P. pinaster is a popular topic in ecology because of its problematic growth and spread in South Africa for the past 150 years after being imported into the region at the end of the 17th century (1685-1693).[5] It was also found spreading in Cape Peninsula by 1772.[5] Towards the end of the 18th century (1780), P. pinaster was widely planted, and at the beginning of the 19th century (1825-1830), P. pinaster was planted commercially as a timber resource and for the forestry industry.[5] The pine tree species invades large areas and more specifically fynbos vegetation. Fynbos vegetation is a fire-prone shrubland vegetation that is found in the southern and southwest cape of South Africa. It is found in greater abundance close to watercourses.[4] Dispersal, habitat loss, and fecundity are all factors that affect spread rate.