As a child, I was enchanted by majestic pine plantations. They seemed so ordered, so green and walking through them gave off the loveliest freshest fragrance. Ignorance then was bliss and sometimes I envy those that haven’t moved from that mindset.
The Reality
As an environmentally aware adult the reality of plantation escapes into indigenous areas, the alteration of the water catchment potential, degradation of soil and changed fire regime dampen my enthusiasm and raise the challenge of reaching an economic and ecological balance.
In 1993 as a young researcher I was invited to a rural school in Bushbuckridge, South Africa to celebrate Arbor day. To my horror the trees to be planted were invasive ones. Out of politeness, I said nothing about planting those trees but so began the quest to raise awareness about alien invasive plants to communities and later on through the WESSA/WWF Eco-Schools programme with funding from the De Beers fund.
Denial
People often do not want to participate in alien plant removal because they think that garden favourites such as Roses, Azaleas or food plants like Corn or Peaches are targeted. This is incorrect. Although these plants do come from other countries they do not spread and hence do not compete with indigenous plants or spread into the river systems.
Some favourites like the Jacaranda tree, Guava and Prickly Pears (Henderson 2001) are invasive and care should be taken that they are confined to where they are planted. If this is not possible then it is more responsible to remove them.
Taking Action
Schools can participate in alien plant removal as part of the national curriculum of South Africa. In the learning area of Natural Sciences, Senior Phase, human activities, such as the introduction of alien species, habitat destruction, population growth, pollution and overconsumption make up part of the core knowledge that should be developed in learners. Hands on learning opportunities where learners participate in removing alien invasive plants are encouraged as part of the Eco-Schools programme.
Pulling, cutting and where possible poisoning these plants is far more effective in teaching plant identification than learning from books. Sandy Hudson Director of Studies at Mitchell House Preparatory School, an Independent co-educational school based in Polokwane was impressed with the maturity and enthusiasm which Grade 8 to 10 learners showed when they participated in an alien plant hack in the Letaba River gorge below the Ebenezer Dam. Each grade spent two hours clearing invasives. The school was invited by Magoebaskloof Adventures to clear invasive Lantana, Wattle and Gum that were encroaching the riverbanks.
Alien plant removal can also involve younger children as was demonstrated by Forest Hill Primary school and is more educational than litter pickups. On a Saturday morning parents and children removed Wattle, Bugweed and Lantana from the Haenertsburg grassland. In this case the parents did most of the hacking but the children helped by pulling the branches to collecting points and finding the aliens in the thick grass.
It is important that children see that adults are not only money driven, but are prepared to get involved in a good cause. To avoid apathy or a doom and gloom mentality towards the environment, children need to know that constructive action is possible. The Eco-Schools programme provides many such opportunities.
References
Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: A complete guide to the declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook no. 12. Agricultural Research Council.
Cathy Dzerefos - Cathy Dzerefos has an M.Sc. (Ecology) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
