**13. Blockade of roadsides by** *P. juliflora*

A Report by Patnaik *et al*. shows that invasion of *P. juliflora* creates impenetrable thickets, which could be seen encroaching upon roadsides and blocking the roadsides resulted in human dwellings and blocking pathways (**Figures 2** and **3**) and seriously aggravate road accidents in (**Figures 3** and **4**). As indicated, the growth of *P. juliflora* moderately invades roadside next to wetlands and homesteads [50, 82]. These could be homesteads and wetlands have better organic matter and moisture for its establishment and growth. Due to the thorns of *P. juliflora*, these thickets can seriously aggravate a road accident and human and livestock movement to their homes and water sources (**Figure 5**). The invasions of *P. juliflora* block access to water sources, irrigation canals, homesteads, and blocked paths in Garrisa of Kenya [100]. Findings by Esther and Brent [101] in Kenya and Koyira [50] in Afar of Northeast Ethiopia show that the invasion of *P. juliflora* blocked trails and roads used by humans and livestock.

**Figure 2.** *Typical scenes of* P. juliflora *advancing toward human dwellings (left) and blocking pathways (right).*

#### **Figure 3.**

*Encroachment of* P. juliflora *in a wetland (left), and typically impenetrable thickets formed by the species (right) in Kebena site of Awash Fentale Woreda in Afar region, Northeast Ethiopia. (Source photos: Shiferaw, 2017).*

#### **Figure 4.**

*Encroachment of* P. juliflora *in a wetland (left), and typically impenetrable thickets formed by the species (right). Due to the thorns contained in* P. juliflora*, these thickets can seriously aggravate a road accident.*

#### **Figure 5.**

P. juliflora *blocks paths to water sources in Melka Sedi, Southern Afar region in Northeast Ethiopia (Photo: Shiferaw, 2019).*

*Effects of the Invasive Alien* Prosopis juliflora *(Sw.) DC and Its Management Options… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108947*
