NEMBA and CARA Legislation
- National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004) or NEMBA Act
- Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (ACT No. 43 of 1983) or CARA Act
National Lists of Invasive Species
The Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations and National List of Invasive Species are as follows:
- The 2020 National List of Invasive Species (NEMBA) includes 567 species in 4 categories.
- The most recent update was issued in September 2020.
- The NEMBA AIS Lists are managed by the Biosecurity Department, Ministry of Environmental Affairs – within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
- The 2001 National List of Invasive Species (CARA) includes 198 primarily agricultural invasive species in three categories.
- The CARA List of Invasive Species is has not been updated since 2001.
- All plant species on the CARA List are included in the NEMBA List.
- The list is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture within the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
- Oversee the control and management of invasive species in South Africa.
- Outline the permit conditions for all Category 2 species.
- Offer an explanation of the ‘duty of care’ responsibilities for private landowners and organs of state.
- Outline the mandates of organs of state.
Legislation issued relating to National List of Invasive Species (latest to oldest)
2021 (24 February): NEMBA AIS Commencement Notice No 115.
The DFFE Minister gazettes:
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- National List of Invasive Species gazetted in 2020 will come into effect on 1 March 2021
- Removed: Rainbow trout and Brown trout are removed from the 2020 National List of Invasive Species.
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2020 (18 September): NEMBA Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Lists
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- The 2020 lists are an update of the 2016 AIS Species Lists
- The 2020 National List includes: Plants (383), mammals (43), birds (14), reptiles (30), amphibians (7), fresh-water fish (30), terrestrial invertebrates (24), fresh-water invertebrates (12), marine invertebrates (17) and microbial species (7). Total: 567 species
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2020 (25 September): NEMBA Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations
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- Removed: The category listing ‘Prohibited species’
- Removed: Declaration of Invasive Species Form required before selling any property.
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2016 (29 July): NEMBA Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Lists
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- The 2016 National Invasive Species Lists are an update of the 2014 Lists.
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2014 (1 August): NEMBA Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations
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- Regulations outline the FOUR categories, restricted activities, exempted alien species, national status reports, permits, risk assessment, permits and prohibited species in ten chapters.
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2014 (1 August): NEMBA Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Lists
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- National List includes: Plants (383), mammals (41), birds (24), reptiles (35), amphibians (7), fresh-water fish (15), terrestrial invertebrates (23), fresh-water invertebrates (8), marine invertebrates (16) and microbial species (7). Total: 559 species
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2001 (8 March): Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (ACT No. 43 OF 1983) or CARA
CARA Regulations 15 and 16 concern invasive or problem plants in agricultural lands. The CARA Regulations and National Invasive Species Lists comprise the following suite of documents:
- REGULATIONS: CARA Regulations 15 and 16 under this Act, which concern invasive or problem plants. Amended and updated on 8 March 2001.
- INVASIVE ALIEN PLANT LISTS: CARA Regulations refer to Table 3 – a National List of 198 Invasive Alien Plants, which are divided into three categories.
- SPECIES WITH EXEMPTIONS: CARA Regulations allow for species which are exempted for various reasons.
- BUSH ENCROACHMENT: CARA Regulations list indigenous species which are invasive. Also known as Table 4 in the CARA Regulations.
CARA is managed and enforced by officials in the Ministry of Agriculture (in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development)
Legislation – NEMBA and CARA
South African Invasive Species Legislation
NEMA, NEMBA and CARA Invasive species legislation is governed by the following legislation.
– National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1988) or NEMA Act
– National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004) or NEMBA Act
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- NEMBA Chapter 5 specifically deals with Alien Invasive Species – “Species and organisms posing potential threats to biodiversity”.
- NEMBA Chapter 5 is divided into four parts, of which Part 1 includes Alien Species and Part 2 Invasive Species.
- NEMBA Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations were passed into law in 2014 and updated in 2020.
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– Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (ACT No. 43 of 1983) or CARA Act
