Abstract Invasive alien plants (IAP) affect rural livelihoods in both positive and negative ways, yet few studies examine how these impacts are distributed across households and contribute to vulnerability. This study assessed Impacts of Lantana camara invasion on livelihoods: Household perceptions from the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, Zimbabwe. We conducted 300 household surveys and two focus group discussions with elders across four wards invaded by L. camara and evaluated household vulnerability using a vulnerability score. Elders reported that L. camara first invaded one ward in 1942 and spread to the others within 16 years, encroaching on grazing and arable lands, reducing livestock forage and crop productivity, and affecting livelihoods. While providing ecosystem services such as material for live fences, mosquito repellent, fruits, firewood, ornaments, and poultry protection, it also imposed losses associated with eradication efforts, loss of indigenous plants, forage shortages, and the harbouring of rodents and snakes. Households reported mean annual livelihood losses of approximately US483 and gains of about US716. These estimates are perception-based and should be interpreted as indicative of household-level livelihood trade-offs rather than precise economic values. Despite some households reporting substantial gains, these were unevenly distributed, with most households (62%) experiencing net negative outcomes. Most households (58%) were at moderate risk from invasion, while a few (2%) faced extreme risk. These findings highlight a complex socio-economic landscape in which some households gain while others lose, suggesting that management strategies should account for both gains and losses to avoid disadvantaging vulnerable groups.
Francis et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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