Unesco, african union commission, hoarec, and university of karachi ishu. Genetic uniformity characterizes the invasive spread of water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes, a clonal aquatic plant. Evaluation of water hyacinth harvester and wh management. The effect of water hyacinth in lake tana aquatic biodiversity water hyacinth persistent species are extensively conventional as one of the foremost cause of biodiversity loss and can have momentous. Macrophytes play critical ecological role in inland water bodies, especially in shallow systems. In six years, according to research by the local bahirdar university, it covered 50,000 hectares of the lake. Solms, is one of the worlds most prevalent invasive aquatic plants. Studies on this invasive species in ethiopia have addressed various aspects such as economic impact, biodiversity loss. Occurrence and diversity of fungal pathogens associated. The effects of introduced water hyacinth on habitat structure, invertebrate assemblages, and fish diets. Eichhornia azurea, eichhornia crassipes distribution.
In ethiopia, water hyacinth caused wastage of water through excessive evapotranspiration 28. The water hyacinth first appeared five years ago and believe to have been brought by expat engineers working on nearby dams, according to wase anteneh, a researcher with the university of bahir dar. The purpose of this study is to detect the spatiotemporal trend of the weed during 20, 2015 and 2017. Solms is a free floating perennial herb of fresh water ecosystems. Water hyacinth eichhprnia crassipes is the most dangerous and worst invasive aquatic weed in the worldwide including ethiopia, and negatively affecting millions of water resources, fisheries, transportation and social structure. High infestation was observed in lemba arbaytu, tana woyna, jarjar abanor and adisgie dingie kebeles bordering lake tana shore areas. Water hyacinth is an exotic freshwater weed damaging wetland resources over the lake tana basin, ethiopia. Managing water hyacinth the gbo requires a person to take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks posed by water hyacinth. Eichhornia crassipes, commonly known as common water hyacinth, is an aquatic plant native to the amazon basin, and is often a highly problematic invasive species outside its native range. Since 2011, water hyacinth has invaded lake tana, which is the largest lake in the highlands of ethiopia 16. Exploration of fungal pathogens associated with water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes mart. In 2011, it was noticed at the mouth of megech river at the northeastern corner of the lake. Distribution, impacts and management option for water.
Determinants of manual control of water hyacinth expansion. Water hyacinth is found in southeastern united states as well as california, hawaii, and the virgin islands. The ecosystem of lake tana, ethiopias largest lake, has been threatened by the spread of water hyacinth, which experts warn could create significant damages to the fish and other aquatic life. The general information about the impact of water hyacinth. Summary of waterhyacinth infestation on lake tana figure 6. The state of water resource management in ethiopia.
It is found at the surface of rivers, lakes, canals and ponds and may root in the mud of shallow waters. Water hyacinth degree of infestation and associated kebeles as well as woredas 2015 figure 7. With this background, bahir dar university bdu and organization for rehabilitation and development in amhara orda have established research technical team to map the current water hyacinth coverage on lake tana. Its expansion is currently managed by abstraction removing by hand. Map showing waterhyacinth infestation during july 2012 source. The states of oregon and washington do not have the water hyacinth listed as a noxious weed simply because the established populations found have not spread to the rate of invasiveness.
On the other hand water hyacinth once established is very difficult to manage and eradication is often impossible. This paper presented the study made to identify determinant factors affecting. Feasability study for the potential to harvest waterhyacinths in ethiopia s lake tana biosphere reserve with a view to produce biofuel and organic agrofertilizer. In just two years, the estimated coverage of the weed. Different measures, including manual labour and harvesting machinery are in use to reduce its damage and expansion. Potential of water hyacinth infestation on lake tana. Besides, the drainage system blockage by the weed contributes for the rise of groundwater table and flooding problems. Impacts of water hyacinth invasion in lake tana, ethiopia a water weed is damaging ethiopias largest lake and putting livelihoods at risk endalk. In the northern ethiopia, lake tana has serious problems related to the alien water hyacinth invasive weed. Pdf exploration of fungal pathogens associated with. In ethiopia, water hyacinth was observed and reported for the. Water hyacinth has been reported to invade two major areas of ethiopia.
Originally from south america, water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes mart. The history of water hyacinth in africa aquarius systems. At present, it is one of the fiveinvasive alien plants in the country fessehaie, 2005. Water scarcity and related environmental problems in parts. This is following the infestation of the water hyacinth on the countrys largest lake. Investigation of water hyacinth was conducted from october 27, 2011 to november 3, 2011 by interdisciplinary expedition groups. Map showing water hyacinth infestation during july 2012 source. Water hyacinth in lake tana poses a big threat to ethiopia. It causes to a significant ecological and socioeconomic effects villamagna and murphy, 2010. Environmental impact water hyacinth mats block irrigation canal and rivers leading to flooding. This fact sheet provides information and some options for controlling water hyacinth. Pdf preliminary survey of water hyacinth in lake tana.
In an effort to integrate fungal pathogens into water hyacinth management, this paper investigates the diversity of fungal pathogens associated with water hyacinth in ethiopia, their impact on the growth of water hyacinth plants and their safety on important plant species. Bedilu bekele mengistu, dikaso unbushe, eyualem abebe. The water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes in ethiopia. It commonly forms dense, interlocking mats due to its rapid reproductive rate and complex root structure. A combination of mechanical, biological and herbicide methods are the best strategy in managing water hyacinth. The history of water hyacinth in africa french botanist alire raffeneaudelile was cultivating that plant in egypt by the late 1790s, by the 1870s water hyacinth emerged as an ecological disaster in egypt as it would be soon in other parts of the world as well. In ethiopia, water hyacinth was announced in 1956 in koka lake and awash river tegene and ayele, 2014. Estimates of renewable annual groundwater per year range from. Control methods are outlined integrating physical, chemical and biological techniques. A total of 24 sites were delineated using geographical positioning system gps during investigation of water hyacinth.
Constructional details of waterhyacinth chopper cum crusher. These plants have established populations in states and 53 countries. Plant size ranges from a few inches to a metre in height. The aim of the research was to highlight the devastating impact of the water hyacinth on aquatic life and human activities on aba samuel dam and to underline prospects of its beneficial use. Residents living on the shores of ethiopias lake tana are appealing for government assistance to save them from the fastspreading water hyacinth. Impacts of water hyacinth invasion in lake tana, ethiopia. It is suggested that neochetina eichhorniae could be used as a biological control agent, possibly in combination with cercospora rodmanii. The weed has created an eminent threat to the water quality and quantity of the lake and its biodiversity. Lake tana has surface area of about 3,500 square kilometers, and is. Determinants of environmental conservation in lake tana. Yet, the invasion of the weed appears expanding its scope across the wetlands of the lake. Besides its negative effect in hampering transportation, irrigation and hydroelectric power, it also creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The weed forms thick mats over the infested water bodies. The water hyacinth, eichhorrnia crassipes, has been widely recognized as the worst aquatic weed the world over and of increasing importance in africa, ethiopia inclusive.
Ethiopias lake tana is losing the fight to water hyacinth. Here we report the impact of the invasive plant species on macrophyte species assemblage. Landsat 8 satellite images captured in december were used to assess the rate of expansion of the. Impact of water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes martius pontederiaceae in lake tana ethiopia. The recent invasion of water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes is the most pressing challenge of lake tana, the largest fresh water body of ethiopia and the source of the blue nile river. Water hyacinth was first recorded in south africa on the cape flats in the early 1900s and since then, has spread throughout the country.
For the last 67 years, water hyacinth has been colonizing lake tana, the largest lake in ethiopia. Incursion of water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes, has been a potential threat to lake tana and its ecosystem services. Residents living on the shores of ethiopia s lake tana are appealing for government assistance to save them from the fastspreading water hyacinth. Request pdf preliminary survey of water hyacinth in lake tana, ethiopia pinvestigation of water hyacinth was conducted from october 27, 2011 to november 3, 2011 by interdisciplinary. This manuscript analyse and predict the potential area of invasion of the water hyacinth in lake tana ethiopia. Water hyacinth threatens livelihoods in ethiopias lake. Invasion of water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes is. Preliminary survey of water hyacinth in lake tana, ethiopia. The weed species grows in and swims over water and expands very quickly. While ethiopia has relatively abundant water resources, it is considered water stressed due to rapid population growth over the last decade.
Water hyacinth was introduced in the water bodies of the rift valley in 68years ago and currently, the weed is distributed lake tana, lake abaya, lake koka, koka dam. The water hyacinth, known in ethiopia as the emboch, was first noticed in lake tana in 2012 by the biologist ayalew wonde. Millions of ethiopians, who rely on lake tana, are at risk of losing their source of livelihood. This extensive distribution, as well as the resilience of the weed, is attributed to the highly eutrophic, or nutrient enriched, state of south africas waters, and has led to the severe degradation of a. Pdf impact of water hyacinth, eichhornia crassipes. Detecting spatiotemporal expansion of water hyacinth. Review of the manuscript water549727, spatiotemporal prediction of potential water hyacinth infestation area using a gisbased multicriteria evaluation technique for lake tana, ethiopia by dersseh et al. Water hyacinth national invasive species information. This study aimed to assess the potential effects of water hyacinth and its management on water quality and human health. Water hyacinth is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous plant. Carelessness and lack of conservation efforts in the country brought invasive species from the southeast to northwest ethiopia admas et al.
Water hyacinth control and possible uses introduction water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes water hyacinth is an aquatic plant which can live and reproduce floating freely on the surface of fresh waters or can be anchored in mud. This allows ownership and trade of the water hyacinth still legal in these states and allow for the possibility of more invasions around the state. It is generally 1020 cm high but can reach 1 m high when established in dense mats ecoport, 2011. In 2014, researchers from ethiopia found out that about onethird of the lakes shoreline, around 128km, was invaded by water hyacinth. Ethiopias largest lake threatened by water hyacinth the. Water hyacinth infestation in ethiopia was known to appear in koka reservoir in 1956 was dispersed and now became relentless to lake tana in the blue nile basin admas et al. Water hyacinth eichhornia crassipes is an invasive plant species introduced to ethiopian water bodies around the mid 20th century with recently exacerbated devastating ecological and economic consequences.