Pande Game Reserve, located in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is a vital part of the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa Biodiversity Hotspot. Spanning approximately 15.39 square kilometers, the reserve boasts rich biodiversity, hosting 164 plant species, 142 bird species, 25 reptiles, 23 amphibians, and 56 butterfly species. However, since the 1950s, timber, charcoal, and pole extraction have caused significant forest degradation, leading to a 60% decline in forest area and threats to endemic species such as Scorodophloeus fischeri and Cynometra webberi. Invasive alien plant species, notably Lantana camara, are compounding the reserve’s challenges. These species aggressively outcompete native plants by altering soil composition, nutrient cycling, and pH through allelopathic chemicals. L. camara, a heliophilic plant, thrives in disturbed, sunny environments and spreads rapidly via seeds dispersed by fruit-eating birds and mammals. Its dense canopies and robust growth suppress native flora, leading to reduced biodiversity and ecosystem imbalances. Despite its widespread presence in Tanzania, limited research exists on L. camara’s impacts on soil properties and native plant species. Its ability to disrupt soil nutrient availability and hinder beneficial microbes underscores the urgent need for targeted studies.

Pande Game Reserve, part of the Eastern Arc/Coastal Forest, is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot with endemic plant species. Despite its protected status, the reserve faces severe threats from deforestation, habitat degradation, and illegal activities like timber extraction, pole cutting, and charcoal production, leading to forest gaps. These gaps are increasingly dominated by invasive alien plants, particularly Lantana camara. L. camara is known for its allelopathic effects, which disrupt soil health by altering moisture, pH, and nutrient levels, favoring its growth while harming native plants. These changes threaten biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Although L. camara is widespread in Tanzania, its effects on soil properties, native seed germination, and growth in Pande Game Reserve remain poorly understood. This study aims to fill these knowledge gaps by mapping L. camara’s distribution, evaluating its allelopathic effects, and assessing its impact on soil health and native plant communities. The findings will inform strategies to manage and conserve Pande Game Reserve and similar ecosystems.

To assess the distribution, allelopathic effects, and ecological impact of Lantana camara on soil properties and native plant communities along a disturbance gradient in Pande Game Reserve