The cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica) is expanding throughout Southern Tigray, NorthernrnEthiopia. Its current status, use, potentials and threats were investigated at Tabia Kara Adishabornof Raya Azebo Wereda, using socio-economic survey and environmental analysis.rnKnowledge and perception of farmers on the cactus pear was gathered through use ofrnquestionnaires and discussions with elders. Vegetation was sampled using quadrants fromrnareas of differing cactus infestation. Soils sampled from different sites (dense cactus area,rncactus cleared area, vegetated area, arable land and decayed cactus piles) were analyzed forrnpercent organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, pH, electrical conductivity (EC),rnand bulk density at 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth. Despite heavy infestation of potential croprnfields, about three quarters of the households who participated in the interview appreciated therneconomic value and presence of cactus in the area. Farmers indicated that the plant is utilizedrnprimarily as food for human consumption and as feed for livestock, especially during period ofrndrought. The main constraint associated with cactus pear was indicated to be harboring ofrncrop pests and invasion of cropland. The vegetation study indicated that average vegetationrncover (other than cactus) declined. Average cover for ten dominant woody species declined asrninfestation of cactus increased. On the other hand, the number of woody juvenile individualsrnper hectare at three sites showed significant difference among cactus free, intermediate, andrncomplete invasion sites. Regeneration and recruitment of juvenile woody species was found tornbe higher in the high cactus cover than cactus free area. High organic matter content wasrnrecorded from dense cactus areas, which was significantly different from the other sites at 0-15rncm soil depth. There was no significant variation for total nitrogen in both soil depths atrndifferent sites. Significant variation among sites was observed for available phosphorus at bothrnsoil depths. Soil samples from decayed cactus pile and dense cactus areas showed the highestrnmean available phosphorus values at 0-15 cm soil depth, which was significantly different fromrnthe other sites. Significant variation was also obtained for EC and soil pH in soil samples ofrndecayed cactus pile at both soil depths, where as bulk density was found to be higher in therncactus free area. The study showed that, although the fertile Raya plain get more and morerninfested with cactus, no coordinated controlling attempt has so far been made. It is concludedrnthat the expansion of the cactus pear needs to be checked. Nevertheless, it should be noted, thatrnin the absence of reliable irrigation schemes to use the area, and under prevailing condition ofrninsufficient and unreliable rain and recurrent drought, the benefit of cactus pear as food forrnhumans and feed for livestock are tied to survival.rn2rnhuman food as fruit and vegetable, fresh and processed, animal fodder including even waterrnsupply, medicine and cosmetic, erosion control, fencing as well as wind break, energy asrnbiogas and fuelwood.rnOn the other hand, cactus pear according to Vallentine (1977), are noxious weeds causingrndisaster and loss of agricultural and pasturelands in many part of the world, the incredibilityrnof which by far outweighs any benefits that the plant had to offer. The experience fromrnAustralia, South Africa, India and Yemen (Vallentine, 1977, Middleton, 2002) where thernintroduced Opuntias thrived and established themselves vigorously in pasture and agriculturalrnlands, indicates the environmental consequences of introducing them.rnAt present these two ideas are disconnected. Those advocating the utilization of cactus pear inrnarid and sub-arid regions make scant reference to the cases where they have become invasive.rnConversely, environmentalists, who oppose the introduction of exotic plants on account of thernthreat they may pose to indigenous biodiversity, tend to down play the contribution cactusrnpear can make to vulnerable rural communities. While cactus can play an important role inrnlocal agro- production systems, it also appears to have become invasive and difficult forrnpeople with low input technologies and limited resource to control. Thus there is a need tornevaluate the current use and potential utilization possibilities of the plant vis-Ã -vis thernenvironmental consequences and threats it brings.rnIn this work we attempted to address the issue by investigating the benefits and consequences,rnwhich an introduced cactus pear has for social and environmental well being in southernrnTigray, through a socio-economic and technical evaluation of its impact on land potential, soilrnproperties and vegetation dynamics