Ecological Impacts, Distribution and its Management Approaches of Lantana camara L. in Ethiopia: A Review Paper
Abesh Birhanu Morka
Abesh Birhanu Morka, Department of Forest and Rangeland Plant Biodiversity, Ethiopia Biodiversity Institute, Assosa Biodiversity Research Centre, Assosa, Ethiopia
Manuscript received on 30 July 2025 | Revised Manuscript received on 11 August 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 August 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 August 2025 | PP: 29-36 | Volume-5 Issue-5, August 2025 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijapsr.E408905050825 | DOI: 10.54105/ijapsr.E4089.05050825
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© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Lantana camara L. (Family: Verbenaceae) is one of the world’s dangerous invasive alien species. This review paper aimed to review the ecological impacts, distribution, and management approaches of the invasive species of Lantana camara in Ethiopia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across academic databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct. Studies published between 2018 and 2024 were selected based on relevance and rigour, and their findings were synthesised into themes covering the ecological impacts, distribution, and management approaches of Lantana camara. The distribution of Lantana camara in Ethiopia is extensive, affecting many ecosystems, including cultivated and non-cultivated land, roadside areas, grazing areas, rural villages, riverbanks, wetlands, forests, and urban areas. They are introduced into a new country through either human or natural causes (such as winds, birds, animals, or water). Biodiversity loss, socioeconomic problems, agricultural losses, issues affecting human and animal well-being, and the invasion of national parks are the known impacts that Lantana camara poses in Ethiopia. Utilization of Lantana camara for several purposes, prevention of its further spreading into non-infected areas, use of fire, mechanical, chemical, biological control, and awareness creation are recommended to management policies that can bring solutions to the threats posed by the clear within the country. Then, the government of Ethiopia should frequently evaluate the distribution and socioeconomic impact of this species to take proper protection actions and to prevent further introduction and spread of the latana camara species in new areas that are not yet infested.
Keywords: Ecological Impacts, Lantana Camara L., Invasion of Alien Species, Management, Ethiopia.
Scope of the Article: Phyto Chemistry