Invasive Thorny Shrub Strangling Zambian National Park - ENN

[hatrack]

LUSAKA - An invasive shrub is upsetting the ecological balance of national parks in Zambia's Kafue Flats and could drive away tourism. A study by the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ), released last month (20 September), shows that the weed Mimosa pigra has covered around 2,900 hectares of the Kafue Flats. It is interfering with the ecosystems by blocking access to water for animals and birds and displacing animals by reducing available habitat.

M. pigra, a thorny shrub native to tropical America, can grow up to six metres high and forms dense stands that squeeze out other native forms of vegetation. Director of the ECZ, Edward Zulu, says that the shrub has disturbed animal grazing lands and if it is not quickly controlled the natural habitant for the Kafue lechwe (marsh antelope) and several birds species would be displaced irretrievably.

An ongoing World Bank-funded study into the economic impact of the shrub and other environmental weeds in Zambia suggests that tourists are less inclined to visit areas if migratory water birds are displaced by infestations of waterweed. The weed could also impact the local economy by disrupting agriculture.

Area member of parliament Highvie Hamududu told SciDev.Net that M. pigra is already decreasing biodiversity in the area and making tourism investors reluctant to invest.

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/23589

[Snarkturian Clone]

1. Found a picture of a thorny shrub.

you knew it was coming.

[tech3149]

2. You've gotta nip those Thorny Shrubs in the bud

Once they get a foothold, it can take eight years to get rid of them.

[LiberalEsto]

3. The natives call it

ba-da-boom--
the george bush