Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sajjad Lateef" <sajjadlateef_at_yahoo.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 12:08 PM
Subject: NANFA-- Biocontrol of water hyacinth in West Africa
> Superweed-eating beetles save Benin millions
>
> LONDON (Reuters) - The tiny West African country of Benin has saved
> millions of dollars by enlisting the help of beetles that devoured a
> weed choking its lakes, killing fish and disrupting transport,
> according to new research.
>
> "Two species of beetle are credited with saving the economy of Benin in
> West Africa $260 million over 20 years," New Scientist magazine said on
> Wednesday.
>
> The insects proved to be the most effective weapon against the water
> hyacinth, a fast-growing weed that has turned into a major problem on
> many African lakes and waterways, and succeeded where expensive
> chemicals and harvesting methods had failed.
>
> Peter Neuenschwander at the International Institute of Tropical
> Agriculture in Cotonou in Benin, did an economic analysis of the
> biocontrol of the weed. He calculated the saving on the basis of money
> saved on more expensive control methods, and improvements to fishing
> and the transportation of goods.
>
> "Neuenschwander estimates that over 20 years the economic benefits of
> control exceeded the research costs by a factor of more than 120. And
> that's ignoring the benefits to the rest of Africa," the magazine
> added.
>
> =====
> --
> Sajjad Lateef
> sajjad_at_acm.org
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