A wetland ecosystem service assessment tool; Development and application in a tropical peatland in Uganda

Langan, Charlie; Farmer, Jenny; Rivington, Mike; Novo, Paula; Smith, Jo

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.04.019

Cited by 19 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Thus, changes in ecosystems triggered by changes in water availability influence the balance between different wetland species (Behn et al, 2018: Ondiek et al, 2020), and this is significant for the availability of different provisioning, regulating and supporting services. In addition, human activity in dambos also gives rise to environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity and these ecosystem services (Langan et al, 2019; Munishi and Jewitt, 2019; Owethu Pantshwa and Buschke, 2019; Orimoloye et al, 2020). The interplay between wetland physical and hydrogeomorphic factors and human social-ecological factors (McGinnis and Ostrom, 2014) results in changes in the nature and dynamics of available ecosystem services (Figure 3).…”

Section: Wetland Definitions and Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inland wetlands in Africa: A review of their typologies and ecosystem services

Mandishona¹,

Knight

2022

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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Wetlands, as one of the most productive natural ecosystems globally, have important roles in Earth system functioning through supporting biodiversity, storing carbon, recharging groundwater and removing pollutants. They are also critical locations for providing ecosystem and environmental services and thus supporting human livelihoods, especially in Africa where inland wetlands are extensively used for agriculture and as water sources. Despite this, the Ramsar Convention classifications do not wholly describe the physical nature and properties of African inland wetlands, or the varied and interconnected ways in which different ecosystem and environmental services are manifested in them. This review critically discusses the different types and definitions of inland wetlands in Africa with particular reference to dambos, based on wetland geomorphological, hydrological and ecological properties, and then considers the entangled nature of their ecosystem services and the benefits provided to local communities. Considering these services in a more integrated way – and not as a tick-box exercise as per the Ramsar Convention – allows for a better understanding of human–environment relations in wetlands, with implications for wetland sustainability and more effective management practices.

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Section: Wetland Definitions and Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inland wetlands in Africa: A review of their typologies and ecosystem services

Mandishona¹,

Knight

2022

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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“…The valley bottom wetlands of the Kigezi highlands close to the border with Rwanda have some of the deepest reported peat deposits of all of Uganda (11), but the most widespread wetland drainage and land use change occurs here as well (12). Wetland conversion is largely due to agricultural drivers, with cultivation of potatoes on these peat soils estimated to provide income of US$ 3,000 ± 1,000 ha -1 yr -1 to smallholder farmers (12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Temporal Variability in Heterotrophic Carbon Dioxide Emissions From A Drained Tropical Peatland in Uganda

Farmer

Langan²,

Smith³

2022

Front. Soil Sci.

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Our study measured heterotrophic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in a drained peatland under potato cultivation in south-western Uganda. Soil carbon losses have not previously been reported for this land use, and our study set out to capture the range and temporal variation in emissions, as well as investigate relationships with key environmental variables. Soil chamber-based emission measurements were taken over five days at four points in time over the year to capture daily and monthly variability, including day and night sampling to capture any diurnal variations in temperatures and soil flux. Differences in soil microtopography from mounding of soils for potato beds and drainage trenches had a significant effect on the rate of soil flux. Diurnal sampling showed no significant difference in emissions or soil temperatures in the raised potato beds between day and night. More significant effects on soil flux from environmental drivers, such as water table depth, were observed between months, rather than hours and days. There were significant differences in the relationships between environmental variables and soil flux, depending on if soils had been recently disturbed or not. Area-weighted emissions based on microtopography gave a mean annual emissions factor of 98.79 ± 1.7 t CO2 ha-1 y-1 (± standard error) from this peatland use.

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“…Though a global quantum on the value of wetlands is inadequate, an economic assessment of 63 million hectares of global wetlands estimated the annual value of wetlands at 3.4 billion USD with the leading benefactors being Asia pro ting with an annual value of 1.8 billion USD (Brander and Schuyt, 2010). Unfortunately, despite the immense value of wetlands, there is unsustainable degradation and exploitation of global wetlands partly due to limited enforcement, limited understanding and knowledge of wetland ecosystems, and perception of wetlands as 'free wastelands' (Matovu et al, 2019;Langan et al, 2019). For instance, it is estimated that whilst Africa has the largest amount of wetland area; estimated at 131 million hectares, it is experiencing one of the highest losses of wetland cover loss thence affecting the environmentally-reliant communities in threshold zones (McCartney and Rebelo, 2018; Xu et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, it is estimated that whilst Africa has the largest amount of wetland area; estimated at 131 million hectares, it is experiencing one of the highest losses of wetland cover loss thence affecting the environmentally-reliant communities in threshold zones (McCartney and Rebelo, 2018; Xu et al, 2019). To develop sustainable synergies for wetland management, there is a need to develop databases for forecasting and modeling wetland losses, monitoring, management and policy, restoration, development of knowledge base, and funding of wetland management avenues (Xu et al, 2019;Langan et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating Through Complexity: Profiling the main threats to Sustainable Tropical Wetlands Management and its Implications to livelihoods welfare and ecosystem governance: A Case Study of Mityana District, Uganda

Matovu,

Sarfo,

Bbira

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Wetlands are crucial ecosystems that promote sustainable livelihood and biodiversity conservation, especially in tropical regions. However, recent studies have reported increasing threats to wetlands both environmental and human which threaten the provision and acquisition of several wetland benefits. Though there is recognition of the value of wetlands, in most local communities, there is limited knowledge and research on the benefits of wetlands and the level of threat thus affecting wetland governance. This research addresses this gap by conducting participatory research to create a baseline inventory that identifies the main wetlands and threats to inform policy. The study was conducted in 14 sub-counties and a sample of 105 wetlands along the wetlands of Lake Wamala and River Mayanja wetlands system in Mityana District was captured. The field data was collected from 150 respondents. Study findings found that there is an increasing human threat to wetlands especially in the River Mayanja seasonal wetlands and the level of damage/threat on Lake Wamala wetlands. Respondents further reported an increasing threat of environmental drivers such as climate change. Since the level of damage to wetlands in Mityana especially the permanent wetlands is relatively low, we recommend a focus on capacity building, development of wetlands action plans, increased support to local wetland authorities, and a system thinking approach in wetland threat identification and management.

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A wetland ecosystem service assessment tool; Development and application in a tropical peatland in Uganda

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

Inland wetlands in Africa: A review of their typologies and ecosystem services

Inland wetlands in Africa: A review of their typologies and ecosystem services

Temporal Variability in Heterotrophic Carbon Dioxide Emissions From A Drained Tropical Peatland in Uganda

Navigating Through Complexity: Profiling the main threats to Sustainable Tropical Wetlands Management and its Implications to livelihoods welfare and ecosystem governance: A Case Study of Mityana District, Uganda

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