Turning an Invasive Species into Rural Opportunity: A Women-Led Community Case Study for Sustainable Biomass Management and Livelihood Development in India

Invasive species are commonly viewed as ecological threats; however, community-led approaches can transform these management challenges into opportunities for rural livelihood development. This qualitative case study examines a women-led initiative near the Beas Conservation Reserve (BCR), Punjab, India, where invasive water hyacinth biomass is managed through manual removal and value-added reuse. Semi-structured interviews, participant observations and photographic documentation of processing and production activities were conducted to understand perceived ecological changes, livelihood outcomes and social dimensions. The intervention generated supplementary household income through handicraft production while strengthening skills, participation and leadership roles among rural women. The findings demonstrate a transferable community-based approach that links invasive species management, sustainable biomass utilization and gender-responsive rural development. The study contributes to rural development scholarship by showing how institutional facilitation—rather than subsidy-driven interventions - can support locally driven environmental action and livelihood generation. The approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), by illustrating how women-led rural innovations can integrate community-based invasive species management with social and economic empowerment.