Series
STREET
VENDORS
OF
KINSHASA
Series
STREET
VENDORS
OF
KINSHASA
Series
IN THE SHADOW OF ETHIOPIAS EUCALYPTUS FORESTS
End of the Nineteenth century the Eucalyptus tree found its way into the African continent through Ethiopia. It was imported by Emperor Menelik II who recommended to plant the tree around Addis Ababa to provide fire wood for the fast growing capital. The Eucalyptus tree has the unique features that it grows incredibly fast and that in opposition to other trees, it grows back from the same roots after being cut down. Unfortunately since the tree hasn’t any natural enemies in the Ethiopian Highlands it took over all the forests around Addis Ababa.
Nowadays Addis Ababa and the surrounding mountains are covered withEucalyptus forests. Unless that it provides a firewood for a lot of Ethiopian people, the Eucalyptus tree is often regarded as a symbol of colonial invasion. Under the shadow of the thin but high reaching eucalyptus trees indigenous trees are fighting for a ray of light to be able to grow.
