International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research (IJOEAR) ISSN:[2454-1850] [Vol-3, Issue-5, May- 2017] Page | 1 Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.): Land use/land cover changes and community-based management in east Shoa zone, Ethiopia Abule Ebro 1* , Kahsay Berhe 2 , Yasin Getahun 3 , Zewdie Adane 4 , Nigatu Alemayehu 5 , YismaShawal Fayisa 6 , Azage Tegegne 7 1,2,3,5,7 International Livestock Research Institute-Livestock and Irrigation Value Chain Project for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES), PO Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4 Justus-Liebig Universität Gießen, Institute for Agricultural Policy and Market Research, Germany 6 Bureau of Agriculture, East Shoa Zone, Adama, Ethiopia Abstract— Water hyacinth was officially reported in Ethiopia in 1956 at Koka Dam and Awash River and it is considered as a constraint to the development of the country. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine Water hyacinth and associated land cover/use changes, and capture perceptions regarding community-based management to enhance its proper control/eradication in Lume and Boa districts, east Shoa zone, Ethiopia using integrated approach. The method of study included Water hyacinth and associated land use/cover change analyses, focus group discussions, discussions with experts at the district, zone and region levels and undertaking consultative workshop. The land use/land cover change analyses revealed increased area coverage by Water hyacinth from about 145.53 ha in 1986 to 2319.48 ha in 2015 with decline in the area of water bodies and wetlands. The annual rate of increase in the area of the weed was about 51.51% while water bodies and wetlands declined by about 0.49% and 1.16%, respectively. Of the 10 group discussions undertaken in the study districts with the communities, 9 of them reported water hyacinth to increase in terms of area coverage since its appearance in their areas which concurs the results obtained from satellite image analyses and they reported the weed to be very harmful to their livelihood. Furthermore, the nine group discussants disclosed water hyacinth to be of no use to them. Recommendations included developing comprehensive management strategies and action plans, analysis and defining roles of each stakeholder, awareness creation, training, institutional linkages, co-management and reduction of nutrient load in water bodies. Keywords— Co-management, control/eradication, Integrated approach, Lume and Bora districts. I. INTRODUCTION Water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Martius) Solms- Laubach, is fast growing aquatic free floating fresh water plant indigenous to Brazil, Amazon basin and Ecuador region [1]. It was introduced as an ornamental species to adorn the water bodies in many countries more than a century ago for their attractive blue or purple flowers, oblong to oval glossy leaves with bulbous petioles. Later, this supposed-to-be prized plant was discovered to be an invasive species and posed serious socioeconomic and environmental problems affecting millions of people in riparian communities [2]. The sturdy plant has emerged as a major weed interfering with anthropogenic activities and is recognized as one of the top 10 worst weeds in the world [3]. In Ethiopia, water hyacinth was first reported in Lake Koka in 1956, the Awash River and since then, it has been found in different regions of Ethiopia. It is considered as a constraint to the development of the country [4] which has multifaceted problems such as obstructing electricity generation, irrigation, navigation, and fishing; increasing evapo-transpiration resulting in water loss, increase cost of crop production, providing habitat for vectors of malaria and bilharzias, harbors poisonous snakes, causing skin rashes, and hosting agents of amoebic dysentery and typhoid [4, 5] [5] and these effects have also been documented elsewhere in the world [2, 3]. The weed has infested water bodies in the two intervention districts (Lume and Bora) of the Livestock and Irrigation Value Chain for Ethiopian smallholders (LIVES) project in east Shoa zone of Oromia Region and with connection to the Awash River includes Koka Dam, lakes Ellen and Elletoke. Local farmers in Bora district grow a number of crops for home consumption and sale mainly maize, wheat, haricot bean and tef (Eragrostis tef) while vegetable production (tomato, onion and others) is practiced along the shores of the lakes, mainly by private investors. Koka reservoir and lakes Ellen and Elletoke are the main water bodies in the district and are mainly used for irrigation and fishery. Koka dam is also used for recreation while the primary purpose is for hydro-electric power