Assessment of Prosopisjuliflora Effect on Environment and Animal Health in KebriDehar, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Prosopisjuliflora is one of the most invasive plant species in the arid areas of the Somali region and has encroached upon Kebridahar District. The invasion of Prosopisjuliflora has increased recently in the last two decades at an alarming rate, destroying forage, pasture, and biodiversity, thereby threatening the environment, which ultimately affects both the lives of animals and the pastoral community. Prosopisjuliflora has gone out of control, deteriorating and reducing the diversity of forage and pasture species in the region, causing animals to starve. This study focuses on assessing pastoralists' perceptions of the effect of this plant on the environment and animal health. It specifically examines the awareness of the people towards this invasive species in the area and identifies its major effects. Semi-structured questionnaires and group discussions were conducted with pastoralists in the area. Four kebeles, namely Mara'ato, Farjano, Melka-Afweyn, and Tukaley, were selected possessively. A total of 118 households were selected randomly for interview purposes. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0, and the results were presented using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Impact on environmental encroachment, water shortage, poisoning, and the death of both animals and humans are among some elder-narrated findings. Floods, winds, and animal dung are significant spreading methods as shown in the results. Donkeys and cattle were significantly more affected than other species when animal species susceptibility to Prosopisjuliflora was measured.
Institution: Kebri Dehar University
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225859896