Window Onto Nature's Rehabilitation Embraces The Task Of Alien & Invasive Species Eradication

Positive progress is underway with the Rehabilitation of extensive areas after the Flood Damage. Another linked achievement is the identification and eradication of existing Alien and Invasive species, which have spread and become competitive for SPACE with our natural indigenous species.

Alien eradication is essential to the restoration of our "Green" Heritage, to support an increase in Real Estate values, and ensure optimum availability of productive Agricultural land The NEMBA Regulations, effective from 1st October 2014, presents a list of 399 species, in different categories, which require removal. Specific trees and plants have a known country of origin and may be of commercial value, eg Pine Forests and Gum Trees (E Grandis), but where they seed at random the spreading becomes invasive and out, of control.

Pretty flowering plants like the Cosmos decorating the wayside in the Natal Midlands originally arrived in the hay for the British cavalry. Today the evidence of Alien and Invasive plant growth is widespread. The responsibility for removal rests with a range of management, including the Roads Department, the Railways, Parks and Recreation facilities at all levels, and the range of residential properties from Estates, to Shopping Centers and individual residential owners. Similarly, it is necessary to ensure replacement with an indigenous selection to enable rooting stability, surface latticing, and Soil Erosion reduction.

We encounter Aliens daily along our roadways; borders with bright yellow flowers of the Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), the rapidly seeding Triffid Weed (Chromolaena Odonata) from Central and South America, often bushy swathes of toxic Castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis), and dense infestations of Brazilian Pepper Tree (Schinus terebinthifolia), with clusters of poisonous red berries. When these offenders and others like Lantana Camara, are merely slashed to ground level it sends an alarm message to the roots: "We are under attack and must now grow deeper roots"! What a mistake! REMOVAL OF THE ROOTS IS ESSENTIAL.

Aerial spraying is not a prudent option as this may be indiscriminate and simultaneously kill nearby beneficial indigenous plants or commercial crops. The spreading of the Aliens relates to the seeds. The light thistle­down seed of Triffid Weed and Blue Ageratum in the garden, are spread by wind dispersal. The bird population will carry berries and fruiting species increasing the infestation, while the fur of animals or clothing of human traffic may attract the burrs of the Castor-oil and barbed seeds of Common Black­jack (Bides Pilosa). Barbados Gooseberry, (Pereskia aculeata) with hooked thorns is one of the worst invaders to tackle, with known resistance to any herbicide. Rapid clearing of this rampant climber appearing after the Floods is essential but under strict supervision and proven procedures.

Sealed Bags containing Pereskia should be burnt at a designated Waste Site. The removal process leaves open spaces and disturbed cavities offering replacement with selected indigenous species to suit the locality. At last! A win-win recipe Alien Removal, Indigenous Replacement, Rooting Capacity and Surface Stability.