Constraints in weed biological control: contrasting responses by implementing nations

Abstract

The compilation of papers in this Special Issue (SI) derives from a Symposium at the 25th International Congress of Entomology, in 2016, entitled ''Rise or demise? A global outlook on the future of classical biological weed control''. In the SIopening-paper, a summary of the 5th edition of the world catalogue of weed biocontrol agents and their target weeds provides a comprehensive international perspective. Weed biocontrol implementation is beleaguered by perceptions of risk and restrictive regulatory procedures, notably in the USA, and less so in Canada. Thus, most of the papers in this SI comprise accounts of innovative responses to these challenges from scientists in the USA. Political and funding issues have inhibited weed biocontrol in Australia over the past decade, but there appears to be a gradual reversal of this trend in recent years. In contrast, in New Zealand and in South Africa, the practice is flourishing, and there are significant recent initiatives in Europe. Overall, the contributions in the SI suggest an optimistic prognosis for weed biological control. Keywords World catalogue Á Successes and failures Á Non-target effects Á Risk assessments Á Hostspecificity Á Community involvement

More than a Century of Biological Control Against Invasive Alien Plants in South Africa: A Synoptic View of What Has Been Accomplished

“…2, Sect. 2.2), and implementers, there have been an increasing number of innovative and successful projects, allowing South Africa to play a leadership role in the use of biological control in the management of invasive alien plants (Moran and Hoffmann 2015;Schwarzländer et al 2018).…”

A Brief, Selective History of Researchers and Research Initiatives Related to Biological Invasions in South Africa

“…Several assessments have indicated that, for a relatively small country, South Africa has made a disproportionate contribution to the development of invasion science. The country has been a pioneer in the field of invasive alien plant biological control and is currently among the leaders, or may even have assumed the mantle of leadership (Moran and Hoffmann 2015;Schwarzländer et al 2018). Currently, South Africa is one of two countries where the practice of invasive alien plant biological control is thriving (the other being New Zealand; Moran and Hoffmann 2015).…”

Knowledge and perceptions of invasive plant biocontrol in Europe versus the rest of the world

“…Recent explorations of challenges and constraints of BC in Europe and beyond, mainly identified technical and practical limitations (Barratt et al, 2018;Shaw et al, 2018;Schwarzländer et al, 2018b). Public (including scientific) and policy support is critical for BC implementation (Thomas and Willis, 1998;Ghosheh, 2005;Vurro and Evans, 2008).…”