Confusion over jacarandas
MELROSE – Johannesburg Urban Forest Alliance believes there is nothing to prohibit the planting of jacarandas while City Parks says it is illegal to plant or transplant jacarandas.
Johannesburg rolls out the purple carpet as Jacaranda (mimosifolia) flowers can be seen across many streets in the Rosebank Killarney Gazette distribution area as the spring season shows its beauty.
There, however, seems to be a confusion between residents and City authorities about whether the blossoming jacarandas can still be planted on private properties and in public spaces.
A Caxton national story about the tree titled Our iconic jacarandas, if properly cared for, could be around for another 100 years was shared on the Gazette’s Facebook page which caused an outcry. Organisations claimed that the tree is in fact allowed to be planted and is no longer a by-law infringement.
The Gazette sought to investigate this conundrum by asking some of the experts at Johannesburg Urban Forest Alliance (Jufa), iHlathi Melrose-Birdhaven Conservancy and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.
According to Andrea Rosen of Jufa, “Jacarandas are not considered an invasive species in urban areas in most provinces and there is nothing to prohibit their planting in private properties or public spaces.”
“Prior to 2014, the jacaranda was listed as a category 2 invasive species throughout the country, which might account for some members of the public believing this still to be the case. It was decided to adopt a more balanced approach in 2014 and limit the categorisation to certain regions where it could, in fact, cause damage to the ecosystem, e.g. Mpumalanga,” said Rosen.
She explained that the Jufa position is that a city is a human creation so a human solution is required to mitigate its negative environmental impact.
“Species, whether indigenous or exotic, should be chosen according to the benefits they provide to the human population (carbon sequestration, storm water mitigation and air quality among others), and which make the city more liveable. This applies especially to Johannesburg where few tree species are actually endemic.”
Markus Scheuermaier of the iHlathi Melrose-Birdhaven Conservancy said, “The national policy is quite clear – jacarandas are no longer considered invasive in urban areas in Gauteng.”
Scheuermaier said the confusion lies in the fact that no one seems to have updated their information since the publication of the Conservation of Agriculture Resources Act of 1983, which listed jacarandas as category 3 invaders. He explained that the act was superseded by the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004 (Neda), under which the new Alien and Invasive Species Lists were published in 2016.
The above statement is verified when referencing Publication of the amended Alien and Invasive Species Regulations published 4 August 2016 which reads, ‘[Jacarandas] Whilst invasive in parts of the country, the department has accommodated public sentiment by not listing the species in urban areas, and allowing large specimens within 50 metres of farm homesteads’.
“In these urban areas, there will be no control required for the species. It will be as if we are treating urban areas as plantations, and the trees can continue to be grown as street trees and ornamental garden trees,” said former Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.”
However, spokesperson for City Parks Jenny Moodley said that it is still illegal, according to the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act of 2004 (Neda), to plant or transplant jacarandas. However, it clearly states in the Neda as mentioned above that jacaranda trees are not listed under invasive species for urban areas in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North-West.
Whereby begging the question, as to what City Parks bases its statement on.
“We do not encourage planting or replanting of jacarandas. But residents must be assured that the current jacarandas will grow into the next century. There are many indigenous trees that we can use to beautify our cities and we encourage residents to plant these species to grow the Johannesburg tree canopy,” said Moodley.
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/264295/iconic-jacarandas-properly-cared-hopefully-another-hundred-years/
