The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa
Wetlands, which occupy a considerable proportion of Malawi, are an important resource for the rural-poor. In regions of low and erratic rainfall, they provide important opportunities for agriculture and fisheries and are often vital for food security. However, overutilization and some farming practi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40456 |
| _version_ | 1855537445960941568 |
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| author | Rebelo, Lisa-Maria McCartney, Matthew P. Finlayson, C. Max |
| author_browse | Finlayson, C. Max McCartney, Matthew P. Rebelo, Lisa-Maria |
| author_facet | Rebelo, Lisa-Maria McCartney, Matthew P. Finlayson, C. Max |
| author_sort | Rebelo, Lisa-Maria |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Wetlands, which occupy a considerable proportion of Malawi, are an important resource for the rural-poor. In regions of low and erratic rainfall, they provide important opportunities for agriculture and fisheries and are often vital for food security. However, overutilization and some farming practices can result in environmental degradation and the loss of valuable ecosystem services. The Lake Chilwa wetland, a complex aquatic ecosystem comprising a shallow open water lake surrounded by marsh and floodplain grassland, is one of the most important wetlands in Malawi. Most of the 1 million people who live in the vicinity of the lake derive their livelihoods from the wetland. Increases in population in recent decades have increased the pressures on the wetland. In light of continued population growth, it is anticipated that some levels of resource use may be difficult to sustain in the long-term. Consequently, planning the use of wetland resources is a priority if the diverse benefits that local communities presently receive are to be sustained. Baseline wetland information is needed to determine appropriate sustainable management plans, as well as to identify limits to resilience. However, for many wetlands in southern and eastern Africa, these data are lacking, or not available to those who need them. This paper provides an overview of the distribution and characteristics of wetlands in Malawi. Using Lake Chilwa as an example, it illustrates how Earth Observation data, in combination with hydrometric and botanical data, can be used to provide information crucial for sustainable wetland management. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace40456 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publishDateRange | 2011 |
| publishDateSort | 2011 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace404562025-06-17T08:24:13Z The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa Rebelo, Lisa-Maria McCartney, Matthew P. Finlayson, C. Max wetlands lakes land use ecology hydrology vegetation fisheries Wetlands, which occupy a considerable proportion of Malawi, are an important resource for the rural-poor. In regions of low and erratic rainfall, they provide important opportunities for agriculture and fisheries and are often vital for food security. However, overutilization and some farming practices can result in environmental degradation and the loss of valuable ecosystem services. The Lake Chilwa wetland, a complex aquatic ecosystem comprising a shallow open water lake surrounded by marsh and floodplain grassland, is one of the most important wetlands in Malawi. Most of the 1 million people who live in the vicinity of the lake derive their livelihoods from the wetland. Increases in population in recent decades have increased the pressures on the wetland. In light of continued population growth, it is anticipated that some levels of resource use may be difficult to sustain in the long-term. Consequently, planning the use of wetland resources is a priority if the diverse benefits that local communities presently receive are to be sustained. Baseline wetland information is needed to determine appropriate sustainable management plans, as well as to identify limits to resilience. However, for many wetlands in southern and eastern Africa, these data are lacking, or not available to those who need them. This paper provides an overview of the distribution and characteristics of wetlands in Malawi. Using Lake Chilwa as an example, it illustrates how Earth Observation data, in combination with hydrometric and botanical data, can be used to provide information crucial for sustainable wetland management. 2011-01 2014-06-13T14:47:42Z 2014-06-13T14:47:42Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40456 en Limited Access Elsevier Rebelo, Lisa-Maria; McCartney, Matthew; Finlayson, M. C. 2011. The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 37(Supplement 1):83-92. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2010.05.004 |
| spellingShingle | wetlands lakes land use ecology hydrology vegetation fisheries Rebelo, Lisa-Maria McCartney, Matthew P. Finlayson, C. Max The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa |
| title | The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa |
| title_full | The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa |
| title_fullStr | The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa |
| title_short | The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa |
| title_sort | application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of lake chilwa |
| topic | wetlands lakes land use ecology hydrology vegetation fisheries |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40456 |
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