tcoie tsh, efoir smtearinnagg reegmioennat,l ccroeoaptienrga tion wide-ranging and ambitious campaigns yet undertaken in the global effort to ‘scale up’ the fight against HE gordon Boy & arne witt Since then, hundreds of his articles and features
awareness about the threats they pose and damaging impacts arising from the spread of invasive alien species. IR have been published in magazines, and for eight
building capacity for the implementation of years (2000–2008) he was the Editor of Swara – the
M
sustainable IAS management and prevention This informative and beautifully illustrated book is one of many outcomes of this four-year UNEP/GEF quarterly journal of the East African Wild Life Society.
A
strategies. He is also involved in a number of project. It sheds valuable light, not just on the huge challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa and many
N More recently, he has produced a number
other IAS projects in Africa and Asia. other parts of the developing world wracked by alien plant invasions, but also on the broader global
A of acclaimed natural history and ecology
Prior to joining CABI Africa, Witt worked in South dimensions of the invasive alien species’ menace – now universally recognised as one of the gravest G guidebooks, while also writing and editing
Africa as a Senior Researcher and Division threats to the ecological, social and economic well-being of the planet. E scientific and project reports for global
Manager for the Plant Protection Research M environment and conservation agencies.
Institute of the Agricultural Research Council E He now lives in Nairobi.
caBi-arc ethiopian institute for Council for Scientific and national agricultural Zambia environmental N
(ARC-PPRI). He has extensive experience
Box 633-00621 agricultural research (eiar) industrial research (csir) research organization management agency T
researching the biological control of invasive Nairobi Box 2003 Box M 32 (naro) (Zema) (formerly ECZ) I
N
alien species, particularly plants. Kenya Addis Ababa Accra Box 295 Plot no. 6975
T: [phone]/62 Ethiopia Ghana Entebbe Cnr of Church and Suez
a
Witt has a PhD with the University of the www.cabi.org T: [phone] T: [phone] Uganda Roads, Ridgeway, Lusaka f
www.eiar.gov.et www.csir.org,gh T: [phone] Zambia
Witwatersand. He has a Masters of Science in r
www.naro.go.ug T: [phone]/59
i
Entomology and Conservation Biology, as well www.zema.org.zm c
as a Bachelors of Science in Geography and a
Entomology.
Boy How a multi-country ‘war on weeds’ project is Helping an infested
Space for bar code with
ISBN included witt continent to stem tHe colonising onslaugHt of invasive species
UNEP
EIAR
in invasive alien plants
v
a
s
invasive alien plants i
v
e AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN

a
l
i
AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN e
n

p
arne witt is currently the Regional africa gordon Boy is a freelance writer, reporter and
l
(Africa and Asia) Coordinator for Invasive a editor who specialises in topics relating to natural
Species for CABI, based in Nairobi, Kenya. africa n history, the environment and conservation. Born
He still is and has been actively involved in t in Kitale, in western Kenya, he has travelled
s
a number of regional UNEP-GEF projects in widely in sub-Saharan Africa, as a journalist. His
A
Africa, the Caribbean and Asia dealing with first book, Snowcaps on the Equator, published in
N
issues pertaining to the strengthening of the The removing Barriers to invasive plant management in africa project, implemented in four African D London in 1989, was about the mountains of East
policy/legislation framework with regard to and Central Africa.
nations (Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia) between 2005 and 2010, stands out as one of the most
T
iwnvitah srieveg asprde tcoie tsh, efoir smtearinnagg reegmioennat,l ccroeoaptienrga tion wide-ranging and ambitious campaigns yet undertaken in the global effort to ‘scale up’ the fight against HE gordon Boy & arne witt Since then, hundreds of his articles and features
awareness about the threats they pose and damaging impacts arising from the spread of invasive alien species. IR have been published in magazines, and for eight
building capacity for the implementation of years (2000–2008) he was the Editor of Swara – the
M
sustainable IAS management and prevention This informative and beautifully illustrated book is one of many outcomes of this four-year UNEP/GEF quarterly journal of the East African Wild Life Society.
A
strategies. He is also involved in a number of project. It sheds valuable light, not just on the huge challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa and many
N More recently, he has produced a number
other IAS projects in Africa and Asia. other parts of the developing world wracked by alien plant invasions, but also on the broader global
A of acclaimed natural history and ecology
Prior to joining CABI Africa, Witt worked in South dimensions of the invasive alien species’ menace – now universally recognised as one of the gravest G guidebooks, while also writing and editing
Africa as a Senior Researcher and Division threats to the ecological, social and economic well-being of the planet. E scientific and project reports for global
Manager for the Plant Protection Research M environment and conservation agencies.
Institute of the Agricultural Research Council E He now lives in Nairobi.
caBi-arc ethiopian institute for Council for Scientific and national agricultural Zambia environmental N
(ARC-PPRI). He has extensive experience
Box 633-00621 agricultural research (eiar) industrial research (csir) research organization management agency T
researching the biological control of invasive Nairobi Box 2003 Box M 32 (naro) (Zema) (formerly ECZ) I
N
alien species, particularly plants. Kenya Addis Ababa Accra Box 295 Plot no. 6975
T: [phone]/62 Ethiopia Ghana Entebbe Cnr of Church and Suez
a
Witt has a PhD with the University of the www.cabi.org T: [phone] T: [phone] Uganda Roads, Ridgeway, Lusaka f
www.eiar.gov.et www.csir.org,gh T: [phone] Zambia
Witwatersand. He has a Masters of Science in r
www.naro.go.ug T: [phone]/59
i
Entomology and Conservation Biology, as well www.zema.org.zm c
as a Bachelors of Science in Geography and a
Entomology.
Boy How a multi-country ‘war on weeds’ project is Helping an infested
Space for bar code with
ISBN included witt continent to stem tHe colonising onslaugHt of invasive species
UNEP
EIAR
INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS
AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN
AFRICA
By Gordon Boy
Co-author Arne Witt
First published in 2013 by:
UNEP/GEF Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management Project
International Coordination Unit
CABI Africa
United Nations Avenue, Gigiri
P O Box 633 – 00621
Nairobi, Kenya
Design: Sarah Hilliar, CABI
Maps: Tim Holmes, CABI
ISBN 978 1 78064 408 0
Printed by: Gutenberg Press Limited, Malta
Disclaimer
The contents of this Synthesis Report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Environment Facility
(GEF), or the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), or of CAB International or the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) or indeed any of the Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant
Management in Africa Project’s contributing agencies and partner organisations. The designations
employed in the structuring and implementation of the project do not imply the expression of any
opinion on the part of either the GEF or UNEP, or of any contributing organisation or body, concerning the
legal status or administration of any country, territory, sector, or area of jurisdiction.
© CABI Africa, International Coordination Unit,
Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa Project
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
without the prior written consent of the publisher.
To request copies of this publication please contact the CABI office in Kenya,
T: [phone], E: [email protected]
A PDF version of this Synthesis Report is posted on
and may be downloaded from the CABI website: www.cabi.org
Cover photograph: Hippopotamus with Water Hyacinth ©iStockimages.com
INVASIVE ALIEN PLANTS
AND THEIR MANAGEMENT IN
AFRICA
Synthesis Report of the UNEP/GEF Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant
Management in Africa (RBIPMA) Project, implemented in four African
countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia) between 2005 and 2010
By Gordon Boy
Co-author Arne Witt
UNEP
EIAR

CONTENTS
FOREWORDS 7
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9
INTRODUCTION Invasive alien plant management – now an essential priority for Africa 13
PART I: CONFRONTING THE PROBLEM
CHAPTER ONE Alien invaders and their impacts 17
How the spread of invasive alien species, of plants in particular, has become one of
the most serious threats to the environmental, social and economic well-being of our planet
CHAPTER TWO Responding to alien invasions 47
Steps that can – and are – being taken to eradicate, contain, or control the spread of existing infestations
of invasive alien plant species, in order to limit their increasingly destructive impacts
CHAPTER THREE Pre-empting alien invasions 63
How preventive measures that block the influx and dispersal of known plant invaders may provide
the best line of defence
CHAPTER FOUR Instruments – global, regional and national 73
How more tools than ever before are now available to nations in the battle, globally,
against the ravages of invasive alien plant species
PART II: THE CHALLENGES FOR AFRICA
CHAPTER FIVE ‘Scaling up’ 83
Genesis and planning of the Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa project
CHAPTER SIX Ways and means 101
Strategies pursued by the Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa project
CHAPTER SEVEN Actions and advances 115
Outcomes of the Project in Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia
CHAPTER EIGHT Taking stock 133
Lessons learned and recommendations arising from the experiences of the Project
CHAPTER NINE The way forward 143
The outlook for invasive plant management in Africa
APPENDIX The broader picture 151
The invasive alien species’ threat emanates from across all taxonomic groups
BIBLIOGRAPHY 165
USEFUL WEBSITES 168
GLOSSARY 169
INDEX 173

FOREWORD
THE introduction of species to new environments outside of their natural home ranges carries significant risks.
Invasive alien species are major drivers of biodiversity loss. As such, their continuing spread is undermining
the ecological, social and economic well-being of entire regions. They can also cause serious disease outbreaks,
including diseases affecting humans. Through its Article 8(h), the Convention on Biological Diversity holds
that each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible, and as appropriate, prevent the introduction of, and/
or control, or eradicate, those alien species which are known to threaten ecosystems, habitats, or species.
In adopting the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011−2020, Parties to the Convention made the following
commitment: “By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species
are controlled or eradicated, and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction
and establishment.”
Invasive Alien Plants and their Management in Africa is the story of an important UNEP/GEF initiative aimed at helping the nations
of sub-Saharan Africa to honour their contractual obligations, as Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to address the
increasingly dire impacts – ecological, social, and economic – of alien plant invasions. In providing a detailed record of the lessons
learned from the experiences of the Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa Project, carried out between 2005
and 2010 in four African countries, this book has potentially far-reaching implications for the planning and implementation of other,
forthcoming initiatives in this field, both elsewhere in Africa and across the developing world.
The book reveals just how devastating the impacts of biological invasions can be, while showing how enhanced capacity is essential, if
effective long-term measures are to be instituted to manage invasive alien plant species and their impacts. We are left in no doubt that
redoubled levels of international commitment and collaboration, coupled with the allocation of significantly greater financial resources,
are going to be needed, if countries in Africa are to succeed in building on the gains of invasive alien species’ management activities
already under way on the continent.
While the issue of invasive alien species is clearly global in scope, it is imperative that concrete measures be taken nationally. Effective
national policies and instruments, including enforced legislation regulating and managing invasive alien species, provide a critical basis
for enabling stakeholders to join forces in preventing the introduction of invasive alien species and in managing and controlling the
many threats posed by such species.
In particular, the authors of Invasive Alien Plants and their Management in Africa are to be congratulated for presenting such a thorough
and accessible analysis of what has become one of the most pressing challenges of our age. Dr Arne Witt, Coordinator of the Removing
Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa Project, and experts at CABI Africa, along with the national governments of the four
participating African countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda and Zambia) and all the stakeholders within each of these nations who have
been involved in the project are to be commended for their application. Their findings deserve to be shared widely, so that we might
draw lessons on how, at all levels, the threat posed by invasive alien species can be more effectively addressed.
Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
7