THE WORKING FOR WATER PROGRAM

1
THE WORKING FOR WATER PROGRAM

• JH Venter
• Department of Agriculture
• South Africa

2
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 RSAs plant
  species
• Loss of life, damage to land and property
  through high intensity fires.

3
The Government of South Africa's Department of
Water Affairs and Forestry created a conservation
program called Working for Water in 1995
4
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.
5
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

6
Integrated approach
Clearing invading alien plants.

• 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.

7
Mechanical and Chemical Control

• Basal bark
• Hand pull
• Ring barking
• Frill
• Cut stump treatment
• Stem injection

8
Bio ControlSavings of 20-30 could be
achieved if biocontrol methods are used for
woody species.
9
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.

10
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.
11
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
  newly-emerged seedlings of the weed
• sustainable control method

12
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

13
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

14
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)

15
Official International trade

• Controlled by the NPPO
• Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983)
• National and International regulations, standards
  and agreements

16
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

17
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

18
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

19
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.
20
REGULATION 15 - CATEGORY 1
15A -Deals with combating Category 1
plants Declared weeds Importation and
cultivation is prohibited
21
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.
22
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  
23
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.

24
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

• National Environment Management Act
• Environment Conservation Act
• Draft National Biodiversity Act

25
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

• National Water Act
• National Veld and Fire Act

26
Implementation by Working for Water

• Work flow for implementation
• WFW policy for clearing land
• WFW herbicide policy
• Standard implementation documents
• Annexure to implementation documents

27
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

28
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

29
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
  mass-reared in lab field-collected seasonally

30
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

31
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

32
Research Unit of WfW

• Bio control
• Social Development
• Hydrology
• Ecology
• Resource economics
• Research publications

33
Sustainable Development through WfW

• Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Livelihoods
• Training(Business management, chainsaw
  operation, etc)
• Maintaining and restoring ecosystem integrity
• Sustainable Consumption and Production

34
Seeking to create entrepreneurial support through
secondary industry development
Involves the community
It offers opportunities for women, the youth and
the disabled
35
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.

36
Special Thanks

• Hélette Prinsloo (LUSM )
• Hildegard Klein (ARC PPRI Rietondale)
• Fiona Impson (ARC PPRI Stellenbosch)
• Simone Noemdoe (Working for Water)