Black Wattle as Firewood: How South African Communities Are Putting Invasive Species to Work

Australia’s black wattle tree (Acacia mearnsii) has spread across South Africa, taking over millions of hectares of land and displacing indigenous plants. Economist Saul Ngarava focuses on agriculture and the interplay between water, energy, food, social justice, and land reform. Working with a team that surveyed 1,184 households in South Africa’s North West, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape provinces, Ngarava studied the energy security of those using black wattle for cooking compared to those who do not. He also investigated the potential for small businesses to harvest the invasive tree and create products from it.