Implementing measures to control invasive alien species in Wadi Gharaba Special Conservation Area
وضع اجراءات للحد من الا نواع الغازیة في منطقة وادي غربة الھامة بیئیا
Supported by the GEF Small Grants programme in Jordan
This project was carried out succesfully during 2022-2023 and included field work and a training workshop in cooperation with local groups of interest, and preparing technical reports. The project demonstrated the economic benefits and means of controlling invasive mesquite Prosopis juliflora.
The project also included studying the impacts of invasive common myna on farms and on native bird spcies. Further activities included maintenance of the signs around Wadi Gharaba SCA and means of restoring the wetland ecosystem. These are the final activities of the current management plan for protecting the bird habitats along Wadi Gharaba SCA. which was completely implemented by Jordan BirdWatch during the previous five years (2019-2023). The management plan for the next five years is currently being up-dated to continue efforts for saving the remnant marsh-like bird habitat, according to previous acheivements and lessons learned.
Demonstrating means of controlling invasive mesquite Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora is one of the worst invasive plants worldwide and in the Jordan Valley, it is spreading rapidly due to livestock grazing and is an indicator of intensive disturbances. Once it dominates, it causes further deterioration of ecosystem functions, by competing with native trees and consuming large amounts of ground water. Different approaches were used to control the growth of this invasive plant in Wadi Gharaba. The utilization of
P. juliflora pods as alternative feed is one of these approaches. The other is harvesting the trees for their wood.
As conclusion of this project’s activities,
P. juliflora pods are a valuable source of nutrition for ruminants, providing a range of nutrients that can help to improve animal growth and health.
Our studies show that fattening Awassi lambs’ diets containing P. juliflora pods did not adversely affect animal health or nutrient intakes. In addition, boy weight of weaning lambs increased due to partial replacement of barley grain by P. juliflora pods. It is thus rational to consider the ground pods as suitable supplement fodder that enhances production and profitability in arid and semi-arid areas where P. julifora shrubs have become invasive and abundant.
Introducing the use of the mesquite pods as an alternative feed to local communities will
encourage them to adopt this technology and help to control the spread of invasive P. juliflora. It is important to note while introducing this technology to local communities, that
mesquite pods must be ground to make sure the partially digested whole seeds do not spread through animal dropping.
In conclusion, feeding the ground pods as part of a fodder mixture to ruminants can provide a number of benefits:
- Benefit as nutritious feed for livestock The pods are a good source of protein, fiber, and minerals, which can help to improve animal growth and health.
- Feeding the pods can help to reduce the cost of feed, particularly in areas where other feed ingredients are scarce or expensive.
- Using ground pods as supplementary fodder can help to control the spread of the invasive P. juliflora in Jordan Valley and Wadi Gharaba. The environmental benefits would be releasing the grazing pressure on native plants and minimizing spread by decreasing the number of invasive mesquite pods.
Impacts of Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis
The interaction between common myna and hole-nesting birds like bee-eaters, king-fishers and little owls was observed at Wadi Gharaba SCA during the previous years. Although two pairs of myna occur along the edges of the wadi, no interactions such as competition for nesting sites were observed. The mynas used man-made structures for nesting and often crossed the wadi without utilizing the natural habitat there. Its negative impact on native birds in this area is still considered very low or absent.
Farmers stated that physical factors like lack of water, high salinity of water and soil, and weather conditions (like prolonged heat) during the planting seasons were the most important factors affecting agricultural production in the south Shuna area. Pests and adverse weather were considered most important causes for the losses they experienced, followed by other causes like animals, mainly stray dogs, wild boars and birds. Common mynas have no or in some farms only a marginal effect on agriculture in the south Shuna area. Thus, we recommend further studies in different parts of western Jordan where mynas inhabit agricultural areas with different types of crop. We also recommend continuous monitoring as (a) habitat, crops and other environmental conditions may change, thus changing the myna’s diet and feeding behavior, and (b) farmers may become more aware of the possible impacts of mynas, given that over 75% of the interviewed farmers hardly see the myna inside the cultivated lands and/or are unable to disinguish the common myna from other bird species.
