Invasive Water Hyacinth: Ecology, Impacts and Prospects for the Rural Economy

Water hyacinth (WH) is notorious for causing severe environmental degradation and being an economic burden to manage. However, it offers substantial prospects if exploited, especially by rural communities. High temperatures, eutrophic conditions and other environmental factors promote the proliferat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plants (Basel) 2021-08, Vol.10 (8), p.1613
Main Authors: Harun, Irina, Pushiri, Hafizah, Amirul-Aiman, Ahmad Juhari, Zulkeflee, Zufarzaana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic plants
Biodiversity
Biomass
circular economy
Community
community empowerment
Community involvement
Community participation
community resilience
Control methods
Ecology
Economics
Eichhornia crassipes
Empowerment
Environmental degradation
Environmental factors
Environmental impact
Eutrophic environments
Eutrophication
Floating plants
green nudge
High temperature
invasion control
Invasive plants
Nonnative species
Nutrients
Review
Rural areas
Rural communities
Rural environments
Salinity
Water hyacinths
Weeds
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Summary:Water hyacinth (WH) is notorious for causing severe environmental degradation and being an economic burden to manage. However, it offers substantial prospects if exploited, especially by rural communities. High temperatures, eutrophic conditions and other environmental factors promote the proliferation of the plant in regions where it has been introduced. Regarded as among the world’s worst invasive weeds, WH is nearly impossible to control and eradicate without an integrated approach and community participation. The effectiveness of control methods varies, yet sustained community involvement determines the long-term success of these methods. Reproducing rapidly, WH has the resource capacity to support a unique microeconomic ecosystem, incentivising WH control by generating sustainable income. The WH ecology, the socioeconomic impacts of its invasion and its various applications are reviewed, and revenue generation and cost-saving options are highlighted. A circular microeconomic model is proposed by integrating WH valorisation into the general limitations of a rural community. Empowering locals with opportunities and enticing them with potential economic gains can be a nudge towards a pro-environment behavioural change in managing WH. This would aid in upgrading local livelihoods and could foster resilience within the community in tackling both environmental problems and economic setbacks through the management of WH invasions.
ISSN:2223-7747
2223-7747
DOI:10.3390/plants10081613