Invasive plant control – Water hyacinth
Channel: RUTV Journalism Rhodes University
Date: 2019-07-29

The work of Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control (CBC) is focused on using insects to control invasive plants. This video provides background and context into the biological control of the floating invasive weed, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). 
Water hyacinth is widely recognised as the world’s worst aquatic weed. Originally exported from the Amazonia because of its attractive flowers, the species rapidly established and spread throughout tropical, subtropical and warm temperature regions of the world. Water hyacinth forms dense impenetrable mats across water surfaces, limiting access by people, animals and machinery. 
Chemical and mechanical control measures have been used since the early 1900s to combat water hyacinth, but are expensive and ineffective on all but infestations. Increasing concern about the financial and environmental cost associated with herbicidal control measures and their limited effectiveness has led to growing interest in the use of biological control. Host-specific biological control agents have identified and researched since the 1960s. Biological control of water hyacinth offers sustainable, environmentally long term control. 

Production by Samantha Carolus & Sipho Monakali
School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University