Community perceptions and management of the fleshy‐fruited invasive alien plant <i>Pyracantha angustifolia</i> : Insights from South Africa's Montane grasslands

Abstract

Abstract Invasive alien plants can provide economic or cultural benefits to local communities, influencing perceptions and potentially affecting management decisions. Understanding these perceptions is crucial to avoiding inefficiencies, misunderstandings and conflicts in the management of invasive alien species. Our study explored community perceptions and interactions with the fleshy‐fruited invasive shrub Pyracantha angustifolia (Franch.) C. K. Schneid in South Africa's montane grasslands, using mainly in‐person questionnaires, as well as telephonic and online questionnaires, conducted between 2021 and 2022. Results showed that while communities occasionally consumed the fruits, which were mostly eaten by children, acting both as seed predators and dispersers, the fruits were not used for subsistence purposes. Residents generally did not perceive P. angustifolia as problematic, while farmers and conservation practitioners considered it detrimental because of its impact on grazing, recreation and vegetation structure. Fire was considered the least effective control method over mechanical and chemical control, while government‐supported initiatives, such as the Expanded Public Works Programme, were the most preferred form of assistance for management. Understanding how communities interact with and perceive invasive alien plants is essential for aligning ecological goals with social realities and reducing potential conflicts. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.