Environmental Impacts of Invasive Alien Plant Species on the Biodiversity of the Nyika National Park, Rumphi District, Malawi

Robert D Kacheche,Maureen Kapute Mzuza

doi:10.4236/ajps.2021.1210106

Robert D Kacheche, Maureen Kapute Mzuza

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2021.1210106

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Abstract

Invasive alien plant species have threatened the integrity of ecosystems and threatened biological integrity throughout the world. In the Nyika National Park, a number of alien invasive plant species have been reported. These invasive alien plants are reported to be very difficult that have caused adverse ecological, economic and social impact. The main objective of this study is to assess the environmental impact of plant invasive alien species in Nyika National Park in order to ascertain means of addressing the possible effects on the biodiversity. This study adopted an exploratory stance in order to answer the hypotheses where purposive and simple random sampling was used. Purposive sampling was only used to the staff of Nyika while simple random sampling was used to collect data from households surrounding Nyika National Park. The results revealed that invasive alien plant species have some ecological impacts of on the biodiversity of the Nyika National Park like change in physical habitats such as loss of native habitats, alteration of ground water regime, drying of rivers, loss of native species and alteration of biomass. The study would therefore be important to policy makers in guiding and development of policies and guidelines governing eradication of invasive alien plant species. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) can form partnership with various stakeholders with a clearly stated intention of developing a relationship, based on collaboration to enhance the control of invading alien plant species and the best management practices.

Highlights

Invasive alien species (IAS) are species that are non-native to the ecosystem [1]
The results revealed that invasive alien plant species have some ecological impacts of on the biodiversity of the Nyika National Park like change in physical habitats such as loss of native habitats, alteration of ground water regime, drying of rivers, loss of native species and alteration of biomass
The distribution of invasive plant species varied within Thanzima and Chelinda Camps

Summary

Introduction

Invasive alien species (IAS) are species that are non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem [1]. Invasive alien species can be defined as any live specimen of a species or lower taxon of animals, plants, fungi, or micro-organisms whose existence in a region outside its natural range has negative impacts on an ecosystem and its services [2]. Invasive species are able to survive, reproduce and spread at an alarming rate across an ecosystem causing detrimental effects in parks, land use changes and give rise to management problems [3]. Alien invasive species are known to generate substantial costs to the parks and wildlife sector in loss of revenues, in expenses for their control and in lost conservation values and ecosystem services [5]. Invasive species tend to be multi-sectoral in their impact, and need to be addressed with a multi-sectorial approach

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