Sustainable Management of Inland wetlands in Southern Africa:
A Livelihoods and Ecosystems Approach.             

Project Duration: 

2005 – 2009

Geographical Focus: 

Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Southern Africa is endowed with many inland wetlands that, in addition to supporting a variety of flora and fauna and providing various ecosystem goods and services, also support livelihoods through supporting crop and livestock production, supporting aquaculture, and provision of domestic and livestock water. Wetlands also provide materials for handicraft purposes (vegetal materials); for building purposes (clay for brick making); and for fuel (peat and wood). In addition, they have other water supply functions that are extremely important to humans and ecosystems.

There is ample evidence to suggest that there is potential for using water resources in small inland wetlands for small-scale agricultural production. Seasonal water accumulation and shallow groundwater in these wetlands present an opportunity for small-scale farmers to cultivate both in the rainfall and dry seasons. Agricultural practices with water management interventions are followed in the rainfall season, while in the dry season use of residual moisture and shallow groundwater facilitates crop production, resulting in increased land and water productivity and food security.

Despite being attractive ecosystems for agriculture, wetlands are also sensitive environments. On the one hand, they may be exposed to the risks of over-abstraction of water by crops leading to declining water tables locally. On the other hand, downstream areas are vulnerable to the risks of flooding or reduced flows as a result of upstream groundwater depletion. Seasonal or permanent drying up of wetlands caused by land degradation induced by agriculture and other interventions have possible negative impacts on the plant and animal life dependent on the ecosystem, and on the wetland’s ability to perform its natural functions.

While wetland ecosystems have the potential to substantially support livelihoods, continued unplanned development and conversion of wetland ecosystems to agricultural land use could severely compromise not only the multitude of plant and animal species in these wetlands but also the hydrological regime of the river catchments in which the wetlands lie and the livelihoods of people depending on the ecosystems.

Very little is known, let alone quantified, about the fragility of wetland ecosystems and threshold water abstraction and use levels that are needed for sustainable agricultural production while maintaining outflow for downstream users and sustaining the ecosystem. Moreover, the limited knowledge from various disciplines and stakeholder groups remains scattered and is not integrated into an all encompassing framework.

This project aims to address this startling lack of knowledge in order to provide policy and intervention options for ecologically sound wetland-based livelihood strategies. It is based on the premise that wetlands can be managed in a sustainable manner, and that a balance between protection and production can be achieved, ensuring optimal use of wetlands. Such planned use is infinitely preferable to the over-exploitation and inevitable destruction of wetlands and their ecosystems that will ensue from unplanned, unregulated use resulting from human population pressure.

Goal 

Specific Objectives

Project Outcomes

The expected project outcomes are:

• Enhanced information on wetland resources, attributes, linkages with surrounding catchments and degradation status and potential risk available to decision-makers and other stakeholders in southern Africa.
  
  
• Generic guidelines for sustainable land management in wetlands developed for wetland managers, natural resource planners, and wetland users based on new knowledge on the functions of common wetland types, their processes and linkages with catchments. The guidelines will comprise protocols for assessing the likely impacts and limits of a wide spectrum of human activities in wetlands and surrounding catchments
  
  
• Demonstrated innovative interventions for sustainable land and water management in those wetland types commonly utilized for agriculture and other livelihood- supporting activities.
  
  
• Enhanced capacity and awareness of sustainable management of wetlands in the southern Africa region at government, extension and grassroots levels.

Partners 

• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• The World Conservation Union Regional Office for Southern Africa

Donors

• GEF

• UNEP

• IWMI

• Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF)