Mangroves of Western and Central Africa


Book Description




Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science


Book Description

The study of estuaries and coasts has seen enormous growth in recent years, since changes in these areas have a large effect on the food chain, as well as on the physics and chemistry of the ocean. As the coasts and river banks around the world become more densely populated, the pressure on these ecosystems intensifies, putting a new focus on environmental, socio-economic and policy issues. Written by a team of international expert scientists, under the guidance of Chief Editors Eric Wolanski and Donald McClusky, the Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, Ten Volume Set examines topics in depth, and aims to provide a comprehensive scientific resource for all professionals and students in the area of estuarine and coastal science Most up-to-date reference for system-based coastal and estuarine science and management, from the inland watershed to the ocean shelf Chief editors have assembled a world-class team of volume editors and contributing authors Approach focuses on the physical, biological, chemistry, ecosystem, human, ecological and economics processes, to show how to best use multidisciplinary science to ensure earth's sustainability Provides a comprehensive scientific resource for all professionals and students in the area of estuarine and coastal science Features up-to-date chapters covering a full range of topics




Valuation of marine and estuarine coastal ecosystem services in the Canary Current large marine ecosystem region / Évaluation des services écosystémiques marins côtiers et estuariens dans la région du grand écosystème marin du courant des Canaries


Book Description

Ecosystem valuation is a process that assigns a monetary value to the benefits that are provided by an ecosystem and its ecosystem services. This study carries out the economic valuation of marine and estuarine coastal ecosystem services in the Canary Current Marine Ecosystem (CCLME). The CCLME stretches along the coast of Western Africa, from Morocco to Guinea, and is characterized by high biological productivity due to the upwelling of deep, cold oceanic waters along this coast. This also supports a high abundance of fish resources (both pelagic and demersal) and overall high biodiversity. This study reviews and assesses ecosystem services provided by the marine areas, coastal mangroves and seagrass meadows. These coastal areas not only provide habitats for some commercial fish species, but also feeding grounds, nurseries, or refuges. Therefore, mangroves and seagrasses can play an important role in maintaining fish stocks. L’évaluation des écosystèmes est un processus qui attribue une valeur monétaire aux avantages offerts par un écosystème et ses services écosystémiques. Cette étude cherche à réaliser une évaluation économique des services des écosystèmes côtiers marins et estuariens dans l’écosystème marin du courant des Canaries (CCLME). Le CCLME s’étend le long des côtes de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, du Maroc à la Guinée, et se caractérise par une productivité biologique élevée due à la remontée d’eaux océaniques froides et profondes (upwelling) le long de cette côte. Cela favorise également une grande abondance de ressources halieutiques (pélagiques et démersales) et une biodiversité globale élevée. Cette étude examine et évalue les services écosystémiques fournis par les zones marines, les mangroves côtières et les herbiers marins. Ces zones côtières fournissent non seulement des habitats pour certaines espèces de poissons commerciales, mais constituent également des aires d’alimentation, de nourriceries ou des refuges. Par conséquent, les mangroves et les herbiers marins peuvent jouer un rôle important dans le maintien des stocks de poissons.




Trees, forests and land use in drylands: the first global assessment


Book Description

Drylands cover 41 percent of the Earth's land surface. This publication presents the results of the first global assessment of trees, forests and land use in these lands. The assessment breaks new methodological ground: it relies on the visual interpreation of freely available satellite images, carried out by more than 200 experts in a series of regional workshops. Using a tool called Open Foris ollect Earth, developed by FAO in collaboration with Google, participants gathered and analysed information for mrore than 200 000 sample plots worldwide. For each region, the report summarizes the distribution of forests, other wooded land and other land uses including grasslands, croplands, built-up areas and barren land, across all drylands and by aridity zone. It also estimates tree canopy cover, shrub cover, forest type and presence of trees outside forest. Indicatng that the global drylands contain more than one-quarter of the world's forest area, and that trees are present on 31 percent of the world's dryland area, the report provides a baseline for future monitoring and will support countries in their efforts to identify appropriate investments for the restoration and sustainable management of drylands.




Deltas in the Anthropocene


Book Description

The Anthropocene is the human-dominated modern era that has accelerated social, environmental and climate change across the world in the last few decades. This open access book examines the challenges the Anthropocene presents to the sustainable management of deltas, both the many threats as well as the opportunities. In the world’s deltas the Anthropocene is manifest in major land use change, the damming of rivers, the engineering of coasts and the growth of some of the world’s largest megacities; deltas are home to one in twelve of all people in the world. The book explores bio-physical and social dynamics and makes clear adaptation choices and trade-offs that underpin policy and governance processes, including visionary delta management plans. It details new analysis to illustrate these challenges, based on three significant and contrasting deltas: the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna, Mahanadi and Volta. This multi-disciplinary, policy-orientated volume is strongly aligned to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals as delta populations often experience extremes of poverty, gender and structural inequality, variable levels of health and well-being, while being vulnerable to extreme and systematic climate change.




World Atlas of Mangroves


Book Description

"This atlas provides the first truly global assessment of the state of the world's mangroves. Written by the leading expert on mangroves with support from the top international researchers and conservation organizations, this full color atlas contains 60 full-page maps, hundreds of photographs and illustrations and a comprehensive country-by-country assessment of mangroves. Included are the first detailed estimates of changes in mangrove forestcover worldwide and at regional and national levels, an assessment of these changes and a country-by-country examination of biodiversity protection. The book also presents a wealth of global statistics on biodiversity, habitat area, loss and economic value which provide a unique record of mangroves against which future threats and changes can be evaluated. Case-studies, written by regional experts, provide insights into regional mangrove issues, including primary and potential productivity, biodiversity, and information on present and traditional uses and values and sustainable management."--Pub. desc.




Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas


Book Description

This book constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 4th EAI International Conference on Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas, InterSol 2020, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the conference is postponed to a later date in 2020. The 20 papers presented were selected from 50 submissions and issue different problems in underserved and unserved areas. They face problems in almost all sectors such as energy, water, communication, climate, food, education, transportation, social development, and economic growth.




Threats to Mangrove Forests


Book Description

This book focuses on the worldwide threats to mangrove forests and the management solutions currently being used to counteract those hazards. Designed for the professional or specialist in marine science, coastal zone management, biology, and related disciplines, this work will appeal to those not only working to protect mangrove forests, but also the surrounding coastal areas of all types. Examples are drawn from many different geographic areas, including North and South America, India, and Southeast Asia. Subject areas covered include both human-induced and natural impacts to mangroves, intended or otherwise, as well as the efforts being made by coastal researchers to promote restoration of these coastal fringing forests.




An IUCN situation analysis of terrestrial and freshwater fauna in West and Central Africa


Book Description

This situation analysis was undertaken to inform responses to several resolutions made at the 5th World Conservation Congress in 2012 about the plight of large vertebrates in West and Central Africa. It draws on a wide range of information to provide information on the status of these species, important sites, pressures, legislation, the effectiveness of protected areas, and both community-based incentives for conservation and institutional responses. The overriding conclusion is of substantial wildlife declines and inadequate responses to either long-standing pressures or rapidly escalating threats that have emerged in recent years.




Multifunctional Wetlands


Book Description

This book describes how natural or constructed wetlands can be used to reduce pollution of freshwater and coastal ecosystems, while still preserving their biodiversity and ecological functions. Through a series of case histories described in 10 chapters in the monograph, the readers will gain an understanding of the opportunities, as well as the challenges associated with reducing point and non-point source pollution using natural, restored or constructed wetlands. The target audience will be water practitioners involved in projects utilizing integrated watershed management approaches to pollution abatement, as well as researchers who are designing projects focused on this topic.