The invasion of Prosopis juliflora and Afar pastoral livelihoods in the Middle Awash area of Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: An evergreen shrub, Prosopis juliflora is one of the most invasive species in arid and semi-arid areas. Since its introduction to the Middle Awash area of Ethiopia, it has invaded a huge acreage of grass- and rangelands which are life-supporting unit for Afar pastoralists. Methods: Survey, using group discussion and questionnaire, was made to study the effect of P. juliflora invasion on Afar pastoral livelihoods. The obtained data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, chi-square analysis, and logistic regression. Results: According to the result, 84 % of the total surveyed households rated P. juliflora as undesirable species even though the bush was often used for fuelwood, fencing homesteads, and barn and house construction. Invasion of P. juliflora was also blamed to limit transhumance, occupying settlement areas and affecting multipurpose trees/bushes and grass availability. All these effects put pressure on the livestock assets causing about 80 % livestock loss, testing the pastoral livelihoods heavily. Each household, on average, lost 6.5 small stock and 7 cattle during the past 10 years due to health hazards caused by P. juliflora pod. Consequently, P. juliflora as a source of income was considered by a quarter of the surveyed pastoral households, with the age of a household head and change in livestock asset being influential variables in decision-making. Conclusions: In sum, P. juliflora invasion has made livestock rearing extremely difficult which raised pastoralists’ ecological vulnerability in the fragile ecosystem they possess.