Devil of a problem: the tree that's eating Africa
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=555500

It was introduced as a force for good. But the mesquite tree has taken
to Ethiopia's soil with such relentless enthusiasm that it threatens
the livelihood of thousands. Caroline Irby reports

27 August 2004


In Ethiopia they call it the Devil Tree. It is both an addiction and
an affliction. In this largely pastoral country there are many people
who can't do without it: it provides shelter, building materials,
fencing for livestock, firewood, charcoal and shade from the fierce
African sun.

But the Devil Tree drives a Mephistophelian bargain. In the 30-odd
years since it was introduced from Mexico, it has started to take over
the rural landscape. Now it has eaten up as much as a quarter of all
arable grazing land in some areas, leaching the earth of the nutrients
that once nurtured the grass that pastoralists rely on to graze their
cattle, their livelihood.

Prosopis juliflora

leaching the earth of the nutrients
that once nurtured the grass that pastoralists rely on to graze their
cattle, their livelihood.

Devil of a problem: the tree that's eating Africa
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=555500

It was introduced as a force for good. But the mesquite tree has taken
to Ethiopia's soil with such relentless enthusiasm that it threatens
the livelihood of thousands. Caroline Irby reports

27 August 2004


In Ethiopia they call it the Devil Tree. It is both an addiction and
an affliction. In this largely pastoral country there are many people
who can't do without it: it provides shelter, building materials,
fencing for livestock, firewood, charcoal and shade from the fierce
African sun.

But the Devil Tree drives a Mephistophelian bargain. In the 30-odd
years since it was introduced from Mexico, it has started to take over
the rural landscape. Now it has eaten up as much as a quarter of all
arable grazing land in some areas, leaching the earth of the nutrients
that once nurtured the grass that pastoralists rely on to graze their
cattle, their livelihood.

Prosopis juliflora
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