Invasive Species a Threat to Africa’s Game Reserves
By Shadrack Kavilu
Nairobi, Kenya- The high rate of invasion by alien species in Africa’s protected areas could destroy the ecosystem of East Africa’s largest game reserves that are home to the greatest wildlife migration, scientists have warned.
The scientist from the Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International argue that in the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti game reserves, a large area of these parks have already been invaded by invasive species that threaten to reverse the gains made in conserving biodiversity and wildlife.
“Invasive species are a major threat to ecosystems and food production in Africa. Many national parks are threatened by invasive plants which have an ability to colonize grazing grounds, displace palatable plant species and impede the free movement of wildlife,” said Arne Witt, head of the invasive species programme at Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International (CABI).
He noted that the spread of chromolaena odorata in most protected areas in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and some parts of western Kenya are an indication that invasive species are fast invading national game reserves and threatening to damage the ecosystem and pastoralism in East Africa.
Witt observed that Lantana camara, an invasive species which is present in virtually every protected area in East Africa and prosopis species have already invaded or are threatening to invade Tsavo national park, and a number of national reserves including the Tana River primate, Arawale, lake Bogoria, Shaba, Samburu and Marsabit national reserves.
The scientists warned governments in the region to scale up control measures to curb the spread of these invasive species in order to ensure the region does not lose biodiversity that is crucial in sustaining wildlife.
Speaking during the CABI’s centenary celebration of scientific endeavour that was marked last week, Witt together with other scientist from the region called on governments to raise awareness on these invasive species noting that more challenges were anticipated in the coming days as global trade, travel tourism and transport increases.
They warned that impacts of climate change could further exacerbate the situation adding that as regions warm they will become more vulnerable to invaders from warmer climates.
According to recent statistics the scientist estimate that invasive species cause around 1 trillion US dollars worth of damage each year globally.
And that it’s estimated that weeds in general cause a yield loss of about 10 percent in less developed countries and 25 to 30 percent in the least developed countries, most of which are in Africa.
The scientists argue that weeds contribute more than double in the reduction of crop yields than crop pests such as insects and mites. In Africa it’s estimated that 100 million women spend 20 billion hours weeding per annum which is still considered to be a gross underestimate.
Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s Permanent Secretary ministry of Environment and mineral resources acknowledged that conservation of biodiversity remains a major challenge and that invasive alien species pose the biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat destruction.
The PS noted that to effectively control the invasive species trans-boundary cooperation and sharing of information is vital in controlling and managing these alien species.
These alien species, Mohamed said threaten food production and the life support systems on which we depend on and urged scientific institutions to share knowledge that can help conserve biodiversity, achieve food security and contribute towards economic growth.
“It is frightening to learn that a large number of protected areas in Africa are threatened by invasive plants such as prosopis and lantana. These plants are so aggressive that they could reverse the gains made towards conserving biodiversity and achieving food security,” warned the PS.