Management of invasive plant species in Nigeria through economic exploitation: lessons from other countries

Abstract

Invasive alien species, once they made entry into a region or country, often become difficult to eradicate and it appears that they have come to stay. Worse still, their adverse effects on the native biodiversity are enormous and they are considered ecologically harmful. Agricultural and economic losses to invasive species are comparatively high. Mechanical control is expensive and difficult in some terrains; chemical control is also expensive, requires constant application and has its environmental implications, while biological control is mirred with mixed failures and successes. This paper reviewed that economic exploitation of some notorious invasive species in other countries – such as Sudan, Ethiopia, India, Senegal, Mali and the Gambia – and how this had helped reduce the spread of these invasives and at the same time, became source of income to the poor people. It is believed that adopting this concept in Nigeria will create incentives for harvesting invasive species with more commitment, while it is an indirect way of controlling them. Furthermore, harvesting could be labour intensive, thus creating jobs for people, while it provides additional means of income for rural people, which is a key adaptation strategy for climate change.