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Combating Invasive Alien Plants Threatening The East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
Introduction
The East Usambaras are of global importance because of their unique biodiversity, yet are threatened by the spread of many of the world's most pernicious invasive alien plants (IAP). The project addresses this threat through a state-of-the-art mapping, monitoring, modelling and management strategy that will significantly reduce IAP impacts and lead to their control.
Through real partnerships with NGO's and universities, involving considerable tailor-made training as well as infrastructural support, the project will ensure long-term solutions. The study will be a benchmark for future IAP management in East Africa and will assist Tanzania with its obligations under Article 8(h) of the Biodiversity Convention. As a signatory of the Biodiversity Convention, Tanzania has a commitment "to strictly control the introduction of non-indigenous species."
Addressing the considerable threat of Invasive Alien Plants (IAP) to biodiversity in the East Usambaras was identified as a national priority by both the Natural Environment Management Council and Tanzania Forestry Research Institute.
IAP are a serious problem in the Protected Areas System of Tanzania, where key needs include:
- raising awareness among leaders and increasing inter-sectorial cooperation,
- developing capacity to identify IAP and production of identification manuals,
- establishment of monitoring programmes, and
- development of management strategies.
This project will play a pivotal role in resolving the key obstacles to IAP management in Tanzania and will thus help to conserve global biodiversity.
Approach
The project will undertake the following urgent key actions:
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Rigorous systematic surveys of the size and distribution of IAP populations to establish the scale of the problem, identify priority problem species and target populations for management. Integration of these data within the EUCAMP GIS will enable analysis of environmental drivers of invasions, e.g. land use, topography, soil type.
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Determination of IAP impacts (both positive and negative) on biodiversity and ecosystem processes (decomposition, nutrient cycling) to assess the most deleterious species.
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Experimental assessments for each priority problem species of the life-history parameters responsible for the rate of spread (e.g. dispersal, growth rate, habitat requirements) in order to identify the most appropriate management strategies, e.g. habitat and/or species management. Development, deployment and review of management strategies are directed at priority problem species, ensuring optimal cost effectiveness, efficiency and long-term results.
The work programme will provide opportunities to employ local villagers and Tanzanian researchers, who will also be trained through tailor-made courses in experimental design, species management, taxonomy, statistics, GIS, scientific writing and dissemination. The project will empower Tanzanians to manage the increasing IAP threats to biodiversity, establish the discipline within universities and build long-term partnerships within Tanzania and with the UK. The project will co-host with IUCN a second regional workshop on Alien Species in East Africa and disseminate its results internationally.
Purposes of the project
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To assist Tanzania, a nation rich in biodiversity but poor in resources, with the conservation of biodiversity in the East Usambaras & in the implementation of Articles 5-6, 8h (alien species), 12-14, & 16-17 of the Biodiversity Convention.
- To draw on leading UK expertise in the field of monitoring, assessment and management of plant invasion impacts on biodiversity to ensure scientific excellence, high quality research outputs & long-term collaborative partnerships.
- To collaborate with local government, NGO & academic institutions via information dissemination, capacity building & infrastructural support so as to establish a legacy of trained expertise & sustainable strategies for IAP management.
- To empower Tanzanian researchers in ANR, TAFORI, EUCAMP & Sokoine University of Agriculture to map, monitor & manage invasive alien plants in the Eastern Arc Mountains so as to safeguard globally important biodiversity.
- To provide a benchmark for best practice in the management of plant invasions in East Africa & establish a strong platform for levering additional funding to continue & expand the project e.g. Earthwatch, Leverhulme, NERC, EU.
Impacts
International Impact: The project represents the first large-scale attempt to combat IAP in Tanzania and as such will be a benchmark for further studies throughout East Africa. Key output will be the end-of-project workshop on Alien Species in East Africa where lessons learnt from the project will be disseminated to academic, government and non-governmental organisations from throughout the region.
National Impact: The study will contribute significantly to addressing issues in the nation's thematic report to the CBD relating to Alien and Invasive Species. It will be a significant case study that can be extended to other Tanzanian ecosystems and establish a framework upon which to assess IAP risks and impacts. Key outputs will be trained staff in government organisations e.g. TAFORI and access to generic guidelines for IAP risk assessments.
Local Impact: The project will deliver tailor-made practical advice regarding management of problematic IAP in the East Usambaras. Key outputs include raised local awareness of IAP problems, trained staff in ANR and a management plan that will form the basis of long-term monitoring and control of IAP in the East Usambaras.
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