Identifying priority areas for surface water protection in data scarce regions: An integrated spatial analysis for Zambia

Abstract

1. This study aimed to develop an integrated analytical framework to identify candidate sites for surface water protection that is applicable at broad scales and in data scarce regions, using Zambia as a case study. In the Zambian Water Resources Management Act of 2011, Water Resource ProtectionAreas are defined as areas where special measures are necessary for the protection of a catchment, sub-catchment, aquifer, or geographical area. Three specific selection criteria are listed for the definition of Water Resource Protection Areas: (i) areas of high importance in providing water to users in a catchment; (ii) aquatic areas of high ecological importance; and (iii) areas that are particularly sensitive to human impact.3. In this project, each sub-catchment and river reach of Zambia was characterized for their importance regarding these three criteria. 'Water provisioning' was assessed by analysing patterns of runoff generation and human water use; 'aquatic ecological importance' was determined by conducting a freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem assessment using a systematic conservation planning approach; and 'sensitive areas' were identified by quantifying erosion potential and sediment transport. The work was supported by an assessment of free-flowing rivers in Zambia, i.e., those rivers where aquatic ecosystem functions and services are largely unaffected by changes to fluvial connectivity through dams and other infrastructure. 4. Highly ranked sub-catchments were found in the Liuwa, Barotse, and Bangweulu floodplains and wetlands, and in the headwater regions of the upper Zambezi, Kafue, Chambeshi/Luapula, and Tanganyika catchments. The Luangwa was identified as the highest ranked candidate river for protection within Zambia.5. The resulting maps, data, and methods are intended to support national-scale efforts to prioritize areas for surface water protection, identify catchments and rivers with high conservation value, optimize decision making for infrastructure development, and inform concerted strategies to maintain and restore freshwater ecosystem services in Zambia.

Aquatic areas of ecological importance as inputs into surface water resource protection areas in Zambia

“…In spite of these shortcomings, the results from this study were deemed adequate by experts in Zambia for inclusion within the broader national WRPA prioritization assessment, in which the aquatic AEIs have been integrated with areas important for 'water provisioning' and for 'sensitivity to impact' (Lehner et al, 2021).…”

“…A further step could be the development of a validated aquatic ecosystem classification for Zambia to include in future assessments and ensure the representation of system processes and data-deficient aquatic communities. River and wetland processes are at present evaluated and included in the identification of candidate WRPAs through an evaluation of the status of river and wetland connectivity and flows (Lehner et al, 2021).…”

“…This study was designed to serve as part of a broader assessment to identify and prioritize water resource protection areas (WRPAs) for Zambia, which is fully described in Lehner et al (2021). WRPAs are defined, based on three criteria listed in Zambia's Water Resources Management Act of 2011, as areas that are important for 'water provisioning', areas of 'aquatic ecological importance', and areas that are 'sensitive to use and anthropogenic impact'.…”

A spatial freshwater thermal resilience landscape for informing conservation planning and climate change adaptation strategies

“…A utility value of the thermal resilience framework is that it establishes a tool for testing independent biological yardsticks of resilience against hypothetical, physically based measures of thermal resilience. Such a framework has the potential to be created in other regions given that global‐scale datasets already exist for groundwater depth and landscape transformation (Fan, Li & Miguez‐Macho, 2013; Lehner & Grill, 2013), which can be applied to derive water yield zones (Lehner et al, 2021). Paired sites with similar thermal resilience scores but different impacts could be assessed in terms of aquatic diversity and levels of redundancy in functional feeding groups.…”

Influence of Rural Development of River Tourism Resources on Physical and Mental Health and Consumption Willingness in the Context of COVID-19

“…Finally, we have read the relevant literature on water resources, rivers, and reservoirs in recent years and found many current research topics on rivers, water resources, fresh water, dams, and water source areas. However, most of the topics discussed are tourism development and impacts [19,[22][23][24][25], freshwater intake sources and strategies [41], water quality and monitoring [42], carbon emissions [43], hydrology [44], water pollution [45], and marine and freshwater ecosystems [46]. In addition, the current research topics focusing on the Yangtze River only focus on air pollution [47], water pollution [48], energy utilization rate [49], urban land development and utilization rate [50], cruise tourism development [51], and residents' environmental literacy and decision-making participation [52].…”