What was supposed to be a fun group trip quickly became something no one had planned for.
As Joseph Nguthiru and his group set out across Lake Naivasha in Kenya, their boat slowed to a halt, trapped in thick mats of water hyacinth that had covered the water’s surface. The invasive plant had spread rapidly across the lake’s surface, disrupting boat movement, threatening fish populations, and putting local livelihoods at risk.
Water hyacinth is one of the world’s fastest-growing aquatic plants. When left unchecked, it blocks sunlight, reduces oxygen...