Ethiopia’s Prosopis Tree: A Threat to Livelihoods and Land

Once celebrated for its potential to combat desertification in Ethiopia, the prosopis tree, originally from Latin America, has become a menace in the country. Planted in the northeastern Afar region in the 1970s, it now spreads uncontrollably, endangering fragile ecosystems and the livelihoods of local communities. Livestock farmer Khadija Humed expressed the impact of the tree on her community, stating, ‘Because of this plant, we have become poor.’ Despite its initial promise of preventing soil erosion and providing shade, prosopis has overtaken the region’s plains, reaching heights of up to 10 meters.