ADDIS ABABA: In an effort to promote conservation and biodiversity in Ethiopia, the government is looking to bolster a number of environmental projects in the country that look specifically at plant overgrowth. The hope of these new projects, currently in the development stages, will help crackdown on alien species that have entered the environment, including what officials say is the most invasive; the thorny Prosopis Juliflora, which is destroying biodiversity across the country. “The species which was introduced to the country as means of reclaiming degraded arid areas in the North Eastern part of Ethiopia notably the Afar region, the species has turned into not just an environmental problem but also a livelihood threat,” said a report published by the Ethiopian Press Agency. An environmental consultant for the government told Bikyamasr.com that they have thus far carried out a number of investigations into its impact on pastoral and agropastoral land. The results have highlighted what the experts say are “dangerous to animals and leaves and roots have negative impacts on the soil chemistry.” Without concerted action to tackle this problem, it could affect farmland and animal grazing. “The Afar region, which is predominantly pastoral has over the past 20 plus years been suffering from the invasion of this species,” the national press agency said. “The fast spread of the invasive plant has further shrunk pastoral lands and pushed pastoralists further away leading to conflict over resource sharing.” The government also believes the plant is threatening the Awash National Park and without action could reduce biodiversity in the area. The government is launching, in partnership with NGOs in the country the Prosopis Management that aims to “reclaim range land and farmland by clearing the invasive plant and making sure that it will not regenerate.” The new biodiversity project comes on the heels of other government efforts to introduce clean energy into the agriculture sector as an effort to curtail the impact of climate change, which is causing drought and threatens many in the country with famine.
