Invasions by plants in the inland waters and wetlands of Africa

Abstract

Africa is a large continent (near 30 million km2) with 53 countries including several island States. There are many hundreds of small rivers and lake basins within those countries, while most of the large drainage basins include at least two countries – up to as many as 13 (UN/Water Africa 2006). Freshwater wetlands are similarly widespread and variable in size with many of the larger swamps and floodplains extended into at least two countries. A classic example is the Nile River Basin, which encompasses parts of ten countries in eastern Africa, the Horn of Africa, and northern Africa. It includes lakes and impoundments at all altitudes, and has a great variety of wetland types, many of which stretch across those national boundaries (Howard 2007).