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Alien Plants in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa: Perceptions of Their Contributions to Livelihoods of Local Communities

Author

Listed:
  • Zizipho Atyosi

    (Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (MPED) Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa)

  • Luambo Jeffrey Ramarumo

    (Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (MPED) Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa)

  • Alfred Maroyi

    (Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (MPED) Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa)

Abstract

Invasive alien plant species are plant species that establish themselves outside their native distributional range. The current study documented utilization of alien plant species in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. Information about utilization of alien plant species was gathered through interviews conducted with 120 participants, which included 13 traditional healers, 27 herbalists, ten farmers and 70 laypeople. Ethnobotanical importance of documented species was assessed through evaluation of use value (UV), fidelity level (FL) and relative frequency citation (RFC). A third of the participants (33.3%) perceived alien plant species as undesirable, while 71.1% of the participants argued that alien plant species had beneficial effects. A total of 26 alien plant species were recorded, seven species being fruit trees, followed by ornamental plants (five species), fodder and herbal medicines (four species each), construction materials, erosion control and vegetables (two species each). The popular alien plant species with UV > 0.1, RFC > 0.4 and FL > 4.0% included Amaranthus spinosus, Cannabis sativa, Cereus jamaracu, Harrisia balansae, Opuntia engelmannii, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia monocantha and Prunus persica . Information on perceptions of local communities in the Eastern Cape province on the contributions of alien plant species to livelihood needs is an important stage of initiating a management protocol that incorporates public perceptions and values associated with alien plant species.

Suggested Citation

  • Zizipho Atyosi & Luambo Jeffrey Ramarumo & Alfred Maroyi, 2019. "Alien Plants in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa: Perceptions of Their Contributions to Livelihoods of Local Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:5043-:d:267498
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Luambo Jeffrey Ramarumo, 2022. "Harnessing Ecosystem Services from Invasive Alien Grass and Rush Species to Suppress their Aggressive Expansion in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Ziyan Wang & Cheng Wang & Zehui Jiang & Tao Hu & Wenjing Han & Chang Zhang & Jiali Jin & Kaiyue Wei & Jiao Zhao & Xinyu Wang, 2020. "Relationship between Rural Settlements’ Plant Communities and Environmental Factors in Hilly Area of Southeast China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Chunjiang An & Mengfan Cai & Christophe Guy, 2020. "Rural Sustainable Environmental Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-5, August.
    4. Lutendo Mugwedi, 2020. "Harnessing Opportunities Provided by the Invasive Chromolaena odorata to Keep It under Control," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.

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