Reimagining invasions: The social and cultural impacts of Prosopis on pastoralists in southern Afar, Ethiopia
This paper presents the perceptions of pastoralist communities in Ethiopian lowlands on one invasive species, Prosopis juliflora
Abstract
Whilst the environmental impacts of biological invasions are clearly conceptualised and there is growing evidence on the economic benefits and costs, the social and cultural dimensions remain poorly understood. This paper presents the perceptions of pastoralist communities in southern Afar, Ethiopian lowlands, on one invasive species, Prosopis juliflora. The socio-cultural impacts are assessed, and the manner in which they interact with other drivers of vulnerability, including political marginalisation, sedentarisation and conflict, is explored.
The research studied 10 communities and undertook semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with pastoralists and agropastoralists.
Citation
Rogers, P., Nunan, F. and Fentie, A.A. (2017) Reimagining invasions: The social and cultural impacts of Prosopis on pastoralists in southern Afar, Ethiopia. Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 7(22), 13 pp.