People’s perceptions and uses of invasive plant Psidium guajava in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province of South Africa

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map showing location of the four villages in Vhembe Biosphere reserve in Limpopo province of South Africa. Imagery source: Google Earth: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html.

Table 1. Demographics of sample population of the different communities interviewed

	Gender (% of male)	Dominant age range (%)	Dominant race (%)	Dominant education level (%)	Dominant income group (%)	Mean number of people per household
Duthuni	Male (38)	50–60 (26)	Black (100)	Grade 10 (46)	Social grants (42)	8.6 ± 0.5
Ha Maelula	Male (40)	60–70 (24)	Black (100)	Primary (40)	Social grants (80)	7.7 ± 0.5
Matshavhawe	Male (44)	70+ (36)	Black (100)	Primary (54)	Social grants (80)	8.6 ± 0.6
Murunwa	Male (46)	40–50 (26)	Black (100)	Primary (48)	Social grants (64)	8.1 ± 0.6
Across villages	Male (42)	70+ (24)	Black (100)	Primary (45)	Social grants (67)	8.3 ± 0.3

Table 2. Community responses to questions relating to knowledge and perceptions of Psidium guajava in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

Interview questions	Duthuni	Ha Maelula	Matshavhawe	Murunwa	Across villages	Comparisons across villages
						χ^2-value	P-value
Questions relating to knowledge of P. guajava
Do you know P. guajava? (% of yes – also accepted and used local name)	100	100	100	100	100	-	-
Do you have P. guajava on your property? (% of yes)	70	76	70	76	73	0.913	0.822
Did you plant P. guajava on your property? (% of yes)	6	24	4	14	12	11.742	0.008
Is it spreading on your property? (% of yes)	40	34	26	42	36	6.621	0.357
Is it spreading in the area around you? (% of yes)	52	50	64	80	62	32.075	<0.001
Are you aware that it is an invasive alien species? (% of yes)	18	18	26	30	23	6.367	0.383
Questions relating to perceptions around benefits and impacts of P. guajava
Does it cause any negative impacts? (% of yes)	34	14	10	10	17	14.033	0.003
Does it provide any benefits? (% of yes)	90	98	96	96	95	3.789	0.285
Do you think the benefits of P. guajava outweigh the costs? (% of yes)	14	16	14	12	14	6.317	0.389
Is P. guajava more beneficial to you compared to indigenous/native/local trees? (% of yes)	10	10	12	8	10	0.697	0.995
Does P. guajava displace any indigenous plants, insects, birds, animals, or plants important for your livelihood? (% of yes)	58	38	52	28	44	11.201	0.011

Table 3. Community views on Psidium guajava occurrence on properties in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

	Duthuni	Ha Maelula	Matshavhawe	Murunwa	Across villages	Comparisons across villages
						χ^2-value	P-value
P. guajava occurrence level on properties
Common	16	20	12	6	14	4.582	0.205
Moderate	28	34	40	48	38	4.672	0.197
Scarce	20	20	18	24	21	0.583	0.900
Very scarce	6	2	0	0	2	6.122	0.106

Table 4. Community views of costs and benefits of Psidium guajava in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

	Duthuni	Ha Maelula	Matshavhawe	Murunwa	Across villages	Comparisons across villages
						χ^2-value	P-value
Cost
Attracts problematic animals (monkeys, snakes, and birds)	12	0	36	4	13	34.483	<0.001
Rotten fruits attract mosquitos	18	8	6	8	10	4.889	0.180
Reduces available grazing and invades croplands	0	0	2	8	3	8.821	0.032
Displaces and outcompetes native plants	12	14	2	10	10	4.827	0.185
Fruits cause health problems (constipation)	24	8	0	10	11	18.880	<0.001
Reduces water	2	4	0	4	3	2.256	0.521
Benefits
Fruits	70	72	76	30	62	29.371	<0.001
Shade provisioning	2	6	8	18	9	8.936	0.030
Medicine	16	20	10	26	18	4.607	0.203
Firewood provisioning	4	0	6	6	4	3.125	0.373
Feed for pigs	2	0	0	16	5	20.826	<0.001

Table 5. Community responses to questions relating to management of Psidium guajava in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve

Interview questions	Duthuni	Ha Maelula	Matshavhawe	Murunwa	Across villages	Comparisons across villages
						χ^2-value	P-value
Would you like to see a decrease in P. guajava population densities in your area (environment)? (% of yes)	32	22	36	16	27	14.308	0.026
Do you receive assistance from government (e.g. the Working for Water program) to manage P. guajava on your property? (% yes) (% of yes)	26	0	4	2	8	29.891	<0.001
Do you receive information or news about Invasive Alien Plants (% of yes)	0	4	0	0	1	6.061	0.109
Would you like the government (e.g. the Working for Water programme) to assist you in managing P. guajava on your property? (% yes)	64	52	86	52	64	16.632	<0.001

Figure 2. Community views on Psidium guajava (a) management on properties (χ² = 27.508; p = 0.001), and (b) nature of management support requested (χ² = 35.644; p = 0.001) in Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.