AFRICAN BUSH TRAINING

  Learn more at www.abt-edu.com Invasive alien vegetation refers to plants brought to South Africa from other countries, both intentionally and unintentionally, that cause human, environmental or economic harm. Without natural enemies, these plants reproduce and spread rapidly, taking valuable water and space from our indigenous plants. This plant is native to Mexico and has also been introduced to many temperate and tropical regions of the world where is considered as an invasive weed. Commonly found as a weed of roadsides, mining dumps, rabbit warrens, recently cultivated paddocks, waste places, and over grazed pastures. It often occurs as dense stands in sandy stream beds and alluvial flats associated with intermittent inland streams. An extremely hardy pioneer plant, it is tolerant of drought and poor soil, often being the only cover on new road cuttings or verges. It has bright yellow latex. It is poisonous to grazing animals, and it is rarely eaten, but it has been used m...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com They are a succulent shrub or small tree with paddle-shaped stems armed with spines. This plant is leafless. It is an invasive alien from Central America. The fruits are plum-shaped, spiny and edible. Habitat of the Sweet Prickly Pear  - It grows across South Africa, having spread over the centuries after been imported from Mexico. The Prickly Pear is one of the most used alien plants in South Africa, so much so that many now believe the plant is a South African species. The prickly pear is used to build stockades for domestic animals – and is used as feed for the animals. Many farmhouses in South Africa are enclosed in a Prickly Pear fence. The fruit is used today to make jams and various drinks. In many areas, such as wilderness areas the plant is seen as a pest and steps are taken to eradicate it. Contact us at info@africanbushtraining.com

Invasive alien species are plants of exotic origin, which are invading areas that were previously ecological niches containing only indigenous vegetation . Invasive alien plants are a significant problem in South Africa as they have negative impacts on the environment by decreasing both surface water runoff and groundwater recharge, causing direct habitat destruction, intensify flooding, and increasing the risk and intensity of wildfires (Görgens and Van Wilgen, 2004).  With invasive plants having high evaporation rates, they often use more water than surrounding indigenous plants, which has a direct impact on stream flows and groundwater reserves. In South Africa, an estimate of 1.44 billion m 3  of water is lost to invasive plants annually. To put it in perspective, this amount of water loss is enough to provide 3.38 million households with four inhabitants with water for a year or to irrigate 120 000 hectares of cropland (WWF, 2016). According to the Biodiversity Act 1...