You are here: > Alien species - news > Invasive species in Africa Invasive species in Africa Invasive species in western Uganda are threatening the habitats and resources of Budongo Forest Reserve Lake Mburo National Park, both in Masindi district. In a bid to control their negative effects, a United Nations Environment Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNEP/GEF) project has been designed to identify and manage the invasive plants species in Africa. Besides Uganda, focus is also being put on Ethiopia, Ghana and Zambia. About 30 invasive species have been identified in these four countries. In Uganda, about 82,530 hectares of Budongo Reserve Forest have been affected by cassia, Senna spectabilis. The plant, that was originally introduced as a boundary marker, has since spread to other parts of the forest. Because of its invasive nature, the tree has been classified as one of the 'weed trees' and suggestions are being made to destroy it in favour of the other 'valuable' timber species. Meanwhile, in Uganda's Kiruhura district, omuteete (Cymbopon nardus) has driven herdsmen from some grazing areas because their animals contract diseases from ticks that hide in the weed. Omuteete has spread to neighbouring districts. Zambia is trying to control kapanga, Lantana camara.  Back