Wetland Management and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa

Wetland Management and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa
Author: Adrian Wood
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2013-06-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1136470638

In this book the authors argue for a paradigm shift in the way African wetlands are considered. Current policies and wetland management are too frequently underpinned by a perspective that views agriculture simply as a threat and disregards its important contribution to livelihoods. In rural areas where people are entrenched in poverty, wetlands (in particular wetland agriculture) have a critical role to play in supporting and developing peoples' livelihoods. Furthermore, as populations rise and climate change takes grip they will be increasingly important. The authors argue that an approach to wetland management that is much more people focused is required. That is an approach that instead of being concerned primarily with environmental outcomes is centred on livelihood outcomes supported by the sustainable use of natural wetland resources. The authors stress the need for Integrated Water Resource Management and landscape approaches to ensure sustainable use of wetlands throughout a river catchment and the need for wetland management interventions to engage with a wide range of stakeholders. They also assess the feasibility of creating incentives and value in wetlands to support sustainable use. Drawing on nine empirical case studies, this book highlights the different ways in which sustainable use of wetlands has been sought, each case focusing on specific issues about wetlands, agriculture and livelihoods.

A Directory of African Wetlands

A Directory of African Wetlands
Author: R. H. Hughes
Publisher: IUCN
Total Pages: 866
Release: 1992
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9782880329495

A directory of Afrotropical wetlands of international importance. Contents -Region 1: North West Africa, Region 2: North East Africa, Region 3: West Africa, Region 4: Central Africa, Region 5: Southern Africa, Region 6: Madagascar.

Climatic and Environmental Significance of Wetlands: Case Studies from Eurasia and North Africa

Climatic and Environmental Significance of Wetlands: Case Studies from Eurasia and North Africa
Author: Ben Salem, Abdelkrim
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2022-12-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1799892913

Wetlands provide a key service in an ecosystem such as providing resilience against drought and diverse habitats that support biodiversity. Because of their ephemeral character and their small size, however, these vulnerable ecosystems are declining rapidly as climate change continues to surge and human activities expand. Rational management of wet ecosystems need accompanying actions covering research, systematic observation, and more. Climatic and Environmental Significance of Wetlands: Case Studies from Eurasia and North Africa produces innovative concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications for ecosystem service valuation, wetland biodiversity conservation, fresh water supply, agricultural production, food security, wetland management, and its impact on biodiversity. It assesses the cumulative risk posed to wetland habitats and species by human activities and explores the consequences for the delivery of ecosystem services and biodiversity at local, regional, and global scales, as well as the impacts of climate change on wetland ecosystems and water resources. Covering topics such as geochemistry, invasive species, and sedimentary change, this premier reference source is an indispensable resource for government officials, engineers, environmental managers, environmentalists, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

Wetlands, agriculture and poverty reduction

Wetlands, agriculture and poverty reduction
Author: McCartney, Matthew
Publisher: IWMI
Total Pages: 44
Release: 2010
Genre:
ISBN: 9290907347

In many places, growing population, in conjunction with efforts to increase food security, is escalating pressure to expand agriculture within wetlands. The environmental impact of wetland agriculture can have profound social and economic repercussions for people dependent on ecosystem services other than those provided directly by agriculture. If wetlands are not used sustainably, the functions which support agriculture, as well as other food security and ecosystem services, are undermined. This report synthesizes findings from multidisciplinary studies conducted into sustainable wetland agriculture by IWMI and partners in Africa and Asia. It highlights the value of wetland agriculture for poverty reduction as well as the need for more systematic planning that takes into account trade-offs in the multiple services that wetlands provide.

Wetlands for Remediation in the Tropics

Wetlands for Remediation in the Tropics
Author: Tatiana Lobato de Magalhães
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2023-01-25
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3031236653

This edited volume provides a review of remediation approaches utilizing aquatic and wetland macrophytes in the Tropics. This form of phytotechnology has exceptional potential as a sustainable nature-based solution, but that potential is not commonly utilized in the Tropics. Constructed wetlands for improvement of water quality are cost-effective, offering affordable solutions for remediation in warm and tropical regions worldwide. The robustness, simplicity, and reliability of treatment wetlands provide efficient long-term operation. Wetlands for Remediation in the Tropics covers theory, provides case studies, and identifies gaps in our current understanding. It highlights why the Tropics differ from temperate regions in this context, particularly concerning differences in climate and species diversity and abundance. Urban, rural, and industrial examples are discussed across 11 chapters. These nature-based solutions, including the concept of ‘Sponge City’, can be applied to tropical areas worldwide and incorporated particularly in highly urbanized regions. The authors, from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the USA, the Netherlands, Mexico, Pakistan, and Taiwan, all have substantial research experience using wetlands for remediation. The topic of this book is relevant not only to scholars and academics but also to practitioners and government officials from developing countries, where scarce resources and a lack of a qualified workforce are common, but large differences exist in history, culture, regulations, climate, water fluctuations, and vegetation. Although ideas based on experiences from temperate regions can be applied, the Tropics require distinct approaches to developing constructed wetlands for remediation.

Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa

Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Richard Primack
Publisher: Open Book Publishers
Total Pages: 712
Release: 2019-09-10
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1783747536

Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa comprehensively explores the challenges and potential solutions to key conservation issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. Easy to read, this lucid and accessible textbook includes fifteen chapters that cover a full range of conservation topics, including threats to biodiversity, environmental laws, and protected areas management, as well as related topics such as sustainability, poverty, and human-wildlife conflict. This rich resource also includes a background discussion of what conservation biology is, a wide range of theoretical approaches to the subject, and concrete examples of conservation practice in specific African contexts. Strategies are outlined to protect biodiversity whilst promoting economic development in the region. Boxes covering specific themes written by scientists who live and work throughout the region are included in each chapter, together with recommended readings and suggested discussion topics. Each chapter also includes an extensive bibliography. Conservation Biology in Sub-Saharan Africa provides the most up-to-date study in the field. It is an essential resource, available on-line without charge, for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as a handy guide for professionals working to stop the rapid loss of biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere.