Making charcoal to control spread of Prosopis in Kenya

In a Web-based article “Kenyan charcoal businesses trying to nip invasive tree in the bud“ (October 2018) published in Mongabay, Rosalia Omungo describes how the invasive woody species Prosopis juliflora, known in Kenya as mathenge, was introduced to Kenya to restore degraded drylands but has quickly spread in the drylands. Residents in the Turkana area of northern Kenya have mixed feelings about whether to keep mathenge or to try to eradicate it, because it can inflict injuries in both people and livestock, while blocking paths and destroying former grazing areas. Using mathenge to produce charcoal can curb the spread of this extremely invasive plant and reduce pressure on cutting native species for charcoal.

A similar approach was taken in Djibouti, according to the report by Gianvenuti et al (2018) on “Using Prosopis as an energy source for refugees and host communities in Djibouti, and controlling its rapid spread” published by FAO.

Posted on 25 November 2018 in Pastoralism & Natural Resources