Water hyacinth - Effects on sustainable Devolopment : A minor field study about water hyacinth in Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Kenya

Abstract The aim of the study was to do a minor field study in Kisumu, Kenya. My thesis in Ecological Economics C, 10p and the purpose was to explain the association between water hyacinth and sustainable development. What are the main effects on environments, ecological and social effects in Kisumu in Kenya? This paper will address environmental, economical and social effects related to the water hyacinth. I have chosen the qualitative method because I want to asses general impression and understand different processes and social connections. Interviews are made which aims to give a deeper focus by letting the interviewed person describe and openly answer the questions. The study is conducted as a combination of literature reviews, qualitative interviews with parties or people who are involved and other organisations in Kenya and from observations. The theoretical approach was Sustainable devolopment, control of social, economical and ecological perspective on regional development. Sustainable development include social, ecological and economics, all three are depended of each other to make progress. From a social point of view the plants give people a society and provide work and knowledge on how to recycle the weed. Economically, it is a disaster but the good opportunities come from recycling even if it contains a lot of water. Eutrofication and blocking of sunlight are the most ecological effects caused by water hyacinth. If people are prepared to vote for honest representative no bribes will take place, these kind of statement are important and its time that people takes responsibility for their act, mainly environmental responsibility which are important for our common future. It should be expensive to destroy the nature, on the other side you do not know the value according to Dryzek. A suggested idea is to turn this into a tourist attraction which hopefully will become popular. To remove the weed by the biological method is the best controlled, cheapest and it is the most sustainable method of weevil’s which eats the leaves of the plants. Contact: Sunni Rahman Telephone: +4670-768 52 54 E-mail: srn01001@student.mdh.s