Correction: A stakeholder-informed framework for the sustainable management of coastal lagoons in West Africa

Coastal lagoons are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. In lagoons of the Global South development challenges and growing coastal populations compound climate stressors to create complex inter-connected problems that cross social, economic and environmental boundaries. The successful governance of lagoons thus requires multidimensional approaches that combine disciplines and incorporate multiple knowledges. A stakeholder informed management framework was developed for West African lagoons using a transdisciplinary and participatory approach. A network of researchers from across the region, collectively known as the Resilient Lagoon Network, facilitated participatory platforms for stakeholders to share their experiences of the stressors facing lagoons and their management. Participants were from academia, government organisations, NGOs, traditional authorities and coastal lagoon communities. The information acquired enabled an understanding and relative importance of the challenges facing lagoons as well as what constituted good management practice and an appreciation for the breadth of lagoon stakeholders. From this information a framework was created comprising three strands that outlined the “what, how and who” of sustainable lagoon management. The “what” consists of a series of social, economic, environmental and governance indicators, linked to the sustainable development goals, that provide a checklist for lagoon sustainability. The “how” outlines tenets of good governance with an emphasis on equity, participation, cooperation and open communication. The “who” maps the range of possible lagoon stakeholders. The framework has been sense tested with lagoon practitioners and made available across the region. Although based on the experience of West African lagoon stakeholders, it could be used to inform the management of lagoons across the Global South.

Ecosystem functioning: The basis for restoration and management of a tropical coastal lagoon, Pacific coast of Mexico

Diversity of property regimes of Mediterranean coastal lagoons in S. France; implications for coastal zone management

Pan-European management of coastal lagoons: A science-policy-stakeholder interface perspective

Decision support system development for integrated management of European coastal lagoons

<p>Although cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxins represent a worldwide-occurring phenomenon, there are large differences among different countries in cyanotoxin-related human health risk assessment, management practices and policies. While national standards, guideline values and detailed regulatory frameworks for effective management of cyanotoxin risks have been implemented in many industrialized countries, the extent of cyanobacteria occurrence and cyanotoxin contamination in certain geographical regions is under-reported and not very well understood. Such regions include major parts of tropical West and Central Africa, a region constisting of more than 25 countries occupying an area of 12 million km<sup>2</sup>, with a total population of 500 milion people. Only few studies focusing on cyanotoxin occurrence in this region have been published so far, and reports dealing specifically with cyanotoxin contamination in drinking water are extremely scarce. In this study, we report seasonal data on cyanobacteria and microcystin (MC) contamination in drinking water reservoirs and adjacent treatment plants located in Ghana, West Africa. During January-June 2005, concentrations of MCs were monitored in four treatment plants supplying drinking water to major metropolitan areas in Ghana: the treatment plants Barekese and Owabi, which serve Kumasi Metropolitan Area, and the plants Kpong and Weija, providing water for Accra-Tema Metropolitan Area. HPLC analyses showed that 65% samples of raw water at the intake of the treatment plants contained intracellular MCs (maximal detected concentration was 8.73 µg L<sup>-1</sup>), whereas dissolved toxins were detected in 33% of the samples. Significant reduction of cyanobacterial cell counts and MC concentrations was achieved during the entire monitoring period by the applied conventional water treatment methods (alum flocculation, sedimentation, rapid sand filtration and chlorination), and MC concentration in the final treated water never exceeded 1 µg L<sup>-1</sup> (WHO guideline limit for MCs in drinking water). However, cyanobacterial cells (93-3,055 cell mL<sup>-1</sup>) were frequently found in the final treated water and intracellular MCs were detected in 17% of the samples (maximal concentration 0.61 µg L<sup>-1</sup>), while dissolved MCs were present in 14% of the final treated water samples (maximal concentration 0.81 µg L<sup>-1</sup>). It indicates a borderline efficiency of the water treatment, thus MC concentrations in drinking water might exceed the WHO guideline limit if the treatment efficiency gets compromised. In addition, MC concentrations found in the raw water intake might represent significant human health risks for people living in areas with only a limited access to the treated or underground drinking water.</p>

Do physiography and hydrology determine the physico-chemical properties and trophic status of coastal lagoons? A comparative approach

Coastal lagoons provide important ecosystem services, but are simultaneously highly vulnerable. We aim at a better understanding of the mechanisms of ecosystem service production in these ecosystems. Three case studies, based on results obtained during the BACOSA and SECOS projects, identify the impact of the functional organism groups bioturbating zoobenthos, phytoplankton and macrophytes on coastal lagoons. These empirical results are merged with a theoretical framework on the relations between ecological conditions and ecosystem services, consisting of an integrative matrix projection. RESPON (relative ecosystem service potential) points are estimated for the three case studies. All functional groups have an overall positive effect on ecosystem services, and a very high impact on integrity parameters such as biodiversity, trophic efficiency and nutrient retention. The highest scores are obtained for macrophytes, while phytoplankton only has a slightly positive impact. For bioturbation, a major lack of knowledge was identified; bioturbating zoobenthos with high biodiversity is assumed to favour “seafloor integrity”. Despite major difficulties such as lack of knowledge and highly different approaches, our analysis results in specific recommendations for management and future research. Management must consider the high connectivity of coastal lagoons with other ecosystems. Harsh impacts destroying benthic fauna communities have to be minimized. The promotion of submerged vegetation, which is an important provider of ecosystem services, must be implemented in the management of coastal lagoons.

Lagoons in the heavily populated, semi-arid coastal zone of the Southern Mediterranean Region exemplify the conflict between human utilisation of water and related resources and aquatic ecosystems. Having recognised the requirement to improve understanding of the functioning of the region’s coastal wetlands, the MELMARINA Project undertook integrated hydro-ecological monitoring and modelling within lagoons in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. This article highlights some key issues regarding environmental science and management of the region’s coastal lagoons revealed during the course of the project. It stresses the importance of hydrology as a key control upon lagoon functioning and ecosystem dynamics. Hydrological modifications due to water resource management schemes are the cause of many recent changes experienced within lagoons. Linkages between water quality, water availability, human activities and biological characteristics of coastal lagoons are discussed with particular reference to the controls upon vegetation within the MELMARINA lagoons. A series of methodological advances are reviewed which have potential for wider application within coastal lagoons. It is suggested that the use of lagoon sediment for environmental reconstruction can be invaluable, especially when monitoring data are lacking. Recent advances in instrumentation technologies make long-term continuous monitoring more feasible although these approaches can be combined with more traditional site surveys to provide wider spatial coverage at the expense of temporal resolution. Wider spatial coverage can also be achieved through the use of space-borne or aerial remote sensing imagery whilst longer-term trends in site characteristics can be assessed through historical map analyses. Geographical Information Systems, which facilitate the storage and interrogation of large and varied datasets, have enormous potential. Similarly, coupled hydro-ecological models can inform understanding of lagoon functioning and can assess scenarios associated with environmental change or alternative management approaches. The application of integrated, basin-wide approaches to the management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems in the Southern Mediterranean Region is advocated. This includes the application of principles from the EU’s Water Framework Directive. Finally, the need to place management in the context of climate change and associated sea level rise is stressed. Emphasis should be placed on the development of adaptation strategies designed to minimise the effects of these changes.

1. A monitoring system was developed in two Corsican coastal lagoons (Biguglia and Urbino; Corsica, Western Mediterranean). 2. Three species of seagrass (Nanozostera noltii, Ruppia cirrhosa and Cymodocea nodosa) were monitored by (i) measuring spatio-temporal changes in the seagrasses, using fixed structures, (ii) investigating temporal changes in the biological parameters of the seagrasses, and (iii) mapping their distribution by processing aerial images of both lagoons. 3. These investigations showed that, while the two lagoons exhibit, a priori, a certain structural homogeneity (ecosystems based on aquatic plants), they function in different ways that are specifically linked to environmental conditions. 4. At present, the estimated net production varies from 86 to 469 g C m−2 yr−1 at Biguglia and 190 to 1301 g C m−2 yr−1 at Urbino. These values confirm the richness of these two lagoons, and the interest of using seagrass, by means of regular monitoring, for the conservation and management of coastal lagoons. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Management of coastal lagoons under climate change

Environmental heterogeneity patterns and assessment of trophic levels in two Mediterranean lagoons: Orbetello and Varano, Italy

Assessment of a coastal lagoon metal distribution through natural and anthropogenic processes (SE, Brazil)

Our aim in this chapter is to provide an updated and concise description of the diversity of fertility decline patterns among countries1 in sub- Saharan Africa drawing on the latest series of fertility estimates that take into account many different data sources and that are harmonized with other demographic components (United Nations 2015d). We focus on the level of fertility prior to the start of fertility decline the time period of the fertility transition and the estimated pace of decline. We also explore the implications of different fertility decline patterns for future fertility and population projections in the region. We draw on the distinct patterns of fertility decline among countries worldwide that are advanced in (or have completed) their first fertility transition to construct probabilistic fertility and population projections for sub-Saharan African countries. The illustrative comparisons of projections highlight the demographic impact if future fertility decline in sub-Saharan countries were to accelerate and follow the rapid pace of decline already experienced by a diverse group of countries. (excerpt)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has evolved conflict management and security framework through which it responds to the myriads of socio-political crisis in the sub-region. This paper assesses the ECOWAS mechanisms for conflict management vis-à-vis the challenges facing the region. It begins by looking at the nature of conflict in West Africa; and then the evolution of ECOWAS conflict management framework. Using content analysis, the paper argues that ECOWAS has evolved a comprehensive conflict management and security framework and has made significant achievements in conflict management in the West African sub-region. It however, recommends peacebuilding efforts that address poverty, human rights abuses and election fraud as well as more synergy and political will to handle religious extremism in the sub-region