Transcript the working for water program

THE WORKING FOR WATER
PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
JH Venter
Department of
Agriculture
South Africa
AIS : The damage and threat
 1 000 introduced plant species became
naturalised, 200 are invasive
 use 3.3 billion cubic metres more water than
indigenous vegetation
 waste 7% of our water resources
 Cost South Africa R600 million a year over 20
years
 Loss of Biodiversity: Up to a 1/4 of RSA’s plant
species
 Loss of life, damage to land and property
through high intensity fires.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
The Government of South
Africa's Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry created a
conservation program called
Working for Water in 1995
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
MISSION
The Working for Water programme will control invading alien
species, to optimise the potential use of natural resources,
through a process of economic empowerment and
transformation.
In doing this the programme will leave a legacy of social equity
and legislative, institutional and technical capacity.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Objectives
 Enhance water security
 Improve ecological integrity
 Restore productive potential of the
land
 Invest in marginal sectors to
improve quality of life
 Develop economic benefits from
wood land, water and trained
people
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Clearing invading alien plants.
Integrated approach




Various Departments
Research and Academic Institutes
Partners/sponsors in the Private Sector
International partners
Results:
More than 40 000 jobs
were provided.
Projects in all the
provinces.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Mechanical and Chemical Control






Basal bark
Hand pull
Ring barking
Frill
Cut stump treatment
Stem injection
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Bio Control
Savings of
20-30% could be
achieved if biocontrol
methods are used for
woody species.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Is biological control safe?
 Is only released once it has been
proved as sufficiently host-specific.
 Tested and approved biocontrol
agents do not pose a threat to our own
crops or indigenous vegetation, or to
those of neighbouring countries.
 No cases of changing their host plant
affinities.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Track record
Since 1913,
95 species of biocontrol agents
have been introduced into SA
to control 48 weed species.
No unpredicted host switches
have occurred yet.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Is biocontrol effective?
 do not completely
exterminate populations
of their host plants
 small populations of
biocontrol agents that
persists will disperse onto
re growth or newlyemerged seedlings of the
weed
 sustainable control
method
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Advantages of biocontrol





environmentally friendly,
self-perpetuating or self-sustaining
cost-effective
does not disturb the soil
does not create large empty areas where other invaders could
establish.
 allows natural vegetation of the area to recover gradually in
the shelter of the dying weeds.
 all levels of biocontrol improve the chances for
rehabilitation of the cleared area
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Legislation
 The Agricultural Pests Act
 The Conservation of Agricultural Resources
Act
 National Environment Management Act
 Environment Conservation Act
 Draft National Biological Diversity Act
 National Water Act
 National Veld and Fire Act
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of
1983)
 The main purpose is to prevent the introduction of
agricultural pests and organisms associated with
agriculture.
 Control the importation of biocontrol agents
 The Directorates Plant Health (DPH) the NPPO,
South African Agricultural Quarantine Inspection
Services (SAAFQIS)
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Official International trade
 Controlled by the NPPO
 Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983)
 National and International regulations, standards and
agreements
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Plant import




Plants imported on permit system
Declared weeds and invaders are prohibited
Risk assessment show potential new weeds
Weeds and potential weeds are regarded as pests as per
IPPC definition
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Import of biological control agents






Biocontrol imported per permit
Background info is required
Panel of experts review application, do risk assessment
Approved organism imported
Species specificity tests done
Host specificity test plus other research
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Biocontrol import
 Application for release to NPPO
 NPPO review plus sent to panel of experts
 Release can continue and biocontrol agent are mass
reared for implementation
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
CONSERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL
RESOURCES ACT (CARA)
Act 43 of 1983, Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983
was proclaimed to provide for control over the utilisation of the
natural agricultural resources of the Republic in order to promote
the conservation of the soil, the water sources and the vegetation
and the combating of weeds and invader plants; and for matters
connected therewith.
In March 2001 regulation 15 and 16, dealing specifically with
declared weeds and invader plants, were promulgated in the
Government Gazette Number 22166, thus bringing the number of
declared weeds and plants to a total of 198.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
REGULATION 15 CATEGORY 1
15A
-Deals with combating Category 1
plants
Declared weeds
Importation and cultivation is prohibited
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
CATEGORY 2
15B
- Deals with the combating of Category 2 plants.
These plants have a commercial or utility value, and are only
allowed to occur under certain conditions and with special
permission.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
CATEGORY 3
15C
- Deals with the combating of Category 3 plants.
These are plants with an ornamental value, and are allowed to
be kept growing if under controlled circumstances and no more
trading or propagating is allowed
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
CONTROL MEASURES
15D - Deals with the designation of biological control reserves for
the breeding of biological control agents.
15E - The different methods for control are stated here. The need
for follow-up actions is emphasised . Any action taken to control
category 1, 2, and 3 plants shall be executed with caution and in a
manner that will cause the least damage to the environment.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism
 National Environment Management Act
 Environment Conservation Act
 Draft National Biodiversity Act
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
 National Water Act
 National Veld and Fire Act
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Implementation by Working for Water





Work flow for implementation
WFW policy for clearing land
WFW herbicide policy
Standard implementation documents
Annexure to implementation documents
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
The Biological Control Implementation (BCI)
programme in WfW :
Initiation and structure
 National BCI officer (Penny Gillespie) – PPRI, 1999
 Six regional BCI officers – WfW
–Ensure all available BC agents
distributed throughout range
–Facilitate incorporation of BC into
WfW clearing programmes
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Distribution of biocontrol agents
Researchers:
 Brief BCI officers on biology of agent
 Supply them with starter culture
 Supply info and photos for agent brochure
 Involved with releases
 Detailed post-release monitoring
BCI officers:
Mass-rear agents
Release agents in co-operation with researchers
Monitor for establishment in co-operation with researchers
Produce agent brochures
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Sources of insects for redistribution
1. Mass-rearing in regional BCI
centres
On potted plants in shade houses
In insectaries on cut stems
2. Field collecting, once insects has
established on biocontrol reserve
sites
3. Insects laying their eggs on
immature fruit or seeds of large
woody trees cannot be massreared in lab – field-collected
seasonally
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Protection of released agents
•Legislation recognises biocontrol, protects effective BC sites
•Allows important BC agent nurseries to be registered as
“biocontrol reserves” – protected from clearing
•Undertaking signed between land user and DoA
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Lessons learnt
•Importance of co-operation between researchers and BCI
officers
•Selection criteria for regional BCI officers: skills in field &
technical information transfer
•Value of large agent releases
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Research Unit of WfW






Bio control
Social Development
Hydrology
Ecology
Resource economics
Research publications
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Sustainable Development through WfW
 Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Livelihoods
 Training
(Business management, chainsaw operation, etc)
 Maintaining and restoring ecosystem integrity
 Sustainable Consumption and Production
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Involves the community
Seeking to create entrepreneurial
support through secondary
industry development
It offers opportunities for
women, the youth and the disabled
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
The 2000/2001 Year report
 23 998 people employed in the programme.
 54% of the workers are women.
 26% of the workers are youth.
 92% of the budget spent within the financial year.
 70 660 hectares of invading alien plants cleared.
 180 736 hectares of follow-up clearing undertaken.
 20 wetlands undergoing rehabilitation work.
 313 projects, across all nine provinces.
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE
Special Thanks
 Hélette Prinsloo (LUSM )
 Hildegard Klein (ARC PPRI Rietondale)
 Fiona Impson (ARC PPRI Stellenbosch)
 Simone Noemdoe (Working for Water)
DEPARTMENT: AGRICULTURE