SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF PROSOPIS JULIFLORA IN LOWER AWASH, AFAR NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the ecological and socio economic impact of of Prosopis juliflora in pastoral society of Lower Awash, Afar National regional state Ethiopia. The methodology used to study were collecting primary data at field level and secondary data from secondary sources. 94 households were selected purposively as a sample descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected. The result of the study indicate that a large proportion of the individuals perceived that prosopis was introduced into their locality by Awash river flooding (42.6%), and through livestock dung (24.5%), In addition to this, it was disclosed that P. juliflora has both advantages and disadvantages. The local people benefited from the plant in charcoal making, firewood collection and construction material. The plant has also been used as shade tree around the village. If properly managed it shows positive implication on the soil amelioration, micro-climate. On the other hand the plant has some negative impact, it decreased the size of range lands, woodlands and Invasion of P. juliflora causes loss of biodiversity and ecological service, affect livelihood of the pastoralist and agro-pastoralist, it also effect on livestock production because it encroaches grazing land and crop production. Other impacts of Prosopis juliflora include its thorns are harmful for human beings and livestock population. Prosopis juliflora has endangered several plant and animal species in the high and medium infestation areas. These include 10 tree species, 15 endangered grass species and medium sized plant species (shrubs) with its local use and 9 wild animals endangered or reduce in the area . Even though the majority of the sampled households use P. juliflora as a source of income in the form of charcoal and fuel wood for sale or home consumption, they perceive it as undesirable species that has to be eradicated, but the pastoralist and agro-pastoralist call for its eradication because under the current management system the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Management techniques explored was burning the tree was the most commonly used technique about 31% of the pastoralists in the highly infested area and 21% in the medium infestation area tried to control prosopis by burning it. The other technique practiced to control prosopis was hand pulling (uprooting) as reported by 22% of the farmers in the high infestation area. To ensure the successfulness and sustainability of management techniques, commitment, participation and continuous follow up of the community and different stakeholders should be given more focus to control the invasion and re-invasion of P. juliflora. In general, there is no as such a formal and strengthened coordination mechanism among the stakeholders on the prosopis control and eradication practice in the district.