Ecological Impacts, Distribution and its Management Approaches of Lantana camara L. in Ethiopia: A Review Paper

Lantana camara L. (Family: Verbenaceae) is one of the worlds 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.