Invasive Alien Species in Kruger National Park: Ornamental plants

A selection of common ornamental alien plants found in Kruger National Park. Camps and many other areas have been completely cleared of ornamental alien plants, however ongoing follow-up work will be needed to maintain and remove any new growth. ©GR Nichols and LC Foxcroft
The future challenge in many areas of invasive alien plant control however lies in integrating biological, chemical, and other control operations, to maximise the benefit and cost effectiveness of overall control efforts. Management plans also now recognise the role that people have played in the introduction and spread of IAPs.
One study showed that in Kruger about 240 alien ornamental species were present in camps or staff gardens; certainly not all are at all invasive. This does however follow a global trend, where the introduction of plants via the horticulture trade has been responsible for many serious plant invasions.
Initiated in 2000, the control of ornamental plant control policies was initially slower than desired, however with much support the abundance of alien plants in camps and gardens is much lower. Policies are in place which, for example, prohibit the use of any alien species in tourist camps and only plants that occur in the landscape in which the camp falls may be used in landscaping. Alien species in staff villages are also being replaced by indigenous species through a phased approach.
Managing ornamental alien plants is a long-term process, and requires much awareness, education and stakeholder engagement to achieve long-term success. The control of these species is also difficult, as only hand weeding is used to remove the plants. Based on observations over the last 20 years, while there are still many alien species present, a large number of the widely spread ornamental alien plant species have been removed.