A very invasive species, originally introduced to the desert, was disrupting Kenya, forcing whole communities to move, The Guardian said.
What is going on?
The Mesquite shrub, known as Mathonge, overtook meadows used to graze, fell and even directed the flow of water knees to consume approximately 7,700 square miles of land through East Africa, according to The Guardian.
In the 1970s, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Kenyan Government greatly encouraged Mathenge, which is native to South America, through The Guardian.
Those authorities have seen Mathenge as a possible decision to expand deserts and forest destruction, to create shade and food grazing for animals. Initially, Mathonge has given clear advantages such as dusting storms and a source of firewood for locals, Forest News reports.
But over time, Mathenge problems have become clear. Its dense greens blocked light to reach other plants by killing local species. Although their pods were supplied to animals, they were so rich in sugar that they caused the goat’s teeth to rot and fall out, found a study published by the Frontiers in Conservation Science.
The study also provided the Mathenge plant for the glows of the plant and the matehenge factory, which also gave predators to hide and created a “ideal foundation for mosquitoes”.
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By adding problems, mathematics plants grow incredibly deep root systems – up to 115 feet below the Earth – in certain areas that directed water flows, The Guardian reported.
“It spread [of mathenge] It is so fast that it has been transferred to a whole community, schools closed and even disrupted river flows because the plants block water courses by contributing to floods and transfer, ”Davis ikiror, Kenya and Somalia Country Director Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suise.
By the time the major problems of the Mathenge factory emerged, its development was already out of control and grew by about 15% a year.
Why are invasive species important?
Mathonge is just one example of how invasive species impress local ecosystems, disrupting food supply, local species, and even forcing communities to move.
As shown in Kenya, invasive species can affect human food supply, causing plants used to graze and rob the vital nutrients needed to grow plants.
Invasive species also affect biodiversity.
“The world’s invasive species are the second most critical factor in reducing biodiversity,” said the Frontiers said only behind the loss of habitats.
What is done with invasive species?
In Kenya, although it is essentially impossible to eradicate Matheng, many groups have explored ways to produce the factory productively to control its spread. For example, a study published by Sciencedirect addressed efforts to use Mathenge honey and produce charcoal production.
If these strategies are successful, these strategies could help meet local fuel and food needs, while ensuring employment and curling the spread of invasive species.
On an individual scale, there are many things you can do at home to prevent the spread of invasive species. When choosing plants, choose local varieties and be sure to avoid invasive.
If you want to go even further, you can investigate the update to the natural lawn or even redesign your entire yard with local plants, helping pollinators and other local wildlife.
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