Plural realities of plant invasion: understanding the novel socioeconomic impacts of Prosopis juliflora invasion in the Banni grassland.

Invasive alien species (IAS) are significant drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem change. Their economic impact can exacerbate income vulnerabilities, particularly in developing countries where rural and indigenous communities rely heavily on natural resources. Conversely, in some contexts, certain IAS have improved people's wellbeing, though this aspect has often been overlooked due to its rarity, limited research, or the predominant focus on ecological impacts. Examining the impacts of IAS —both positive and negative—on rural and indigenous natural-resource-dependent communities is crucial. Factoring in the human dimensions of IAS may challenge conventional IAS management approaches but could offer valuable insights into more socially just approaches to IAS management. Despite growing research on IAS in social-ecological systems, significant gaps remain, especially in India.

I set out to explore complexities that arise from livelihood dependency on IAS within the Banni, an arid grassland in the Kutch district of Gujarat, in Northwest India. Banni has been extensively transformed by the introduction of the invasive South American tree, Prosopis juliflora1. I use the novel ecosystems framework—which recognizes the ecological and socioeconomic barriers to restoring invaded ecosystems to their historical states—to unpack the plural realities of plant invasion in Banni, and to ask whether Prosopis juliflora invasion has resulted in Banni becoming a novel social-ecological system.

My overall research aim was to examine the socioeconomic impacts, both positive and negative, of Prosopis juliflora, on Banni’s pastoralist communities. My study focuses on the Maldharis, the local pastoralist communities, whose socioeconomic reliance on this invasive species presents a challenging contradiction to the calls for grassland restoration. The two key research gaps that I address are firstly, the need for nuancing the role that IAS play in social-ecological systems, and secondly, the need to address the socioeconomic factors that might define a novel ecosystem, a concept that has mainly focused on ecological factors.

My thesis is structured around three major research objectives. First, I present a qualitative review of literature on the impacts of invasive alien plants on human wellbeing in India. The findings reveal that these impacts vary widely, influencing wellbeing in both positive and negative ways depending on the local context.

Building on this foundation, I delve into the historical, social, and political contexts of Prosopis juliflora's introduction to Banni. Tracing its journey from the early 1800s to the present, I highlight how a blend of cultural, political, historical, and ecological interrelationships—invasive networks—has facilitated its spread in the region.

Finally, I focus on how Prosopis juliflora has been woven into the socioeconomic fabric of the region. Despite Prosopis juliflora being invasive, impacting native biodiversity and grazing systems in Banni, it has become integral to local livelihoods, particularly through a widespread charcoal-based economy. This analysis examines the social stratification among the Maldharis, the roles of local and external actors in this transformation, and the environmental challenges, both past and present, that have necessitated this adaptation.

Through this research on the Prosopis juliflora invasion of the Banni grassland, I hope to provide deeper insights into the complex interplay between the ecological impacts of IAS and the socioeconomic dependencies on them. By drawing attention to the novel ecosystem framework, I propose that IAS management particularly in developing countries, requires a more nuanced and socially just approach that balances ecological concerns with local livelihoods.