Invasive behaviour of Leucaena Leucocephala

The tree species Leucaena Leucocephala is commonly used for firewood, reducing forest degradation and providing communities with stable access to energy. Despite its beneficial properties, the species has negative environmental impacts and has been listed as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species, threatening native species and displacing forests.

Nº 48


  • Forestry
  • Forest Management
  • Introduction of New Tree Species
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made

None

Invasive behaviour of Leucaena Leucocephala

The tree species Leucaena Leucocephala is commonly used for firewood, reducing forest degradation and providing communities with stable access to energy. Despite its beneficial properties, the species has negative environmental impacts and has been listed as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species, threatening native species and displacing forests.

Leucaena leucocephala was introduced to Taiwan for firewood and fodder. From the 1980s, the tree was no longer needed for firewood as people had electricity, leading to a rapid increase in the species’ population as the trees were no longer cut down.

  • Facilitated the efforts to address the initial problem
  • Multilple (effects disconected from each other)

Kuo, Y. L. (2003). Ecological characteristics of three invasive plants (Leucaena leucocephala, Mikania micrantha, and Stachytarpheta urticaefolia) in Southern Taiwan. Taiwan: Food & Fertilizer Technology Center.

Global Invasive Species Database (2023). Species profile: Leucaena leucocephala. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Leucaena+leucocephala on 23-02-2023.

Awe, F. A., Giwa-Ajeniya, A. O., Akinyemi, A. A., & Ezeri, G. N. O. (2013). Phytochemical analysis of Acalypha wilkesiana, Leucaena leucocephala, Pepperomia pellucida and Senna alata leaves. The International Journal of Engineering and Sciences (IJES), 2(9), 41-44. https://www.theijes.com/papers/v2-i9/Part.2/F0292041044.pdf

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