INVASIVE PLANTS

 In most cases, someone wants to get rid of the plant or it arrives through import from Egypt and China: its contents are in another imported plant!

In just a few years, a simple plant fragment was enough for a total infestation because bindweed reproduces by cuttings. Moreover, in 2019, the coasts had a completely different appearance as evidenced by these photos, taken by our association which carries out actions to preserve the environment.

INVASIVE PLANTS FILE Intervene as early as possible

  For several days, with our children from school and the surrounding area, we meticulously pulled out by hand each plant of bindweed around the bamboos and yuccas. “We are going to look underground for the roots. We thus pull out all the rhizomes while trying as much as possible to limit the fragmentation of the plant. Manual intervention is more careful because it allows you to remove almost everything.

  Then, several times a month, we will come and do checks and remove any feet that have escaped us.”

  If nothing is done, it will undoubtedly be the accelerated death of this magnificent coast of Kivu, its flowers and trees attracting tourists and the good biodiversity of its natural cycle.

INVASIVE PLANTS FILE

But with this invasion without knowledge or careful uprooting, the process accelerates: “this invasive plant no longer ensures photosynthesis, it asphyxiates other plants such as trees, corn, sugar canes, beans, which are the base of the food chain in the region and this therefore has repercussions on the entire ecosystem and could create famine. The earlier we intervene, the more effective the fight is.”

An impact on biodiversity

Not to mention that the soil can be transported unintentionally by an animal or a human being, which means that the invasive plant could also colonize other regions! We noticed it in Bugesera and in Kigali at the new ecological park, the hedges are already covered with it. Invasive species, last October and May, were responsible for 60% of the erosion and falls of stones and trees and plants.

To better understand the ecological impact and list the right actions to implement to avoid their proliferation, the district and the executive have this responsibility with the help of agronomists.

INVASIVE PLANTS FILE

INVASIVE PLANTS FILE

  ACTION PLAN

   1.Observations at REMERA:

  Serious erosion and falls of trees and stones along Lake Kivu We have observed for 4 years, all along Lake Kivu, on the left and right edge of the road running along the lake, the appearance of invasive plants causing erosion walls and causing stones and trees to fall onto the roads. Significant risks for the population, cars, trucks traveling on these roads.

  2. Causes and locations:

All along the stone and earth road edges, ivy (a species of invasive vine) has grafted itself and surrounded the trees up to the top, preventing photosynthesis. The roots of the trees then retract until they empty the tree of its sap. It becomes fragile, and the sick tree falls. This invasive plant develops very large roots which insert themselves behind the stones and eventually cause them to move and fall onto the road.

3. Proposed solutions:

Learn how to get rid of bindweed, this plant also known as devil's root!

This plant continues to proliferate and extend its tentacles underground in our gardens and grounds.

Raising awareness among the population to MAKE THESE PLANTS DISAPPEAR AND ALLOW THE TREES TO BE CONSOLIDATED AND THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE ROADS IN DANGER

  INVASIVE PLANTS FILE

4.Action plan

During an Umuganda, with the help of informed zone chiefs, the population helps to eradicate this plant in each invaded part along Kivu RUBONA up to the entrance to the city. This is done by pulling out the roots and not by cutting them!

Repeat until the plant is completely eradicated!

5.specific procedure

Every Saturday the population, the area manager having been made aware of the dangers, and the executive mobilize to uproot these dangerous toxic plants!

4. sources links and press

https://www.especesinvasives.re/especes-invasives/faire-un-signalement/

https://abn.bi/index.php/fr/publications/evenements/137-lutter-contre-l-erosion-pour-en-finir-avec-la-degradation-des-sols

https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=comment%20lutter%20contre%20l%27%C3%A9rosion%20des%20sols

A vast uprooting operation against invasive species -

an article on the uprooting and felling of invasive plants organized together, this Thursday, June 29, 2023. The objective of this participatory project, which brought together nearly fifty people, was to participate