Invasive Prosopis trees cause $602M in ecosystem losses in Afar

Invasive Prosopis trees are spreading across 31,127 hectares of land annually within Ethiopia's Afar region. Research cited by the Hindustan Times indicates that these trees have caused an estimated $602 million in ecosystem-service losses over the past 31 years. The spread poses a direct threat to the availability of grazing land, which is critical for the survival of local pastoralist livelihoods.

The findings highlight the long-term economic and environmental damage caused by this invasive species in the region. As the Prosopis trees continue to colonize new areas, the pastoralist communities face shrinking resources for their livestock. The report underscores the urgent challenge posed by these trees to both the regional ecosystem and the traditional agricultural practices that sustain the Afar population.