Narrator: This bio-coal is made
from an invasive weed
that's been ravaging rice fields
for over 30 years.
Narrator: But now it's being used
to cook, build homes,
and create economic opportunities here in Senegal,
all in a sustainable way.
Typha became an international problem
after the construction of two dams
between Senegal and Mauritania in the mid-'80s.
The dams cut off the flow of water
and created ideal conditions
for the weed to grow.
For years, both governments
tried and failed
to find an effective way to eliminate it.
Now, locals are trying on their own —
and with their bare hands —
as part of a project led
by the French NGO GRET.
The bio-coal is made
by burning Typha in these outdoor kilns
for six hours at a time.
Narrator: The charred reeds
are mixed with water and rice husks.
A machine shapes it into briquettes,
which are then laid out to dry
for three to four days.
Typha briquettes ignite faster
and burn longer than wood.
In rural Senegal,
more than 80% of the population
relies on wood for cooking and heating.
The pollutants released by wood-burning
can harm your heart and your lungs.
Typha coal, on the other hand,
produces much less smoke.
And the plant can be used
for more than just burning.
Typha can also be mixed with clay
to make bricks for construction.
Many of the people participating
in the GRET project are women.
Narrator: Every month, participants turn
nearly 30,000 pounds of Typha into bio-coal.
Narrator: Although this process
creates new sources of revenue,
the weed is still endangering valuable farmland.
And it's not the only one.
People all over the world
are turning invasive species
into usable products.
The water hyacinth has posed problems
and choked waterways in over 50 countries.
Sounsrors: The people there cannot travel easily
when it grows super thick.
And also, the living things under the water die.
Narrator: The freshwater reed
is native to the Amazon,
but over the past century,
people have spread the species to regions
where it doesn't belong.
Kit: It's been transported all over the world
because it's beautiful.
It's an ornamental plant species.
Narrator: Dr. Kit Magellan is an ecologist
who studies invasive plants.
It's native to the upper reaches
of the Amazon basin.
Most of the transport occurred
during the early 20th century.
Narrator: In Cambodia,
weavers at Rokhak use the weed
to make bags, rugs, and baskets.
Narrator: But hyacinths reproduce faster
than the small team is able to harvest them.
In Senegal, Typha poses similar problems.
Cutting the weed is labor-intensive,
and transportation costs are high.
It can also be difficult to find buyers.
But NGOs and locals are working
to find ways to minimize costs
and increase efficiency.