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Ethiopia's 'Miracle' Tree Becomes Costly Invader
20 Oct
Summary
- Prosopis, meant to help Ethiopia, has spread invasively since the 1990s.
- The tree's invasion has reduced ecosystem services valued at $602 million.
- Future spread is linked to rivers, roads, and villages, not just climate.
Introduced to Ethiopia to provide fuelwood and prevent desertification, the Prosopis tree has instead become a costly invader. Since its initial planting in the 1970s and 80s, it began spreading aggressively by the early 1990s, encroaching on farmlands and grasslands. Between 1986 and 2017, this invasive species spread at an average rate of 31,127 hectares per year, significantly altering the landscape.
This rapid expansion has led to substantial economic and environmental consequences. Researchers estimate that the loss of ecosystem services due to land changes caused by Prosopis invasion amounts to approximately $602 million over 31 years. This impacts rural livelihoods, particularly pastoralism, and has become a source of conflict over dwindling grazing land.
Future spread of Prosopis is projected to continue, primarily influenced by its proximity to rivers, roads, and villages, which facilitate seed dispersal. Despite Ethiopia declaring Prosopis a noxious weed and developing a management strategy, its continued spread poses a threat to valuable grazing areas and ecosystem health.
