The genus Prosopis (mesquite, algarrobo, kiawe...) contains more than 40 species native to semi-arid portions of North and South America, Africa, and Asia ranging from 3 foot tall shrubs to 60 foot tall trees. Mesquite is a global occurrence, in that one third of the earth's land surface is arid or semi-arid and mesquite is either native or introduced and thriving. The genus occurs naturally in Death Valley, the hottest location in the Western Hemisphere, exemplifying its ability to adapt and persist in the most desperate of environments.

"Timbers of the World" by Samuel James lists over 30 valid prosopis species spread over the semi-arid and sub-tropic regions of the globe, the largest number being in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil. Prosopis alba and P. nigra are the predominate commercial species in that region with over 250,000 tons used annually for furniture, flooring and doors. Other species in this area such as P.nandubay, are prized for fence posts and P. kuntzei is considered the densest wood of all prosopis.

In northwest India as well as dry parts of central and southern India into Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia you will find native P. cineraria. Finding this specie surviving in the ephemeral river basin in Oman and along the eastern and western boundaries of Wahiba desert illustrates the capacity to grow under extremely arid conditions. This specie is overshadowed in these areas though, by the introduced P. juliflora, which grows faster and is farmed for soil rejuvenation purposes. P. cineraria is naturalized in Abu Dhabi where it was introduced for dune control. Prosopis koelziana is found as a native in the coastal and central lowlands of Saudi Arabia, primarily near ruin sites or villages (northern Al-Hasa Oasis, al Mutaragah, Sabkhah-south of Thaj) and used for fodder, fuel wood and precious shade. Prosopis pallida and P. chilensis are native to Peru, Columbia, Ecuador and drier areas along the Pacific Coast. P. pallida in Peru is considered the sweetest in flavor for humans, and is harvested and processed into flour for import to the United States market. P. pallida has naturalized in Puerto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands and perhaps Brazil. Prosopis tamarugo can be found naturally in the Alacama Desert in North Chile. This specie has also been planted in Argentina. Prosopis laevigata, found in Central Mexico's semi-arid highlands, produces a valuable food source for humans and animals in its beans as well as lumber for a strong furniture and door market. Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) dominates many plant communities in southwestern United States, primarily Texas, and northeastern Mexico. (Simpson and Solbrig 1977) Some errant P. glandulosa can be found on the highway right-of-ways from El Paso through southern Arizona west to Yuma, probably sprouted from seeds in cattle manure heading west. P. velutina (velvet mesquite) territory spreads through southern Arizona and the state of Sonora, Mexico with P. pubescens (screw bean mesquite) finding a niche in southern New Mexico and jumping westward into southern California and down Baja, Mexico. Prosopis juliflora has naturalized in Hawaii, Haiti, the Philippine Islands, India, Australia and South Africa where it has spread so vastly that it is considered dangerous and is being eradicated by all means possible or consumed as charcoal and fuel. In Gujarat, a state of India 10,000 tons of charcoal are produced each year from P. juliflora for sale in large cities. 150,000 people in Haiti support themselves on the production of charcoal made principally from mesquite. This specie was also introduced into Indo-Pakistan about 1878 to help reclaim salt-affected soils. In 1940 the government of Rajasthan declared this specie a "Royal Plant" and the public was under direction to protect and develop mesquite plantations. P. juliflora was introduced into Sudan for fuel wood and dune control or shelterbelts sometime around 1940. Along the Red Sea coast P. juliflora has become a noxious weed and is being eradicated. There are two prosopis in tropical Africa one of which is P. africana which has adapted to the high moisture and grows to incredible size relative to other mesquites yet survives well from Senegal to East Africa in dry forests and sandy clay soils. Senegal imports 50,000 cubic meters of firewood each year from neighboring countries cutting mesquite. In the Sahel about 16 million cubic meters of firewood are required each year with mesquite being a large contributor. Compare this number to the entire U.S. BBQ industry consuming less than 50,000 cubic meters per year. There can be no doubt mesquite (prosopis) is a global occurrence. Combine the local significance with a global view and the importance of mesquite looms to the scale of our rainforests. Our awareness is critical to fostering a uniform management concept. A full understanding of this species will provide the basis for programs that will bring together the extreme positions of eradication and full utilization found globally at this time.