The Wildlife Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) has called for concerted efforts to avert the further spreading of invasive alien species that are posing threats to the environment. 

 

The society’s Environmental and Education Coordinator for Phalombe and Mulanje, Clement Sellenje, told Zodiak Online on Sunday the invasive alien species are still spreading at an alarming rate choking the growth of other plants in some of the country’s forests.

 

He said the invasive alien species have the potential of poisoning rivers which can affect aquatic life if not timely controlled in areas where these species are rapidly spreading.

 

He said for example, blacken fern commonly known as Tambala, and Lantana Camara known as Maheji are  some of the invasive alien species spreading rapidly restricting the growth of other plants.

 

“The invasive aliens’ species restrict the growth of other plants once they have  invaded the area and this is posing threat to indigenous trees and farming activities in areas where these species are spreading,” he said.

 

He disclosed this in the Phalombe district during the orientation of agriculture and forestry extension workers on the dangers of invasive alien species and ways of averting the further spreading of these species.

 

One of the agricultural extension workers under Naminjiwa Extension Planning Area (EPA), George Molande, has described the training as an eye opener arguing farmers are harvesting low yield owing to invasive alien species which have invaded fields.