The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
Sustainability is fundamental to the mission of AIPH: to build a balanced and prosperous future for all, sustaining the planet for this generation and the next.
How has the initiative been designed and implemented so that long-term needs for management and maintenance are reduced and can be met?
Monitoring of cleared sites is undertaken to assess the impact of the clearing activities, and aids in doing follow-ups and in rehabilitation efforts. Photographs of before and after are taken of areas cleared prior to work starting, and during the clearing activities at regular intervals. Similarly, photographic records are kept of the target areas from immediately before follow-up clearing activities, as well as after the work has been done. All these activities have ensured that water courses are freed from high water consumption alien plants, thus improving the water table and ensuring water availability in the area.
Records of every operation/project are kept. These include information on the location of the cleared areas, the number of labour units, as well as the number Herbicides used. This assists in the proper planning and management of the site as each site is likely to require work to be done once or twice a year over a period of time. Keeping these records also assists in evaluating the anticipated costs against the benefits of the work done.
The control, management and maintenance of areas infested with AIPs is a costly exercise; therefore, a budget is required for every clearing project. This budget always includes the following:
Budget for labour
Budget of equipment/tools needed
Herbicides to be used
Budget for compulsory and site-specific PPE
Fuel budget
Monitoring and follow-up work has been structured to take place after every 6 months on each project site. This reduces the overall management costs of the project.
What protocols are in place to facilitate monitoring of results?
The legislated authority – EDTEA, that is reliant of support at local, i.e., municipal level, has a set of operating procedures, norms and standards for implementation of invasive alien species plans clearing projects. This set of procedures, norms and standards is regularly reviewed and version 3, dated 2020, is attached. The main sections that are expanded upon in this set procedures, norms and standards considers, amongst others, (1) projects operational planning, (2) contract/treatment area administration, (3) projects administration, (4) transport, (5) tools and equipment, (6) stores and workshop, (7) herbicides, (8 &9) biological control, (10) Environmental awareness, (11) Health and Safety, (12) Firefighting and protection, (13) Social Development, (14) Employment, (15) Projects costs, (16) training and (17) overall impressions, public and workers.
Projects are set out from the outset in line with the above protocols and standards starting good base mapping to the phasing of operations and budget. Reporting is prescribed and all necessary agreements and contracts put into place. Very importantly the designated manager does monthly verification checks and ensures work is to standards and in the event of non-compliance makes instructions to correct such. A site specific EMP – Environmental Management Plan is also prepared. Also, appropriate clearing methods and specifications are applied and follow up operations done. Important environmental awareness is mooted including cleanliness, waste control, alien dispersal, anti-erosion rehabilitation etc. All persons, activities and facilities allied to project represent the public image of the programme and must be conscious to improve this image.
How has the initiative been enhanced in response to monitoring of results?
The legislated authority – EDTEA- that is reliant of support at local, i.e., municipal level, has a set of operating procedures, norms, and standards for implementation of invasive alien species plans clearing projects. This set of procedures, norms and standards is regularly reviewed and version 3, dated 2020. The main sections that are expanded upon in this set procedures, norms and standards considers, amongst others, (1) projects operational planning, (2) contract/treatment area administration, (3) projects administration, (4) transport, (5) tools and equipment, (6) stores and workshop, (7) herbicides, (8 &9) biological control, (10) Environmental awareness, (11) Health and Safety, (12) Firefighting and protection, (13) Social Development, (14) Employment, (15) Projects costs, (16) training and (17) overall impressions, public and workers.
Projects are set out from the outset in line with the above protocols and standards starting good base mapping to the phasing of operations and budget. Reporting is prescribed and all necessary agreements and contracts put into place. Very importantly the designated manager does monthly verification checks and ensures work is to standards and in the event of non-compliance makes instructions to correct such. A site specific EMP – Environmental Management Plan is also prepared. Also, appropriate clearing methods and specifications are applied and follow up operations done. Important environmental awareness is mooted including cleanliness, waste control, alien dispersal, anti-erosion rehabilitation etc. All persons, activities and facilities allied to project represent the public image of the programme and must be conscious to improve this image.
