The historical context of biological invasions in South Africa from pre-history to post-apartheid

This article explores the history of human-mediated biological introductions into South Africa, starting with the earliest known dating of non-native plants and concluding at the present. These introduced species have profoundly changed the ecology and human culture of the region and must be understood as both a biological and cultural phenomenon. South Africa’s geography and history make it an important case study globally because the region has been the site of extensive introductions that have been well-documented by archaeological evidence, archival documents, and a large number of scientific literature. It examines invasion as a twofold dynamic involving introduction-naturalisation-invasion process, and human perceptions of these processes. Key trends that are examined in the article include: the longstanding human use of non-native species, the early colonisation of the Cape and introduction of non-native species, early perceptions and legislation relating to weeds and pests, and the emergence of scientific, public and state perceptions that non-native species pose significant threats to the country’s economy, ecosystems, and socio-cultural fabric.