Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)

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Woody invasive alien species in East Africa: assessing and mitigating their negative impact on ecosystem services and rural livelihoods

In the past, trees and shrubs were introduced in areas beyond their native range to provide goods and services to the rural poor. Several of these woody species have now become some of most important invasive alien species worldwide, particularly in Africa. Invasive alien species are key drivers of anthropogenic global environmental change as they threaten native biodiversity and ecosystems services.

The project aims to help mitigate the effects of woody invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being in East Africa. To this end, we will generate and share knowledge on invasion processes and context-dependent effects of woody invasive alien species in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia. We will elaborate sustainable control measures, and develop and document Sustainable Land Management strategies that mitigate the negative effects of woody invasive alien species in East Africa. To inform policymakers, we will model invasion impacts at larger (subnational and national) scales, based on local-scale studies on woody invasive alien species impacts and stakeholder responses.
The geographic scope of this project encompasses Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania.
Project duration: 6 years, starting 1.1.2015