Darwin Initiative USAMBARA INVASIVE PLANTS
Darwin Initiative Project

Darwin Initiative
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East
Usambaras

 

Amani Nature
Reserve

 

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Training

 

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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). This project addressed this threat through a state-of-the-art mapping, monitoring, modelling and management strategy to 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 ensured long-term solutions. The study served as a benchmark for future IAP management in East Africa and assisted 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 played a pivotal role in resolving the key obstacles to IAP management in Tanzania and thus helps to conserve global biodiversity.

Usambara map

Purposes of the project

  • 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 represented the first large-scale attempt to combat IAP in Tanzania and as such is a benchmark for further studies throughout East Africa. A key output was the end-of-project workshop on the growing threat of alien plants in Tanzania, where lessons learnt from the project were disseminated to academic, government and non-governmental organisations from throughout the region.

National Impact: The study contributed significantly to addressing issues in the nation's thematic report to the CBD relating to Alien and Invasive Species. It was a significant case study that can be extended to other Tanzanian ecosystems and established a framework upon which to assess IAP risks and impacts. Key outputs included trained staff in government organisations e.g. TAFORI and access to generic guidelines for IAP risk assessments.

Local Impact: The project delivered tailor-made practical advice regarding management of problematic IAP in the East Usambaras. Key outputs included raised local awareness of IAP problems, trained staff in ANR and a management plan that forms the basis of long-term monitoring and control of IAP in the East Usambaras.

Throughout the project, progress reports were issued, in September 2005, September 2006 and September 2007.

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Last updated October 2007

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