Kigali — A partnership between Canadian volunteers and Building Bridges with Rwanda (BBR), an organisation founded by a Rwandan living in Canada, is helping in the fight against water Hyacinth in the wetlands of Gashora, in Bugesera District.
The water hyacinth is an aquatic weed that spreads rapidly, covering the surface of lakes and rivers killing aquatic life, polluting water as well as destroying the marine habitat.
Lama Mugabo, BBR president, told The New Times that his group is working with residents of Gashora to curb the spread of this weed.
He said that they are specifically working with an association of weavers in Gashora to turn what is normally an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.
"We are working with local communities in Gashora in a programme called Integrated Community Development Programme (ICDP) to help fight the weed which is now being gathered and used in making art crafts like baskets and others which can be sold," Mugabo said yesterday.
BBR is a sustainable development initiative designed to promote mutual collaboration between American, Canadian volunteers and technical experts and Rwandan partners.
It recruits volunteers with an interest and expertise in disciplines related to sustainable development.
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Great start. Wicker furniture can also be made from water hyacinth. When you exhaust its fiber market, you can make it into biomass briquettes for fuel, or anaerobically digest it for fuel gas. These weeds are the driving force in the desertification of Africa. Where its not hyacinth, its typha, phragmites, or water lettuce. Less water for weeds, more for farms and cups!