A devastating invasive shrub that has rendered vast tracts of Kenyan rangeland useless is now being harvested as a valuable feedstock for clean-burning biofuel, in a pioneering circular economy project. The Mathenge weed (Prosopis juliflora), introduced decades ago for desertification control, has instead aggressively choked out native grasses, depleted water sources, and injured livestock with its sharp thorns. Now, communities in affected counties like Baringo and Turkana are collaborating with bioenergy engineers to systematically harvest the hardy wood, chip it, and convert it into high-density biomass briquettes through a process of carbonization and compression, transforming an ecological curse into a sustainable energy solution.
The process offers a triple benefit: land reclamation, clean energy, and economic empowerment. The systematic clearing of the Mathenge weed allows native grasses to regenerate, restoring pasture for livestock and biodiversity. The resulting briquettes serve as a superior alternative to wood charcoal; they burn hotter, longer, and with significantly less smoke, reducing indoor air pollution and slowing deforestation. For local communities, the project creates a new value chain, providing jobs in harvesting, processing, and distribution. Women’s groups, in particular, are taking a leading role in producing and marketing the briquettes, gaining a reliable source of income from managing what was once a purely destructive force in their environment.
The long-term potential of this model is significant for arid and semi-arid lands across Africa grappling with similar invasive species. By creating an economic incentive for clearing Mathenge, the project ensures its management is sustainable and community-driven, unlike failed, subsidy-dependent eradication programs of the past. As the technology and market for the briquettes mature, the initiative could be scaled to other regions, turning millions of acres of invaded land into a productive resource. This innovative approach demonstrates that some of the most intractable environmental problems can be solved by reframing a pest as a product, aligning ecological restoration with economic development and energy security.