This dangerous alien plant becomes plastic for afforestation

This dangerous alien plant becomes plastic for afforestation

The Lake Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi in Kenya, becomes increasingly impossible. The water hyacinth, The most widespread invasive art , covers its fish and lets people back.

The effects of the water hyacinth

"Sometimes it gets very serious," reports Simon Macharia, a local fisherman, about the problem with the water hyacinths. "There was this incident in which Fischer were trapped by the Hyazinth in the lake for three days. We had to request help from the government that used a helicopter for rescue."

Macharia explains that on some days he simply cannot fish on the lake because the plants prevent it from. If he tries, it can happen that he loses his networks under the floating weed, which causes additional costs and prevents him from making money. The water hyacinths also cover the water surface, so that the sunlight no longer gets to other plants, which leads to a lack of oxygen in the water. As a result, there are fewer fish that Macharia can catch.

terrifying dimensions of the problem

The extent of the problem is so large that it from the space . It also endangers the flower industry in the wetlands around the 150 square kilometer (58 square miles) Lake.

what happens in Lake Naivasha is a story that is repeated worldwide. Water hyacinths are at home in South America, but were introduced to many other countries as an exotic ornamental plant. There they have now taken over the freshwater environments and are considered an invasive species.

economic effects and solutions

In addition to their effects on biodiversity and livelihood, the floating plants can also clog hydropower plants and irrigation systems. This means that you don't have to live near you to be affected. It is the most prominent example of a crisis through invasive aquatic plants that historically cost the global economy several $ ten billion and today Annually over $ 700 million costs .

The problem with water hyacinths is particularly pronounced in Africa. A report from 2024 of the intergovernmental platform for biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES), which was founded by the UN Environmental program, describes the "" Land usage -related changes and climate change are potentially as a fire accelerator.

innovative solutions for an urgent problem

working groups from various organizations have tried to find solutions. The introduction of trunk beetles that attack the plants could limit their spread and even lead to losing their buoyancy. There are also suggestions to harvest the water hyacinth and with municipal waste and beef to BioKrafstoff to process. Now a Kenyan company deals with the problem of the water hyacinth and with the plastic pollution of the country by converting the invasive plant into a biodlows.

Hyapak Ecotech Limited, founded by Joseph Nguthiru, began as a project in the last study year of the former student of the construction and environmental engineering department at Egerton University. Nuthiru and his fellow students experienced the problem of the water hyacinth up close during an excursion to the Lake Naivasha in 2021 when their boat stuck for five hours. With the firm decision, they returned to do something.

bioplastic as an environmentally friendly alternative

nguthirus bioplastic is made from dried water hyacinth, binder and additives, which are then mixed and shaped. The product that can be biodegradable within a few months was first used as an alternative for plastic packaging. In 2017, Kenya introduced a law that banned disposable plastic bags, and in 2020 all disposable plastics were banned in protected areas. The results were mixed; Since the domestic production is prohibited, there is Neighboring countries . "The problem with the ban is that no suitable alternatives were offered," argued Nuthiru.

He believes his product "killing two birds with one flap". "Most disposable plastic products have a lifespan of about 10 minutes after they are on the supermarket shelf. So why not make it biodegradable?"

recognition for innovative approaches

Hyapak has gained a lot of attention, including first place in the youth category at the East Africa Climate Action Awards, a prize at the Hackathon for the World Gine Seninging Tag of the UNESCO and the Prototype for Humanity Award 2023, which was announced on the COP28 climate conference. Nuthiru was also awarded an Africa Leader in 2023.

fischer like Macharia now harvest the invasive plant in the Lake Naivasha, dry them and sell them to Hyapak. This is a useful additional source of income, especially on days on which the plant covers its network and prevents it from catching fishing. Macharia hopes that Hyapak will soon be able to expand its activities so that the surrounding community can harvest larger amounts of water hyacinth. "If Joseph could get funding, I think that he can buy larger quantities and give many people work," he said.

partnerships for a sustainable future

A project that could support Hyapak in growth is the partnership with the Kenyan government to use its products as part of a flagship reforestation program.

Kenya lost 14 % of his trees between 2001 and 2023. At the end of 2022, Kenya committed to accelerating the afforestation and restoration of land to plant 15 billion seedlings on degraded forest and pasture land by 2032. This would increase the country's degree of tree cover to over 30 %, .