Australia’s black wattle tree (Acacia mearnsii) has spread across South Africa, taking over millions of hectares of land and pushing indigenous plants aside. Economist Saul Ngarava researches agriculture and the connection between water, energy, food, social justice and land reform. He was part of a team who surveyed 1,184 homes in South Africa’s North West, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, to see if those who burn black wattle for cooking have more energy security than those who don’t. He also looked at whether there was potential for small businesses to cut down the invasive tree and make products from it. He talks to The Conversation Africa about his findings.
What is black wattle and what threat does it pose to the environment?
The black wattle is an invasive Australian tree that arrived in South Africa in 1871. It was originally introduced in plantations to create shade and windbreaks and to be used for wood fuels and fencing.
