Julian Bayliss
Scientists warn that the habitat of the Mountainous Archipelago of Southeast Africa is at risk of being destroyed even before all recently discovered species can be studied.
An authentic biodiversity treasure along a mountainous strip that extends from northern Mozambique to Mount Mulanje, in southeast Africa, called the Southeast African Mountain Archipelago (SEAMA).
An international team of scientists, after decades of research, documented more than 200 unique species of this region, including a diversity of amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, butterflies and freshwater crabs, along with 127 plant species. The study was published in Scientific Reports
Notably, this includes species never before identified by science, IFLScience points out. SEAMA’s distinctive biodiversity is attributed to its “sky islands” – isolated pockets of mountain grasslands and evergreen forests, creating isolated habitats that have nurtured unique species.
Given the rich and unique biodiversity, researchers argue for the recognition of SEAMA as a new ecoregiona move that would strengthen conservation efforts and protect the myriad of endemic species.
The proposal for this new ecoregion follows extensive studies spanning several scientific disciplines, including documentation of previously undescribed species and research into the geology, climate and genetic history of the area.
Unfortunately, this biodiverse refuge is under threat, with a loss of moist forest cover of 18% since 2000with losses as high as 43% in some areas.
Deforestation not only endangers the habitat of the region’s small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, but also puts unique species at risk of extinction before they can be fully studied and understood.
The call to action from researchers is clear: there is an urgent need to protect this newly recognized ecoregion to preserve its exceptional wildlife and to further explore its untapped scientific and conservation potential.
