KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE

development projects

Parthenium hysterophorus poses one of the most serious threats to biodiversity, crop and pasture production and human and animal health in Africa.

so what’s the problem?Parthenium hysterophorus reproduces by large numbers of seeds – 10 to 25,000 per mature plant. These are dispersed by wind, water, animals, vehicles, tools and machinery and on clothing. They are sometimes also spread in mud and contaminated agricultural produce such as fodder and food grains.

Accidentally introduced to Ethiopia in the 1980’s, it is rapidly spreading throughout Africa, including Kenya, where the plant’s population has exploded in the last 3-4 years. In some areas, outbreaks have been of almost epidemic proportions, affecting crop production, livestock and human health.

In November 2010, a number of plants were discovered in the Masai-Mara National Reserve, posing a significant threat to biodiversity, particularly the annual wildebeest migration, and pastoralism.

eradicating parthenium in Kenya

locationMasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

dateJanuary 2011 – June 2011

project teamArne Witt

what is this project doing?With funding from the Australian High Commission, in December 2010 a survey of the whole Masai-Mara National Reserve was undertaken to identify and map all known parthenium infestations. The opportunity was also used to develop an inventory of other invasive plant species in the ecosystem, including non-native plants in the lodge gardens. The eradication programme for parthenium commenced in May 2011.

results so farParthenium was largely confined to the south of the Masai-Mara National Reserve, to the west and east of the Mara Bridge. Other than parthenium the most prolific invasive plant species in the Masai-Mara National Reserve, both within and outside of lodge properties were found to be Lantana camara, Tithonia diversifolia, Passiflora subpeltata, Opuntia monocantha, O. ficus-indica, various Tradescantia species, Anredera cordifolia and Pistia stratiotes. More than 60 local Masai pastoralists were employed over a 2-month period to physically remove parthenium plants. Visible plants from all known infestations, mainly along roads and jeep tracks, were removed at least twice during the exercise.

contactCABI, ICRAF Complex, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, PO Box 633-00621, Nairobi, Kenya T: +254 20 72 24450 F: +254 20 71 22150 E: africa@cabi.org www.cabi.org/africa

www.cabi.org/partheniumID

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Arne Witt, Project Manager

partnersKenya Wildlife Service

Narok County Council

sponsorsAustralian High Commission, Kenya