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Egoh BN, Ntshotsho P, Maoela MA, Blanchard R, Ayompe LM, Rahlao S. Setting the scene for achievable post-2020 convention on biological diversity targets: A review of the impacts of invasive alien species on ecosystem services in Africa. J Environ Manage 2020; 261:110171. [PMID: 32148262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) are known to pose a serious threat to biodiversity, and reduce the ability of ecosystems to provide benefits to humans. In recognition of this threat and to address the impacts of IAS, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted Aichi Biodiversity Target 9, which is dedicated to the control or eradication of priority IAS and the management of their introduction pathways by 2020. The achievement of Target 9 relies strongly on the commitment and ability of Parties to set ambitious national or regional targets and achive them, the availability of information and the requisite expertise on invasion biology. Now that the global community is gearing for the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, it is time to take stock and identify opportunities to improve the performance of the African region beyond 2020. We approached this task by reviewing information on the impacts of IAS on ecosystem services in Africa, as a large proportion of Africans directly rely on ecosystem services, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, we assessed the expertise on IAS in Africa. Our data sources were National Reports of African countries to the CBD, as well as peer-reviewed scientific literature. National Reports under the CBD provide information on measures taken to implement the Convention at country level, as well as progress towards the achievement of set targets. We found National Reports for 48 (about 90%) countries of which 73% provided feedback on IAS indicating commitment to fight IAS. However, there were few studies within peer-reviewed scientific literature looking at impacts of IAS on ecosystem services in Africa and almost half of the authors were non-Africans. This alludes to limited scientific expertise to inform and support IAS management on the continent. Both the National Reports and scientific literature showed that provisioning services were the most negatively affected by IAS. Also, more than 100 species were listed as problematic. More efforts and resources are needed to document IAS impacts across different realms (e.g. marine, terrestrial and freshwater) and for sub-regional bodies so that more integrated strategies and approaches can be developed. This information is also needed to support the development and implementation of national legislative and regulatory initiatives, as well as to report on international obligations such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benis N Egoh
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Phumza Ntshotsho
- Smart Places Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa
| | - Malebajoa A Maoela
- Smart Places Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa
| | - Ryan Blanchard
- Smart Places Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), P.O. Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa; Centre of Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Lacour M Ayompe
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Sebataolo Rahlao
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Biological Invasions Directorate, Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, Private Bag X101, Silverton, 0184, Pretoria, South Africa; Centre of Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
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Maoela MA, Esler KJ, Roets F, Jacobs SM. Physiological responses to folivory and phytopathogens in a riparian tree, Brabejum stellatifolium
, native to the fynbos biome of South Africa. Afr J Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malebajoa A. Maoela
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
- Water Institute; Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Francois Roets
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB); Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI); University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - Shayne M. Jacobs
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
- Water Institute; Stellenbosch University; Stellenbosch South Africa
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Maoela MA, Jacobs SM, Roets F, Esler KJ. Invasion, alien control and restoration: Legacy effects linked to folivorous insects and phylopathogenic fungi. AUSTRAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Malebajoa A. Maoela
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
| | - Shayne M. Jacobs
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
| | - Francois Roets
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI); University of Pretoria; Pretoria
| | - Karen J. Esler
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology; Stellenbosch University; Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology; Stellenbosch University; Matieland South Africa
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