Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsiiDe Wild.) in Rwanda’s Forestry: Implications for Nature Conservation

Acacia mearnsii, an Australian-native invasive tree species, was introduced to Rwanda between 1903 and 1918, with formal records dating back to 1941. It played a significant role in Rwanda's forestry until the late 1960s but has since declined. However, it persists in Eucalyptus plantations within specific agro-bioclimatic zones and has invaded national parks and forest reserves above 1,600 meters altitude, notably Nyungwe National Park (NNP), East Africa's largest montane rainforest. The study recommends further research on the biomass and spatial patterns of this species in NNP to support effective conservation practices.

Seburanga, J. L. (2015). Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsiiDe Wild.) in Rwanda’s Forestry: Implications for Nature Conservation. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 34(3), 276–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2015.1004715