Mount Kilimanjaro has lost nearly 75 per cent of plant species

03-Nov-2025

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Land-use change — not climate change — was the main driver behind the loss of nearly 75 per cent of natural plant species on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro over the last century, a new study has revealed.

Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano in Tanzania and Africa’s tallest mountain, supports millions who depend on its forests and farmland for food, water regulation, and raw materials.

The researchers used historical maps, satellite images, and a dataset of nearly 3,000 plant species to trace biodiversity changes across the mountain’s slopes.

The findings were alarming: the lower slopes lost 75 per cent of natural plant species per square kilometre, driven largely by urban expansion and agricultural conversion.