The environmental and socio‐economic impacts of Eichhornia crassipes in the Victoria Falls/Mosi‐oa‐Tunya World Heritage Site, Livingstone, Zambia1

The exotic water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has invaded the Maramba River, a tributary of the Zambezi River in the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site in Zambia presenting several negative environmental and economic impacts. The major impacts identified by recent studies are on the generation of hydro electric power, tourism development, native biodiversity, fish catches and human health. Other recorded impacts are reduced quality and quantity of water for domestic use, restricted navigation of waterways and the threat posed to vital infrastructure. This has led to the initiation of efforts to manage this infestation and address the resultant impacts. Methods proposed for control of water hyacinth in the Victoria Falls/Musi‐oa‐Tunya Pilot Site are an integration of mechanical and biological control measures. This paper discusses the impacts of water hyacinth invasion on the Maramba River and isolated clusters on the backwaters of the Zambezi. Two field surveys undertaken over the last three years and recent interviews with resource persons representing interested and affected institutions and local communities impacted by water hyacinth provide the basis for the data in this paper and the current intervention activities. The field surveys and questionnaires targeted government institutions involved in the management of the area and persons from the private sector engaged in tourism activities. Local peoples found in and around the project area were also interviewed. A pioneering effort is made to quantify the impacts and detail the costs arising from these impacts. Recommendations for the future control and management of E. crassipes are also made.