On 3rd April 2009, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, published (Gazette No. 32090) the following documents (see www.deat.gov.za) for 30 days of public comment:
- The 2nd draft of the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No.10 of 2004);
- Draft lists of categories of species exempted (section 66), prohibited alien species (section 67) and invasive species (section 70).
Should the regulations become law, any species designated under section 70 can not be propagated, grown, bought or sold by the industry without a permit. Below is a brief explanation of the three categories
and the proposed list of invasive plants species (section 70 only).
Category 1a: Invasive species requiring compulsory control. Remove and destroy. Any specimens of Category 1a listed species need, by law, to be eradicated from the environment. No permits will be issued.
Category 1b: Invasive species requiring compulsory control as part of an invasive species control programme. Remove and destroy. These plants are deemed to have such a high invasive potential that infestations can qualify to be placed under a government sponsored invasive species management programme. No permits will be issued.
Category 2: Invasive species regulated by area. A demarcation permit is required to import, possess, grow, breed, move, sell, buy or accept as a gift any plants listed as Category 2 plants. No permits will be issued for Cat 2 plants to exist in riparian zones.
Category 3: Invasive species regulated by activity. An individual plant permit is required to undertake any of the following restricted activities (import, possess, grow, breed, move, sell, buy or accept as a gift) involving a Category 3 species. No permits will be issued for Cat 3 plants to exist in riparian zones.
Download the list here
(Size: 1.4 MB)