BY MUKELO MAGAGULA
MBABANE- The Forestry Department under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs has encouraged the nation to use invasive plant species to their benefit. Invasive plant species are plants from another environment that do not belong to their new environment.
The Ministry’s Senior Forestry Officer Mbhekeni Nxumalo has encouraged Emaswati to utilise the Mexican sunflower ‘Sandanezwe’ to make organic fertilizer. “Invasive species such as the Mexican sunflower make a great compost that farmers can take advantage of. Some of these invasive plant species can be used for medical purposes,” Nxumalo said. The department discovered the spread of the Mexican sunflower from the Lowveld where it is common, to the Highveld of the kingdom of Eswatini.
Mexican flower
The Invasive Species Compendium explains that the Mexican sunflower is a herbaceous flowering plant which has been widely introduced as an ornamental flower but has escaped from cultivation to become invasive, mostly in disturbed sites, along roadsides, and in rural areas near cultivation. It is known as a “green fertilizer” in Africa and Asia and is a nutritious addition to any garden.
Nxumalo stated that some of the invasive species have economic benefits. “Some of the invasive species have economic values such as the wattle trees. They are students in the Shiselweni region who are able to convert this plant into charcoal, which has been their source of income,” he said. The wood from the wattle tree can also be used to produce spears, boomerangs, spear throwers, clubs, shields, handles for axes and chisels.
Wattle tree
The Forest Department is a sector in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs mandated to maintain a comprehensive national forest inventory, with an adequate planning capability and technical forest management capacity. Also to take the overall lead in the maintenance of a coherent and contemporary forest policy and legal framework, with due consideration to the cross-sectoral nature of forestry. And their objective is to provide an oversight role, direction and guidance to the forest development and management sector.
To provide extension services to farmers. To promote sustainable use, management and development of forest resources including the development of forest industry. To conserve the bio-diversity of forest resources and encourage for its sustainable use including protection of plant genetic resources and environment. And to also enhance national capacity to manage and develop the forest sector.
Sourced from: Eswatini TV News
