THE WORKING FOR WATER PROGRAMME

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• Invading alien plants are spreading across virtually the entire country.
• We currently need to clear over 10 million hectares of invaded land (of varying densities of invasion).
• Stands are spreading and growing at an average of about 5% per year (i.e., doubling every 15 years).
• The graph indicates that, despite working at unprecedented levels nationally (and possibly internationally!), we are not reducing the extent of invading alien plants in South Africa.
• We propose a 20-year clearing strategy, as shown on the graph. This requires 750 000 ha to be cleared annually at a (current) cost of about R600 million per year, after which there would only be follow-up costs.

There is increasingly strong evidence that the costs of clearing indicated in these scenarios are accurate averages – assuming the successful utilization of biological control agents (where appropriate), enhanced levels of productivity and appropriate legislation. There is obviously wide variability in the costs, depending upon factors such as the type of species, terrain, distance from settlements or roads, vulnerability to fire, extent of follow-up work required, and so on.

The Fruits of Our Labour (Top)

Working for Irrigation Water

Some 2 500 hectares of land in the catchment of the Groot Brak river near George are not being irrigated because of a lack of water. The catchment is heavily infested with invading alien plants, and the study by Kleynhans & Associates has indicated that clearing the aliens would release sufficient water to allow these lands to be irrigated. Conversely, if the aliens are not cleared, they will become bigger and more widespread, and even fewer of the existing lands will be irrigated less water will be available to irrigate existing lands.

The Working for Water programme is seeking to raise the R9 million necessary to clear the catchment of invading alien plants over a 5-year period – creating part-time jobs for up to 200 people. Once the aliens are cleared, the resulting irrigation of the lands could create up to 1 500 permanent jobs on the lands, as well as all of the down-stream jobs and economic benefits from the produce. It will also greatly enhance the assurance of water supply to Mossgas refinery and the town of Mossel Bay.

It is proposed the bulk of the costs should be shared between the beneficiaries: those whose lands are cleared; those who are then able to irrigate new lands (or establish new plantations?); Mossgas, and water users in Mossel Bay. Working for Water will also contribute, to ensure that the RDP nature of our work is embraced.

Working for Water Works

The Working for Water programme has a policy of providing child-care support for its workers. Many of the child-care facilities, such as crèches, have very limited resources. Under the banner of its marketing arm – Working for Water Works – the programme has started to design educational toys made from cleared alien wood, suitable for children of various ages, which can be used in our child-care facilities. This will enhance the effectiveness of the facilities supported by the programme; develop appropriate skills among our craft workers, and educate people about the programme. From this we hope to be able to market these toys through appropriate outlets (such as the shops in nature reserves) and to other child-care facilities.

Some of the children's blocks made by workers in the North West Province

Working for Fuel

An obvious use of the wood cleared through the Working for Water programme is as firewood – for personal use, road-side sales and the like. (Our sale of barbecue/braai wood in the Kruger National Park is an indication of more formal possibilities.) Converting the wood into charcoal and eco-bricks are also initiatives that have already been started in collaboration with the programme.

The programme is geared to work itself out of a job, in that we are trying to get rid of the invading alien plants. This implies that the programme has a duty to ensure that either woodlots of invasive alien species are developed (with strict responsibilities for the beneficiaries), or to seek alternative species where appropriate and feasible. It is for this reason that the programme has been careful to delay working in areas where the invading alien plants are a major source of fuel for impoverished communities.

Low-cost manufacturing of Charcoal in Mpumalanga

Working for Building Materials

The Working for Water programme has developed a number of initiatives that turn the felled aliens into building materials. These range from rough poles used for informal housing, drop-poles in fences and stakes for tomatoes, to planks, beams, trusses for roof-construction and so on. There is flexibility in the manufacturing needs for some of these activities, which allows for small-scale business development. More must be done, but the outlook is certainly positive.

What is emerging as a potentially wonderful benefit is making wood-chips that are mixed with cement to create panels for building houses. The panels have excellent insulation for thermal regulation in the houses; are fire-proofed, and please the conservationists in the carbon-fixing use of the wood. They are also easy to make, and allow for easier and cheaper construction of houses. The programme is seeking to link up with the Homeless People’s Federation to explore this excellent proposal that was developed by State Expenditure’s Neil Deveraux Nel and his associates.

Wood-chip building blocks made by the forestry giant, Mondi Ltd, in Mpumalanga

Working for Wild Opportunities

Another way in which the Working for Water programme is developing secondary industry opportunities is through building the capacity to exploit indigenous plants that grow back after invaded land has been properly cleared.

The cut-flower industry is particularly profitable, as it is an industry that already earns some R120 million in sales per annum – (most of which are export sales). to boot. The programme is helping local community interests to set up flower-picking initiatives, with all of the labour-intensive benefits.

The herbal opportunities for herbal products that grow out of our work are also substantial, especially in already developed markets for products such as rooibos, honeybush tea and boegoe. It is also important to recognize the critical role that the programme is playing in ensuring that plants used for traditional medicine and other uses are available for sustainable use, by reducing the loss of habitat through alien invasions.

Working for Entrepreneurs

One of the best ways in which the programme can challenge criticisms that it does not offer long-term opportunities is to train and empower its workers as entrepreneurs. We are often asked how we will ensure that land that has been cleared of invading alien plants is kept clear. Our plan is simple. Let the contract teams look for work opportunities for themselves. They can report neglectful land-owners to the authorities, who will have the power to ensure that the aliens are cleared at the land-owner’s expense, should he or she fail to co-operate. This work can then be put out to tender for the contractors, who have a vested interest in uncovering failures to honour commitments by land-owners.

Another major opportunity for workers will be to work in maintaining fire-breaks (now far more strictly required by law) and corridors for power-lines, railways and so on. They are also being trained to operate as auxiliary fire-fighters. The risk of run-away fires in Port Elizabeth was a major consideration in the development of the programme’s PE Dunes project. The damage caused by fires – which includes the after-effects of erosion, flooding and the like – means that the services that could be provided are extremely valuable … and they are in short supply at the moment!

Damage caused by floods following a fire on Table Mountain

Working for Tourism

Protecting and developing our eco-tourism market is one of the Working for Water programme’s bigger claims to fame – even though it is not as yet widely appreciated! It is an important claim, given that tourism, and particularly eco-tourism (including cultural tourism), is a vital component of our economy.

Invading alien plants are one of the biggest threats to our existing tourism operations. If that seems far-fetched, ask the land-owners on the Sand River who fear that the life blood of their game farms will dry up if steps are not taken to protect the catchment (hence our Save the Sand initiative). Less understood is the likelihood of huge numbers of future tourists who will come to marvel at the smallest of the world’s six plant kingdoms – the fynbos of the Western Cape – which is under severe threat from invading alien plants (and even dams built because of invading alien plants!).

The Four Pillars of Working for Water (Top)

Legislation: The new National Water Act – piloted through by the former Minister Kader Asmal and Deputy Director-General Tami Sokutu – is possibly the most progressive of its kind in the world. One of its innovative aspects is the notion of a first priority in the allocation of water for basic human needs and basic ecological functioning (called the Water Reserve). "In-stream flow requirements" are a central consideration here, and Working for Water is pivotal to this being maintained in almost all parts of the country. (See page 21 for further discussion on the role of policy and legislation in the programme.)

Funding: The Working for Water programme has raised almost one billion rand to date, to clear invading alien plants. The funding has come principally from Government RDP and poverty alleviation funds, and through water tariffs from water users. If it is to succeed, however, the programme must attract greater support from all of the beneficiaries. The project at Walker Bay, near Hermanus, is an example of how the programme’s funding component should run, where the land-owners pay for half of the clearing costs themselves. They have also agreed to pay the full maintenance costs.

Education: Education of key target groups, and particularly land-owners, has not been used adequately in the programme. One obvious target is to ensure that nurseries do not sell invasive species without a permit – and that they are accountable for damage caused by any new plant that they may introduce into the country. The programme is launching an educational drive asking the public to support only those nurseries that do not sell invasive species (without a permit).

Biological Control:

The fourth component of a successful programme is the use of biological control agents against invading alien plants (or at least their flowers and/or seeds). The recent introductions of insects and fungi to control the Port Jackson willow and long-leafed wattle, both from Australia, have been wonderfully successful. The Plant Protection Research Institute is a highly professional unit that ensures that the bio-control agents will not threaten species other than the targeted species. Some environmental activists oppose the use of biological control agents – even though 76 agents have been released against 40 invasive species to date, without any negative impacts. There is no doubt that in South Africa (and in our neighbouring countries) that the war against weeds cannot be won without the judicious use of these agents. Indeed, the world is sitting on a time-bomb of invasions, and the planned introduction of species to combat this invasion is essential.

1 + 1 = 3: The Importance of Partnerships (Top)

The Department of Land Affairs

One of the most rewarding of these partnerships has been with the Dept of Land Affairs, which has funded Working for Water projects in communities involved in land reform initiatives. The partnership grew out of a suggestion to resolve a crisis in a land restitution case in the Western Cape. People had been settled on land where the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry felt that water-borne sewage was necessary. The cost of this would have used up most of the grant made to the community. It was suggested that, by employing them to clear invading alien plants, they would be able to afford the sewerage system; their land would be more productive, and the water resources would be enhanced. It had all of the ingredients of a "win:win" solution. Minister Derek Hanekom and Director-General Geoff Budlender agreed to fund a number of partnership projects (R12 million of a possible R25 million has already been committed), very much to our mutual benefit - and to the benefit of the communities.

The Department of Welfare and Population Development

Another very strong partnership is developing with the Dept of Welfare & Population Development. We have jointly run initiatives on reproductive health (with the UNFPA); employment of the victims of crime, and of ex-offenders, and the making of t-shirts by community sewing groups. A wonderful new proposal by Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi and Director-General Luci Abrahams is for support of child-care opportunities for the workers in the programme. The Department also provides valuable guidance in the welfare-related efforts of the programme. We hope to take a joint approach on the very thorny issue of micro-lending (against "loan sharks" and other exploiters of our workers). The value of these partnerships could exceed R25 million in the coming financial year.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

The Department’s links with the Working for Water programme has strengthened considerably with the appointment of the new Director-General, Professor Patrick Fitzgerald. A senior position is to be seconded to the programme, to ensure maximum congruence with the Department, and – very importantly – a formal link into the legislative powers that the programme needs. Minister Pallo Jordan and Deputy-Minister Peter Mokaba have both been strong supporters of the programme.

The Department of Agriculture

Another exceptional partnership has come through the Dept of Agriculture’s Land Care initiative (many people feel that we should merge with them). The jointly run Save the Sand project is the flagship of our partnership, but the collaboration is far broader than that, with several other joint projects, and a very strong reliance by the programme on the legislative capacities of the Department. The partnership will exceed R10 million in the new financial year.

The Departments of Public Works (in many ways our mentors), Health (especially regarding HIV/AIDS, TB and nutrition), Trade & Industry (seen as possibly our biggest partner in the future), Education (central to real success), Labour (especially training) and others are vital to our future. (We are, of course, very mindful of the vital capacity provided by Finance and State Expenditure!) It is clear that the marginal cost of dealing with their issues through the capacity of the Working for Water programme offers a particularly good return on investment. The partnerships with other Government bodies (e.g., South African National parks), NGOs (e.g., WWF-South Africa) and the private sector (e.g., up to R2 million from the Sabi-Sand Wildtuin for the Save the Sand project) also bodes well for the future, as does our engagement of local communities in working towards common goals.

Working for Water and the Forestry Industry (Top)

It has not been plain sailing in the relationship between the Working for Water programme and the forestry industry, and some harsh words have been said from both sides. That is not surprising when we are clearing the same species of trees that the industry is planting. A greater maturity is needed from all sides (i.e., including the conservationists who so often attack the industry as well).

There is a fundamental difference between a plant that is invading (i.e., spreading without control) and a plant that has invasive potential, but is being well-managed in a site that is suitable for plantations. It is the opinion of the specialists within the Working for Water programme that most of those involved in the forestry industry are responsible farmers who are very mindful of their impacts. One could go further and say that the country would do well to seek additional sites suitable for forestry, such is its return on investment.

The honesty of this statement from the side of Working for Water can be captured in the proposal that was developed by the Regional Director of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in KwaZulu/Natal, Mr Joe Hansmann, and Professor Roland Schultze of the University of Natal. They calculated that it might be possible to allow permits for substantial afforestation in the upper Pongola catchment, were the invading alien plants to be cleared. It is an excellent opportunity to turn a wasteful use of water and land into a productive one. A well-managed plantation of invasive species will have a tolerable impact on the suite of problems that the Working for Water programme is seeking to address.

The one contention is seed pollution. The programme believes in a user-pays approach to this, and has met with some sympathy from the forestry industry. The industry’s concern, not surprisingly, is that they do not want to be blamed for the impacts of others – including the Government, which in past years was not mindful of the problems posed by invading alien plants. Furthermore, there are practical difficulties associated with the measurement of seed pollution, and the more positive approach is to seek ways in which biological control agents (and possibly genetic manipulation???) can be used to retard the flower and seed production of invasive species that have commercial value. There is, at last, a great deal of progress being made – with full collaboration from the forestry industry.

In truth, the industry and Working for Water have far more in common than their differences, and this includes fighting many common enemies – lantana, bugweed, chromolaena and all of the common enemies. Indeed, the industry is spending in excess of R30 million per year in clearing these and other weeds, according to Mr Mike Edwards of the Forest Owners’ Association.

The Working for Water programme has approached the forestry industry to ask for assistance in terms of training, equipment, transport, and the mentoring of our project managers and supervisors. In return it is offering to undertake work that is important to the forestry industry – on their conservation land; land upriver from them, or even fighting non-commercial weeds on their own land. The programme also actively fights forest fires. It is indicative of a maturing of the relationship between the two groups, to mutual advantage.

There can be no doubt – South Africa needs a strong, vibrant and responsible forestry industry. Working for Water supports that!

The Stick (Top)

The Working for Water programme has spent the past four years promoting very much the "carrot" side of the "carrot and stick" balance that is needed if the programme is to achieve its goals. It has relied on the limited strategies of bluster and moral persuasion to change behaviour, with limited success. There is no doubt, for example, that there are land-owners who are taking a view that they will wait for the programme to sort out their invasive alien problems, rather than tackle them themselves. (This is a criticism not confined to private land-owners either!) It’s time for action.

The Working for Water programme is reliant upon a large variety of policy and regulatory inputs. Three will be highlighted here, outlining what steps the programme intends to take – in collaboration with the relevant Departments – in order to ensure that the legislative input in the battle is optimized.

Legislation relating to water

The National Water Act provides the Working for Water programme with a battery of powers that can have a dramatic influence upon its long-term success. The first, mentioned by Minister Asmal in his Foreword, relates to stream-flow reduction. An invading alien plant with its "feet in the water" uses 2-3 times as much water as the same species in a well-managed plantation. The programme will develop criteria by which land-owners can be charged for the stream-flow reduction of invading alien plants on their land. This is effectively a user-pays charge that will help to fund the clearing of the invading alien plants in the affected catchment.

A second facet from the legislation relates to catchment management, where water users will be charged in order to raise the portion of funds necessary to ensure that catchments are kept clear of invading alien plants. The argument here is that it is in their enlightened self-interest to fund the work, as the costs to themselves of the work not being done are far greater. It also relates to the requirements regarding to provisions for the Water Reserve – i.e., ensuring that there is sufficient water for ecological functioning.

The third major aspect relates to the clause section on pollution, where it is possible to charge land-owners with invasive alien plants for the seed pollution on the land of others. This is much like one would have a claim against a neighbour if impacted by an oil spill or fire, or the like. Although it is not envisaged that this be implemented at this stage (and certainly not retrospectively), it remains an important part of our arsenal.

Legislation relating to agriculture

The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (43 of 1984) is being rewritten, and the Department of Agriculture and the Working for Water programme are both seeking to ensure that there are appropriate regulatory powers to deal with the threats posed by invasive species.

There is a need for powers to ensure that species with an invasive potential are not brought into the country (or, if they are, that the importer takes out insurance to cover the possible costs of invasions). Nurseries must not be allowed to grow or sell invasive alien plants without a permit. A revised list of "declared weeds and invaders" is being what were called "noxious weeds" needs to be compiled (by area, as not all invaders are invasive in all areas). The State – including the Working for Water programme – must have the ability to force land-owners to clear invading alien plants at their (the land-owners’) own costs.

Legislation relating to the environment

A third major area of legislative powers lies in the Environmental Conservation Act (73 Of 1998), where the programme could be empowered to ensure that environmental impact assessments consider the risks of invasions associated with various activities (e.g., fires; in building sand; in road, railway, telephone and electricity corridors; in property speculation; in work relating to wetlands, and so on).

There are other vital laws – e.g., the trade laws at which so many countries are now looking. The programme is determined to take advantage of the legislative powers to which it has access, and initially to develop high-profile test cases to send out strong signals about its intentions.

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