Costs, benefits and management options for an invasive alien tree species: The case of mesquite in the Northern Cape, South Africa

Mesquite (Prosopis species) were introduced to South Africa to provide fodder and shade for livestock, but some have become invasive, impacting on water and grazing resources. Mesquite’s net economic effects are unclear and their unequal distribution leads to conflict. We estimated the value of mesquite invasions in the Northern Cape Province for different scenarios, differentiating between productive floodplains and upland areas. The estimated net economic value of mesquite in 2009, covering 1.47 million ha, was US$3.5–15.3 million. The value will become negative within 4–22 years, assuming annual rates of spread of 30 and 15%, respectively. The estimated 30-year present value (3% discount rate) of the benefits of control in the floodplains exceeded that of costs but the opposite was true in the uplands. Control efforts should therefore focus on floodplains while preventing spread from uplands into cleared or uninvaded floodplains. More efficient control methods are needed as estimated control costs (>US$9.5 million yr−1) exceed financial capabilities of Public Works programmes. Control in the floodplains was not economically justifiable using an 8% discount rate, because this substantially discounted future costs. We conclude that more effective control methods, such as biological control, are needed to prevent substantial economic losses.

► Mesquite provides net benefits today but switches to negative within 4–22 years if not controlled. ► Control costs exceed public funds; cheaper, more effective methods such as biocontrol are needed. ► Benefits of control are the avoided pasture and water losses, so control should focus on productive lands. ► Farmers must be convinced of the future private benefit of control & incentives created to fund this. ► Control must also focus on upland sources of invasion of productive or high water-yielding regions.