at Google ScholarTitle data
Hemp, Andreas ; Miyazawa, Mieko ; Hurskainen, Pekka:
Gain and loss: Human and environmental wellbeing – drivers of Kilimanjaro's decreasing biodiversity.
In: PLoS One.
Vol. 20
(2025)
Issue 10
.
- e0334184.
ISSN 1932-6203
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0334184
Abstract in another language
Tropical mountains such as Kilimanjaro are biodiversity hotspots providing ecosystem services for millions of people, but many are under great pressure. Effective policies to halt biodiversity loss require an understanding of which anthropogenic factors are the main direct causes. While previous research focused mainly on climate change and on the effects rather than the causes, we investigated the effects of multiple drivers on biodiversity. The focus is on floristic and vegetation diversity, as vegetation is closely related to the diversity of other taxa and plays a fundamental role in ecosystem functioning. We show that land-use change caused by rapid population growth was the main direct driver on Kilimanjaro between 1911 and 2022, when 75% of natural species per km2 disappeared from the lower slopes. Climate change, on the other hand, had no apparent influence on the observed trends in biodiversity. The significant increase in traditional and diverse agroforestry and the establishment of protected areas show possibilities for mitigation. Kilimanjaro is thus an example of the challenges of global change, but also of the prospects and opportunities for other tropical regions.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Plant Systematics Research Institutions > Central research institutes > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER |
| Result of work at the UBT: | Yes |
| DDC Subjects: | 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology 500 Science > 580 Plants (Botany) |
| Date Deposited: | 27 May 2026 12:11 |
| Last Modified: | 27 May 2026 12:11 |
| URI: | https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/97740 |