ABSTRACT
Rivers, lakes and water reservoirs are essential and critical natural resources for human life and global ecosystem services, including the function and services for supplying water resources. Water hyacinth can exert negative effects on ecosystem services including transportation, recreation, sports, hydropower, fisheries, water resources and utilization, but also can exert positive effects by phytoremediation. Indeed, the invasions of water hyacinth have been impacting ecosystem services in many ways, causing substantial economic losses. Rivers, lakes and water reservoirs are important resources for recreation and tourism that contribute significantly to local, regional and national economies in both developed and developing countries. Water hyacinth, by clogging waterways, affects water-based recreational activities and thrives well in waters that are important source for livelihood and tourism such as Lake Victoria in East Africa. For instance, the communities along the River Niger are benefiting from the river transportation that plays an important role in socio-economic activities and gives access to remote areas, thereby promoting local development.
