Mountain Research and Development

Published by: International Mountain Society

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Mountain Research and Development 27(3):224-231. 2007
doi: 10.1659/mrd.0864

Multifunctional, Scrubby, and Invasive Forests?
Wattles in the Highlands of Madagascar

Christian A. Kull, Jacques Tassin, Haripriya Rangan

Christian A. Kull and Haripriya Rangan School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia. (C.A.K.); (H.R.)

Jacques Tassin CIRAD [Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement], UPR 37, Campus de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.

Abstract

Australian bipinnate acacias, known locally as mimosa, are widespread on the plateaus and mountains of Madagascar. Rarely, however, do these trees attain their full size, leading to a surprising landscape of ‘scrubby’ wattles. We review the introduction of the wattles, survey their multiple uses in rural livelihoods and environmental management, and analyze the forestry policies, tenure rules, and ecological factors that maintain the trees' scrubby state. This well-adapted plant is an important resource for farmers and serves to green treeless hills, but it may become a conundrum to conservation managers due to its non-native, invasive status.

Received: April 2007; Accepted: May 2007

Keywords: Acacia dealbata, Acacia mearnsii, Acacia decurrens, non-timber forest products, invasive species, political ecology, Madagascar



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Cited by

C. A. Kull, J. Tassin, G. Rambeloarisoa, J.-M. Sarrailh. (2009) Invasive Australian acacias on western Indian Ocean islands: a historical and ecological perspective. African Journal of Ecology 46:4, 684-689
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2009.
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