Wetlands Of Tanzania

These 16 papers and final recommendations provide up-to-date information and offer guidance on future wetlands development options.

This report presents the findings of a study to assess changes to flows into, and downstream of, the Usangu Wetlands, located in the headwaters of the Great Ruaha River, Tanzania. Hydrological data, in conjunction with remote sensing techniques, were used to provide insights into changes that have occurred to the Eastern Wetland. Results indicate that, between 1958 and 2004, inflows to the wetland declined by about 70 percent in the dry season months (July to November) as a consequence of increased human withdrawals, primarily for irrigation.

There is a growing appreciation of the natural functions of wetlands, as well as the values and different forms of uses that humans attach to them. In order to sustain their productivity, there is a need for wise-use and special conservation strategies. Wetlands are one of the most fruitful areas of archaeological research, and the ideal setting in which to study the interactions between physical processes and human actions that encapsulate and exemplify many of the themes of human impact on the environment. However, all the beneficial functions of wetlands seem to be in danger of being lost to draining and in-filling. With these factors in mind the main objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of indigenous knowledge and institutions in natural resource management for sustainable food security and rural livelihoods in Simuyu Basin, a sub-catchment of the Lake Victoria basin in Tanzania. The main focus was on wetland resources utilisation and how local people apply the knowledge and skills to actively manage their wetlands for poverty alleviation purposes.

The biennial series of ECOSUD conferences, originating from the work of the late Nobel laureate, Ilya Prigogine, challenges us to seeking to integrate thermodynamics, ecology and economics into “ecodynamics.” It is not only a platform to present novel research related to ecological problems from all over the world, but it also gives opportunities for new emergent ideas in science arising from the cross fertilization of different disciplines, including mathematical models and eco-informatics, evolutionary thermodynamics and biodiversity, structures in ecosystems modelling and landscapes to mention but a few. This book contains papers presented at the the Eighth International Conference in the well-established conference series on Ecosystems and Sustainable Development. Conference topics include : Greenhouse Gas Issues; Ecosystems Modelling; Mathematical and System Modelling; Natural Resources Management; Environmental Indicators; Sustainability Studies; Recovery of Damaged Areas; Energy and the Environment; Socio Economic Factors; Soil Contamination; Waste Management; Water Resources; Environmental Management; and Modelling of alternative futures.

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.

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.

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.