Devastating Blow: Non-Native Tree Takes Toll on Ethiopia's Ecosystems and Livelihoods
A non-native tree, introduced to Ethiopia decades ago as a solution to desertification, has become a major menace in the country. The prosopis, a shrubby tree from Latin America, was initially touted for its heat resistance and ability to provide shade in Afar's dry lowlands. However, it has since taken over the region's expansive plains with thorny branches that choke out native vegetation and suck up vital water resources.
For livestock farmer Khadija Humed, the prosopis has brought nothing but misery. "We have become poor because of this plant," she lamented. The tree's roots extract massive amounts of water daily, depleting soil moisture and decimating agriculture. Local pastoralists are also feeling the pain as their livestock fall ill from eating the toxic pods.
Researcher Hailu Shiferaw warned that no one could have foreseen the tree's destructive effects on local ecosystems. "The plant has turned against us," he said. In Humed's village, the tree's presence has led to a drastic decline in cattle numbers, plunging the community into poverty.
The situation is not unique to Ethiopia. Globally, invasive species like prosopis have caused ecological damage worth billions of dollars each year, according to a 2023 report. The cost of the prosopis alone is estimated to be around $602 million over three decades, nearly quadruple Afar's annual budget.
Efforts are underway to combat the spread of prosopis. CARE International has launched initiatives to encourage locals to harvest the plant and remove trees to establish fruit orchards with support from Danida. However, experts warn that tackling the problem alone is impossible. "We can't tackle it alone," said Yusuf Mohammed, a 76-year-old local resident.
As the situation continues to worsen, conservationists are racing against time to prevent the prosopis from covering an alarming 22 percent of Ethiopia's land by 2060. The clock is ticking for this East African nation to find a solution before it's too late.
A non-native tree, introduced to Ethiopia decades ago as a solution to desertification, has become a major menace in the country. The prosopis, a shrubby tree from Latin America, was initially touted for its heat resistance and ability to provide shade in Afar's dry lowlands. However, it has since taken over the region's expansive plains with thorny branches that choke out native vegetation and suck up vital water resources.
For livestock farmer Khadija Humed, the prosopis has brought nothing but misery. "We have become poor because of this plant," she lamented. The tree's roots extract massive amounts of water daily, depleting soil moisture and decimating agriculture. Local pastoralists are also feeling the pain as their livestock fall ill from eating the toxic pods.
Researcher Hailu Shiferaw warned that no one could have foreseen the tree's destructive effects on local ecosystems. "The plant has turned against us," he said. In Humed's village, the tree's presence has led to a drastic decline in cattle numbers, plunging the community into poverty.
The situation is not unique to Ethiopia. Globally, invasive species like prosopis have caused ecological damage worth billions of dollars each year, according to a 2023 report. The cost of the prosopis alone is estimated to be around $602 million over three decades, nearly quadruple Afar's annual budget.
Efforts are underway to combat the spread of prosopis. CARE International has launched initiatives to encourage locals to harvest the plant and remove trees to establish fruit orchards with support from Danida. However, experts warn that tackling the problem alone is impossible. "We can't tackle it alone," said Yusuf Mohammed, a 76-year-old local resident.
As the situation continues to worsen, conservationists are racing against time to prevent the prosopis from covering an alarming 22 percent of Ethiopia's land by 2060. The clock is ticking for this East African nation to find a solution before it's too late.
I'm like totally shocked by these stats - did you know that invasive species are costing the global economy around $1 trillion annually? 
That's almost as much as our entire GDP 
And it's not just Ethiopia, prosopis is a major issue in many parts of Africa and South America too. 
It's crazy to think that one plant can have such a devastating impact on local ecosystems and livelihoods. The fact that it's already taken over 22% of Ethiopia's land by 2060 is just mind-blowing 
) and come up with innovative ways to manage these invasive species.
these non-native trees r really ruining ethiopia's ecosystem... i mean, who introduces a plant that sucks up all the water & chokes out native plants? 
prosopis is like a toxic weed, not just for livestock farmers but for entire communities. $602 million in damage & counting... thats a lot of money that cud be spent on actual help instead of "solutions" 
cant we just stick with what works naturally? 
... I mean, these invasive species are everywhere now and people just don't even realize the damage they're causing. Like, what were they thinking introducing Prosopis in the first place? It's crazy how it's already taken over huge swaths of land and is basically sucking the life out of everything around it.
?! I mean, who introduces a plant that just goes on to destroy entire ecosystems? It's so crazy how the prosopis was initially thought of as a solution, but really it's become this huge problem for Ethiopia's livelihoods. I'm also really surprised that it's affecting livestock farmers like Khadija Humed - those toxic pods are no joke 
. And yeah, the stats on invasive species causing billions of dollars in damage every year are wild. It's great to see efforts being made to combat the spread of prosopis, but it's also clear that tackling this problem will require a bigger effort from all stakeholders. We gotta act fast before it's too late - 22 percent of Ethiopia's land at risk? That's just devastating 
. Who thought introducing a plant from Latin America would be a good idea in Ethiopia? I mean, we're basically creating an invasive monster that's sucking the life out of the country. And don't even get me started on the livestock farmers who are struggling to make ends meet because of this tree. It's just not sustainable 
. We need to be more careful about introducing new species and think about the long-term effects. Maybe we should've stuck with what we know works? 
news! I had no idea about the devastating impact of non-native trees on ecosystems 
We gotta support conservation efforts like CARE International and Danida ASAP 
. We should totally start a blog about weird food challenges in Japan, though... I'd follow it 
.
. I was learning about biodiversity in school and we were just starting to understand the importance of preserving our ecosystem. It's crazy how one plant can have such a huge impact on an entire region 
.
Like, what's next? Introducing invasive species as a "solution" to all our problems? It sounds like someone needs a refresher course on ecology 101... or maybe just a better understanding of how some things actually work. 
...and the economy is gonna take a big hit too 
.
We need to work together as a community to find solutions before it's too late! 
. It's like, can't we just learn from our mistakes and move forward? I mean, I know it's easy to say, but come on, let's get this under control before it's too late 
.
?
. We need to be more careful about introducing new species into our ecosystems, even if they seem helpful at first. Let's support initiatives like CARE International's efforts to harvest and remove these trees 
hope they can find a solution before its too late 
. gotta get rid of dis invasive species ASAP before its too late. 22% of ethiopia's land is gonna be covered by prosopis by 2060?!