Wetlands

The Pangani River Basin covers an area of about 43,650 km2, mostly in Tanzania with approximately 5% in Kenya. The Basin contains a wide array of resources of which water and arable land are arguably the most important to its 3.7 million Tanzanian inhabitants. There is a diversity of interests in the Basin, and these are able to wield various degrees of power as they seek to lay claim to its resources.

This book tells the story of times past, when wetlands were considered as wastelands and decision makers and managers were unaware of their benefits, a time when the adverse impacts of hydropower and irrigation schemes on ecosystems and people downstream seemed unimportant. Today wetland ecosystems are viewed as essential elements in integrated river basin planning, which draws upon the most appropriate modern science and traditional knowledge.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) advocates an ecosystem approach to environmental management, and spells out the principles in its Appendix 1. However, applying these principles can sometimes be less than straightforward. This book tells the story of an ecosystem approach to the rehabilitation of the lower delta of the Senegal River in Mauritania, in and around Diawling National Park.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) advocates an ecosystem approach to environmental management, and spells out the principles in its Appendix 1. However, applying these principles can sometimes be less than straightforward. This book tells the story of an ecosystem approach to the rehabilitation of the lower delta of the Senegal River in Mauritania, in and around Diawling National Park.

Wetlands cover an estimated 1.14% of the total land area of Ethiopia and play a vital role in the country’s economy and water management. This publication identifies the main wetlands of Ethiopia, assesses the state of their management and describes relevant policies. It also looks forward to the challenges for their management and how these can be met. The book identifies a total of 73 wetlands, distributed over the five main wetland types.