Lantana camara may look harmless with its colorful flowers, but for farmers it is one of the most aggressive and destructive invasive shrubs in Zambia. Across many farms, especially those left unattended, lantana spreads rapidly—choking productive land and disturbing the natural ecosystem.

At Landworx Zambia Limited, we support communities, including farmers, landowners, and investors, in reclaiming land from this stubborn invader. Our most recent work in Palabana, Chongwe District, demonstrated the serious threats lantana poses and the importance of proper clearing methods.

Lantana camara is considered one of the world’s 10 worst invasive alien species by the IUCNdue to its severe ecological and economic impacts. Originally from the American tropics, it was introduced globally as an ornamental plant but has since escaped into the wild, infesting over 60 countries and millions of hectares. In Zambia, Lantana camara has been found to thrive due to the atmospheric and tropical conditions the country experiences, giving rise to the following challenges:

1. Rapid and Aggressive Spread
   Lantana forms dense, impenetrable thickets that exclude native plant species and decrease overall biodiversity.In just one season, it can take over large sections of land.
2. Toxic to Livestock
   It contains pentacyclic triterpenes (lantadenes A and B) that are highly toxic to cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo, causing liver damage, jaundice, and photosensitization.On grazing land, this presents a serious risk—particularly in the dry season.
3. Reduces Soil Productivity
   Lantana releases toxic allelochemicals (phenolic acids and alkaloids) that suppress the growth of other plants (allelopathy), degrading soil quality and making farming difficult even after removal.
4. Difficult and Painful to Handle
   Its thorny stems and rough-textured leaves cause itchiness, skin irritation, and bruises on contact. Without professional equipment and protective gear, clearing is risky and inefficient.
5. Economical Impact: In Australia alone, the weed costs the stock-farming industry more than $104 million annually due to lost productivity and control expenses.
6. Disease Vectors: Its thickets provide shelter for disease-carrying insects, such asmalarial mosquitoesin India andtsetse fliesin Africa, which transmit African sleeping sickness.
7. Increased Fire Risk: The plant is highly flammable, even when green, which adds to the fuel load and increases the frequency and severity of forest fires.
8. Impact on Human Health: All parts of the plant, especially the unripe berries, are poisonous to humans if ingested, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, death.

Common Challenges in Clearing Lantana

Clearing lantana is unlike ordinary bush clearing due to its deep root system and interwoven branches. On the Palabana project, we encountered several challenges:

• Intense itchiness and skin irritation during handling. Without protective wear, there is a high risk of having skin bruises and lantana hooks breaking inside the skin.

• Dense, woody thickets that conceal useful vegetation

• Tough, deep root systems that regrow quickly if not fully removed

• Risk of damaging surrounding plants if clearing is not controlled and precise

• Inhalation hazard when clearing, especially when the lantana is dry. We would experience nose and throat irritation, including a bitter taste in the mouth, as we cleared the lantana.

How Landworx Zambia Limited Overcame These Challenges

1. Protective Clearing Equipment

Our team worked in full protective clothing and gloves to avoid irritation and bruising, ensuring safe and efficient handling.

2. Precision Surgical Extraction

We used selective cutting and uprooting techniques that allowed us to remove lantana while preserving useful trees and natural vegetation.

3. Targeted Chemical Application

After mechanical removal, we applied a professional paint-on, water-basedherbicidal solution to neutralize any potential regrowth.

4. Controlled Root Removal

We encountered some portions of land with Lantana regrowth after incidental fires. We found this Lantana somewhat difficult to clear, as it was much thicker and tougher. Even after cutting, it was pointless to apply the herbicide, as the stems were dry, making it impossible for effective absorption (translocation). By carefully extracting the entire root system, we minimized regrowth and protected soil structure.

Case Study: Land Clearing (Lantana) inPalabana,ChongweDistrict

In Palabana, the farmland was heavily infested, with sections covered entirely by lantana. Instead of bulldozing everything, we implemented a three-stage precision clearing process:

Stage 1: Controlled Mechanical Clearing

We thinned the upper canopy for visibility and access—carefully avoiding damage to surrounding indigenous vegetation.

Stage 2: Surgical Uprooting & Extraction

Our team used specialised tools for selective removal, ensuring lantana was extracted from the root while other plants remained unharmed.

Stage 3: Targeted Chemical Neutralisation

A safe, professional herbicidal application was used to prevent re-establishment, ensuring the landowner receives a long-term, clean outcome.

The Result