Ecological Decline Research Articles

Integrating external stressors in supervised machine learning algorithm achieves high accuracy to predict multi-species biological integrity index of aquaculture wastewater

Monitoring and predicting the environmental impact of wastewater is essential for sustainable aquaculture. The environmental DNA metabarcoding-integrated supervised machine learning (SML) algorithm is an alternative method for ecological quality assessment and prediction. However, the ecological integrity of aquaculture wastewater and available effective input features for prediction remain unclear. Here, we used the multispecies biological integrity index (Ms-IBI) to provide a detailed categorization, identifying over half of the samples (53.85 %) as highly impacted, emphasizing the urgency to address ecological degradation; Ms-IBI emerged as a reliable label for SML models. By condensing 410 effective indicators and integrating 25 core operational taxonomic unit features with external stressors, an accuracy of 0.78 and R2 of 0.96 was achieved. Utilizing only external stressors yielded a comparably good performance with fewer input features, obtaining an accuracy of 0.74 and an R2 of 0.91. The integration of external stressors in this study highlights a practical predictive method that meets the ecological quality requirements of aquaculture wastewater, aiding the reversal of global ecological decline.

Late Cretaceous ammonoids show that drivers of diversification are regionally heterogeneous

Palaeontologists have long sought to explain the diversification of individual clades to whole biotas at global scales. Advances in our understanding of the spatial distribution of the fossil record through geological time, however, has demonstrated that global trends in biodiversity were a mosaic of regionally heterogeneous diversification processes. Drivers of diversification must presumably have also displayed regional variation to produce the spatial disparities observed in past taxonomic richness. Here, we analyse the fossil record of ammonoids, pelagic shelled cephalopods, through the Late Cretaceous, characterised by some palaeontologists as an interval of biotic decline prior to their total extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. We regionally subdivide this record to eliminate the impacts of spatial sampling biases and infer regional origination and extinction rates corrected for temporal sampling biases using Bayesian methods. We then model these rates using biotic and abiotic drivers commonly inferred to influence diversification. Ammonoid diversification dynamics and responses to this common set of diversity drivers were regionally heterogeneous, do not support ecological decline, and demonstrate that their global diversification signal is influenced by spatial disparities in sampling effort. These results call into question the feasibility of seeking drivers of diversity at global scales in the fossil record.

A Study of the Spatiotemporal Evolution Patterns and Coupling Coordination between Ecosystem Service Values and Habitat Quality in Diverse Scenarios: The Case of Chengdu Metropolitan Area, China

The global ecological decline resulting from urban development presents a significant challenge for numerous regions striving to reconcile conservation efforts with developmental needs. This study explores the relationship between ecosystem service value (ESV) and habitat quality (HQ) under various scenarios to elucidate prospective development trajectories. This study utilized the PLUS model to simulate land use patterns in the Chengdu metropolitan area across four distinct development scenarios. Furthermore, it employed the equivalent factor method and the Invest model to quantify ESV and HQ values, and investigated the coupling coordination between ESV and HQ for each city using a coupling coordination model (CCM). The findings are as follows: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, land use in the Chengdu metropolitan area primarily expanded through the development of construction land. (2) Concurrently, ESV demonstrated a fluctuating trend characterized by an initial decline succeeded by an upsurge, culminating under the Development–Ecological Balance Scenario. Likewise, HQ displayed a similar fluctuating pattern with an initial decline succeeded by an increase, reaching its zenith under the Ecological Dominance Scenario. (3) The coupling coordination between ESV and HQ exhibited variability across cities and scenarios. Ultimately, this study offers a distinctive perspective on evaluating the interplay between urban development and conservation, providing valuable insights for promoting sustainable development in other regions.

Enhancing conservation and management of mountain area through a biocultural diversity evaluation approach:A case study of Taishan Mountain Area, China

As hotspots of biocultural diversity (BCD), mountain areas contain the richest ecosystems with cultural characteristics. However, in the context of cultural homogenization and ecological decline, some high-value mountain areas are still not adequately protected, and some protected areas (PAs) even suffer from an imbalance between natural and cultural protection. To improve the coverage and conservation effectiveness of PAs in mountain areas, we propose a BCD evaluation approach to identify conservation gaps and prioritization, taking the Taishan Mountain Area (TMA) as a study case: first, we used four biodiversity factors (topographic diversity, geological diversity, ecosystem services, bird species distribution) and four cultural diversity factors (cultural landscape, intangible cultural heritage, traditional production modes, population and economy) to evaluate the BCD values; second, we generated a map of BCD hotspots and graded them into three levels; and finally, we compared the evaluation result with the PAs’ layout in the TMA and determined the conservation gap and prioritization. We find that 43.92% of the high BCD areas and 84.39% of the medium BCD areas within the mountain area are inadequately protected, and 10.79% of the low BCD areas may be overprotected, classifying the above conservation gaps as three priority levels of conservation. Our study indicates that the current PAs in mountain areas are insufficiently protected and urgently need to be expanded; (2) by analyzing the coupling relationship between biodiversity and cultural diversity, it is found that only 23.90% of the relationships between the two were coordinated or above in the TMA; (3) we propose the optimization strategies of four typical conservation gaps in the TMA; (4) we finally develop an integrated conservation model of biological and cultural values for different PA categories in mountain areas based on a gap analysis. Optimizing mountain conservation and management based on the BCD evaluation results is conducive to promoting the sustainable development of human beings and nature while guaranteeing the unbiased allocation of conservation resources in mountain areas.

Coral restoration can drive rapid reef carbonate budget recovery

Restoration is increasingly seen as a necessary tool to reverse ecological decline across terrestrial and marine ecosystems.1,2 Considering the unprecedented loss of coral cover and associated reef ecosystem services, active coral restoration is gaining traction in local management strategies and has recently seen major increases in scale. However, the extent to which coral restoration may restore key reef functions is poorly understood.3,4 Carbonate budgets, defined as the balance between calcium carbonate production and erosion, influence a reef's ability to provide important geo-ecological functions including structural complexity, reef framework production, and vertical accretion.5 Here we present the first assessment of reef carbonate budget trajectories at restoration sites. The study was conducted at one of the world's largest coral restoration programs, which transplants healthy coral fragments onto hexagonal metal frames to consolidate degraded rubble fields.6 Within 4 years, fast coral growth supports a rapid recovery of coral cover (from 17%± 2% to 56%± 4%), substrate rugosity (from 1.3± 0.1 to 1.7± 0.1) and carbonate production (from 7.2± 1.6 to 20.7± 2.2kg m-2 yr-1). Four years after coral transplantation, net carbonate budgets have tripled and are indistinguishable from healthy control sites (19.1± 3.1 and 18.7± 2.2kg m-2 yr-1, respectively). However, taxa-level contributions to carbonate production differ between restored and healthy reefs due to the preferential use of branching corals for transplantation. While longer observation times are necessary to observe any self-organization ability of restored reefs (natural recruitment, resilience to thermal stress), we demonstrate the potential of large-scale, well-managed coral restoration projects to recover important ecosystem functions within only 4 years.

Use of remote sensing and GIS in assessing the impact of Prosopis juliflora proliferation on land use, land cover and diversity of native flora at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, India

It is crucial to accurately quantify land use and land cover (LULC) within a protected area to understand the implications of habitat changes on biodiversity. Today’s remote sensing and GIS technologies greatly facilitate analysis of LULC, especially with regards to tracing changes over space and time. This study uses remote sensing and GIS to examine the impact of climate, herbivore, and anthropogenic pressures including invasive Mesquite Prosopis juliflora on native plant communities at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary. Classification of satellite images revealed that dry evergreen, mudflat, and water bodies had transformed into open scrub from 1995 to 2018 and the shift in LULC is detected with optimal accuracy (85%). Changes in LULC are largely attributable to a rise in open scrub caused by the growth in P. juliflora from 3 to 6 km2 since 1995. GLM-based regression to examine the influence of climate, herbivores, and anthropogenic pressure including P. juliflora on native flora show native tree density, shrub density, shrub diversity, herb, and grass cover decreasing with P. juliflora cover or density. These findings imply that as the P. juliflora spreads the native plant diversity and density at Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary will continue to decline. P. juliflora is being eradicated in phases through management efforts, however, here we recommend a coordinated effort to curb further expansion in order to reverse ecological decline.

Anthropogenic transformation of oasis landscapes in Khorezm Province, Uzbekistan: A geoecological analysis

This geoecological analysis of Khorezm Province, Uzbekistan, unveils the intricate dynamics of anthropogenic transformations in oasis landscapes. Examining land cover changes, socio-economic influences, hydrological challenges, and biodiversity decline, the study provides comprehensive insights for sustainable development. Urban expansion, driven by factors like population growth and economic development, necessitates strategic urbanization policies, incorporating green infrastructure and mixed-use zoning. Adaptive water management is imperative to address escalating groundwater depletion and declining surface water quality, emphasizing improved irrigation practices and technological integration. Biodiversity conservation initiatives, especially in critical habitats like riparian zones and wetlands, are vital to counteract ecological decline. Predictive modeling facilitates informed decision-making, allowing stakeholders to anticipate and proactively address future landscape changes. Interdisciplinary collaboration is paramount, weaving together perspectives from ecology, hydrology, sociology, and economics to navigate the delicate balance between development and conservation. These findings position Khorezm Province as a potential model for sustainable development, providing valuable insights applicable to regions facing analogous challenges.

Temporal Changes in the Physico chemical Composition of Lake Geneva from 1957 to the Present

This manuscript presents an exhaustive analysis of a physicochemical dataset collected from Lake Geneva since 1957, offering a detailed exploration of its long-term environmental evolution. This study encompasses an array of cycles and trophic states that the lake has undergone. A critical finding is the significant influence of human activities within the catchment area, notably the introduction of substantial quantities of nutrients, especially phosphorus, into the lake’s ecosystem. This anthropogenic impact culminated in a marked ecological decline between the 1960s and 1970s, characterized by a phase of eutrophication. This period saw a surge in algal blooms and a consequent decrease in water transparency. In the 1970s, strategic interventions were implemented to address this environmental challenge. These measures, including the enhancement of phosphorus treatment at sewage facilities in the catchment area and the nationwide ban on phosphated detergents in Switzerland, proved instrumental in reducing the influx of nutrients. Consequently, a significant reduction in the lake’s phosphorus levels was observed by the 1980s. The lake is currently undergoing a re-oligotrophication process, with phosphorus concentrations indicating a mesotrophic state. However, it is noteworthy that the biological components of the lake are exhibiting a slower recovery rate in adapting to reduced nutrient levels, in contrast to the more immediate response noted during the eutrophication phase. Despite the progress achieved, ongoing vigilance and efforts are essential to continuously monitor, identify, and manage potential sources of phosphorus pollution. This proactive approach is vital for maintaining the lake’s ecological balance and ensuring it remains free from significant algal proliferation.

THE IMPACT OF RESTORED FRESHWATER INFLOW ON TIDAL DISTORTION IN A SHALLOW ESTUARY

Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi (the Maketū Estuary) in the Bay of Plenty of Aotearoa New Zealand has had multiple major shifts in the salinity regime, associated with a long history of engineering works on river inflows. The Kaituna River was diverted out of the estuary in 1957 to prevent flooding, resulting in degradation of the estuary, including increased sedimentation, loss of tidal channels, decreased flushing, saltwater intrusion and ecological decline. However, in 2020 and 2021, a total of 20 percent of the river flow was restored back into the estuary in two stages through 12 control gates, with a key driver being to restore the mauri (life force) of the estuary and kaimoana for tangata whenua (Māori people of the land). This study focuses on the immediate effects of the partial (13 percent) restoration of the Kaituna River flow on the tidal distortion at 5 sites throughout the estuary. One of the issues before the partial freshwater restoration was infilling of the estuary with sediment. Infilling can be driven by flood-dominant tidal asymmetry and thus changes to asymmetry are a focus of this study.

Integrating the impacts of vegetation coverage on ecosystem services to determine ecological restoration targets for adaptive management on the Loess Plateau, China

AbstractAchieving sustainable resource management is essential to address the rising demand for ecosystem services. The absence of targeted vegetation restoration based on ecological function positioning has, nevertheless, made it challenging to effectively combat the ecological decline. This study attempted to classify four dominant ecological function areas based on the assessment of water conservation, soil retention, habitat quality, and food supply and determined the vegetation coverage threshold by exploring the trade‐offs among ecosystem services and constraint effects between ecosystem services and vegetation coverage. The results highlighted the impacts of ecosystem services on vegetation coverage across the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 and established differentiated ecological restoration targets. The optimal vegetation coverage in the water conservation area was found to be 58%–63%, in the soil retention area was 52%–56%, in the food supply area was 34%–40%, and in the habitat quality area was 65%–70%. Finally, the study identified the subwatersheds with reasonable vegetation coverage, excessive restoration, and those that failed to reach the optimal vegetation coverage to develop targeted restoration strategies for each subwatershed according to its unique vegetation conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the specification of differentiated vegetation coverage targets and serves as a useful tool for more effective ecosystem planning and management.

Modernization by the State and its Ecological Consequences in East-Central Europe

During the nineteenth-, and twentieth centuries urbanization and industrialization altered the environment in a dramatic fashion throughout Europe. Much of this change in East‑Central Europe (ECE) was instigated, facilitated and coordinated by the state. The economic-, and technological intervention by the state and its interconnectedness with capitalism and science have had tremendous ecological consequences. Although there have been substantial studies related to the complex interconnectedness of state‑intervention, capitalism, and anthropogenic environmental change, the scientific community still knows little about the environmental aspects of specific modernization attempts in many parts of the world, including East‑Central Europe. To cover this gap, this special issue investigates some of the key historical problems of modernization and subsequent ecological decline in modern ECE via a handful of relevant case studies. This introductory essay summarizes the main theoretical-, and methodological challenges related to the modern environmental history of East‑Central Europe and the role of the state, as well as provides an overview of the case studies included in this special issue.

Assessing the ecological impacts of opencast coal mining in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau-a case study in Muli coal field, China

Coal-based industries are critical to the contemporary world's growth, while the environmental degradation associated with the industry is also increasing. In this study, we develop the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) and map its distribution from 2000 to 2020 using the Muli coalfield near Qinghai Lake as the research object. This index is obtained by fitting four components that are critically related to the quality of the ecological environment, including greenness, humidity, heat and dryness, to finally obtain a desirable evaluation. The results illustrate that: (1) The RSEI displayed an overall increasing trend on the time scale, but it also went through three lengthier phases of trend changes. In space view, the RSEI of the unaltered areas has greatly improved, while the damaged areas are clearly concentrated in the study area's northwestern region, where mining is common. (2) In the trend test, the overall variation of RSEI was found to be around 3%. RSEI significantly increased in 69.57% of the study region, whereas RSEI decreased dramatically in 30.43% of the study area. (3) In opencast mining disturbed areas and undisturbed areas, a different quality structure can be discovered, with Moderate and Good levels predominating in disturbed areas and Good and Excellent levels predominating in undisturbed areas. The ecological decline in damaged areas significantly hampered the overall upward trend of RSEI. (4) The Globalmoran's I value was 0.558, 0.546, 0.409, 0.574, and 0.680 in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, respectively, showing a positive association between regional distribution of ecological environment quality and that opencast mining does really degrade that quality. It has been demonstrated that our evaluation accurately classify the local environment as affected by opencast mining, making it crucial for studying the relationship between coal mining and ecological quality. This index can also be utilized in the future when conducting surveys of other regions of intense human disturbance.

Optimizing ecological and economic benefits in areas with complex land-use evolution based on spatial subdivisions

The increasing complexity of urban systems intensifies the ecological decline caused by disordered land-use patterns. However, inadequate recognition of complex land-use evolution and large-scale zoning management limits the performance of the classical planning paradigm. Furthermore, few studies have provided quantitative support for maintaining ecological benefits in land-use optimization. In this study, complex land-use evolution was quantitatively delineated and categorized by developing trends and evolutionary stages within subdivided units. Considering both ecological and economic benefits, flexible and practical solutions from multi-objective optimization are clustered and precisely matched to spatial units with diverse needs. The empirical results reveal that (1) the spatial pattern of land-use development trends exhibits a concentric ring structure in Xiamen, and its adaptive evolution stage is dominantly progressing from exploitation to conservation; (2) excessive pursuit of economic output (EO) of land-use leads to a reduction in ecological potential (EP) and ecological connectivity (EC), while a decline of EP and EC inversely reduces the marginal EO of construction land; and (3) large improvements in the EP of land use are observed in the development priority scenario while limited improvements in the EO of land use are observed in the conservation priority scenario. This approach can provide optimal area thresholds for different land-use types for decision-making that supports the planning and precise management of land uses. Additionally, the findings of this study provide important insights for sustainable urban land-use development.

Biocultural innovation: Innovating at the intersection of the biosphere and ethnosphere

AbstractScientists, economists, and politicians increasingly recognize that Indigenous peoples possess invaluable knowledge and practices that have the potential to drive innovation to solve critical global challenges. Indeed, thousands of important drugs—including lifesaving cancer treatments—have their origins in centuries old Indigenous knowledge and practices. Similarly, Indigenous practices have fueled the fast‐growing regenerative agriculture industry that is able to yield windfall profits while sequestering carbon and enhancing biodiversity. Referred to in policy circles as biocultural innovation—a form of innovation that occurs at the intersection of the biosphere and ethnosphere—hundreds of diverse examples from a wide array of industries have been documented outside of the innovation literature. However, innovation scholars have yet to recognize or embrace biocultural innovation. We argue that this major oversight hinders practice and leaves untapped potential for solving issues such as slow or unsustainable economic growth, ecological decline, and inequality. To address this gap, we provide a clear definition of biocultural innovation, differentiate it from other innovation domains, and establish its conceptual foundations. Informed by economic theorizing that views the ethnosphere and biosphere as assets, we propose that these assets share four traits: functionality, potentiality, vulnerability, and inseparability (“FPVI shared traits”). Due to their immense biocultural diversity, we assert that these assets carry an “option value” representing enormous innovation potential that can be converted, conserved, or constructed to solve global challenges (the “3Cs”). We conclude by identifying promising avenues for future research on biocultural innovation and a call for action on how to unlock economic and social value while supporting biocultural assets and Indigenous rights.

A river basin spatial model to quantitively advance understanding of riverine tree response dynamics to water availability and hydrological management

Ecological condition continues to decline in arid and semi-arid river basins globally due to hydrological over-abstraction combined with changing climatic conditions. Whilst provision of water for the environment has been a primary approach to alleviate ecological decline, how to accurately monitor changes in riverine trees at fine spatial and temporal scales, remains a substantial challenge. This is further complicated by constantly changing water availability across expansive river basins with varying climatic zones. Within, we combine rare, fine-scale, high frequency temporal in-situ field collected data with machine learning and remote sensing, to provide a robust model that enables broadscale monitoring of physiological tree water stress response to environmental changes via actual evapotranspiration (ET). Physiological variation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum) and E. largiflorens (Black Box) trees across 10 study locations in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, was captured instantaneously using sap flow sensors, substantially reducing tree response lags encountered by monitoring visual canopy changes. Actual ET measurement of both species was used to bias correct a national spatial ET product where a Random Forest model was trained using continuous timeseries of in-situ data of up to four years. Precise monthly AMLETT (Australia-wide Machine Learning ET for Trees) ET outputs in 30 m pixel resolution from 2012 to 2021, were derived by incorporating additional remote sensing layers such as soil moisture, land surface temperature, radiation and EVI and NDVI in the Random Forest model. Landsat and Sentinal-2 correlation results between in-situ ET and AMLETT ET returned R2 of 0.94 (RMSE 6.63 mm period−1) and 0.92 (RMSE 6.89 mm period−1), respectively. In comparison, correlation between in-situ ET and a national ET product returned R2 of 0.44 (RMSE 34.08 mm period−1) highlighting the need for bias correction to generate accurate absolute ET values. The AMLETT method presented here, enhances environmental management in river basins worldwide. Such robust broadscale monitoring can inform water accounting and importantly, assist decisions on where to prioritize water for the environment to restore and protect key ecological assets and preserve floodplain and riparian ecological function.

From conflict to collaboration: Atewa Forest governance

AbstractThe problem of forest degradation and loss has become the concern of many countries. To address this challenge, some collaborate in sustainable forest management. The most successful outcomes, however, are observed where local participation is an essential part of conservation efforts. In Ghana, forests have experienced various degrees of exploitation over the years, resulting in their ecological decline. Despite its designation as a protected area for biodiversity and ecosystem services, the Atewa Range Forest Reserve in Ghana has been significantly impacted by deforestation, illegal mining, and other destructive activities. The purpose of this paper is to examine ecologically based management approaches that could be adopted to generate beneficial outcomes for all forest stakeholders and actors in Ghana. The study sampled forest stakeholders in Kwabeng, the administrative capital of the Atewa West District, to understand forest governance challenges and outline strategies for overcoming them. The study revealed that a bottom‐up all‐inclusive approach to managing forest resources is necessary. This paper, therefore, proposes an integrated forest governance that prioritizes the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15—Life on Land‐related to forest preservation.

Identifying Limits in Domestic Law Delivering Net Ecological Benefit: A New Zealand Example

Achieving a real net ecological benefit requires among other things legislative changes to existing environmental laws. New Zealand is one country undertaking such a review. The proposed new laws recognise a need to enhance the quality of the environment as a move away from minimising harm. As such, this appears to be a move toward a Positive Development (PD) approach to environmental management. However, as this paper concludes, the shift remains incomplete partly because while science is used to inform the creation of policies, plans, legislation and regulation, this is only achieved up to a point. That point is where the socio-economic norms and expectations prevent the on-going application of what is required by science to address observable and quantifiable ecological degradation. The understanding and application of ecological integrity is used as an example of how this can result in legislation apparently enabling significant change and a possible net ecological benefit but failing in effect to do so. The article concludes that legislative changes can better frame the problem of on-going ecological decline within the dominant paradigm, and as a result, it may deliver benefits, but these will not be net benefits in the Positive Development sense.

Global insect decline is the result of wilful political failure: Abattle plan for entomology.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment assessed ecosystem change, human wellbeing and scientific evidence for sustainable use of biological systems. Despite intergovernmental acknowledgement of the problem, global ecological decline has continued, including declines in insect biodiversity, which has received much media attention in recent years. Several roadmaps to averting biological declines have failed due to various economic and political factors, and so biodiversity loss continues, driven by several interacting human pressures. Humans are innately linked with nature but tend to take it for granted. The benefits we gain from the insect world are broad, yet aversion or phobias of invertebrates are common, and stand firmly in the path of their successful conservation. Providing an integrated synthesis for policy teams, conservation NGOs, academic researchers and those interested in public engagement, this article considers: (1) The lack of progress to preserve and protect insects. (2) Examples relating to insect decline and contributions insects make to people worldwide, and consequently what we stand to lose. (3) How to engage the public, governmental organizations and researchers through “insect contributions to people” to better address insect declines. International political will has consistently acknowledged the existence of biodiversity decline, but apart from a few narrow cases of charismatic megafauna, little meaningful change has been achieved. Public values are reflected in political willpower, the progress being made across the world, changing views on insects in the public should initiate a much‐needed political sea‐change. Taking both existing activity and required future actions, we outline an entomologist's “battle plan” to enormously expand our efforts and become the champions of insect conservation that the natural world needs.

Contrasting Management and Fates of Two Sister Lakes: Great Salt Lake (USA) and Lake Urmia (Iran)

Many saline lakes throughout the world are shrinking due to overexploitation of water in their drainage basins. Among them are two of the world’s largest saline lakes, the U.S.A.’s Great Salt Lake, and Iran’s Lake Urmia. Here we provide a comparative analysis of the desiccation of these two lakes that provides insights on management decisions that may help save them and that are relevant to saline lake management worldwide. Great Salt Lake and Lake Urmia were once remarkably similar in size, depth, salinity, and geographic setting. High rates of population growth in both basins have fueled a demand for irrigated agriculture and other uses. In the Great Salt Lake basin, this development began in the late 1800’s and is continuing. The lake’s volume has decreased by 67%, with 75% of the loss driven by water development and 25% by a millennial drought which may portend the start of global climate change impacts. This has greatly increased salinities to 180 g·L−1 stressing the invertebrates in the lake on which birds depend. Only 1% of people in the basin are employed in agriculture; thus, reducing the demand for irrigation development. Population densities in the Urmia basin are double those of the Great Salt Lake basin, and 28% of people are employed in agriculture. These demographics have led to a rapid increase in reservoir construction since 2000 and the subsequent loss of 87% of Lake Urmia’s volume. The water development of Lake Urmia was later, but much faster than that of Great Salt Lake, causing Urmia’s salinity to increase from 190 to over 350 g·L−1 in just 20 years, with subsequent severe ecological decline. Dust storms from the exposed lakebeds of both systems threaten the health of the surrounding populations. To save these lakes and others will require: (1) transparent and collaborative involvement with local interest groups; (2) shifts away from an agricultural-based economy to one based on manufacturing and services; (3) consideration of the diverse ecosystem services of the lakes including mineral extraction, recreation, bird habitats in surrounding wetlands, and dust control.

Ecological health assessment of Ethiopian wetlands: Review and synthesis

Assessment and monitoring of wetlands' ecology is vital to evaluate their ecological conditions, and provide information to support management decisions. Cognizant of this fact, wetland ecological assessment has been an important research agenda. As elsewhere in the world, wetland ecological assessment has been conducted in Ethiopia. This review aims to assess the spatial coverage of wetland ecological studies, the types of assessment tools employed for ecological assessment, the existing status of wetlands' ecologies and the drivers of wetland ecological decline. The review shows that not more than 30 ecological assessment studies have been conducted and published in reputable scientific journals. These studies mainly focused on only three river and lake basins and not more than 40 wetlands. This suggested wetlands’ ecological assessment has gotten scant research attention in the country. Physicochemical indicators have widely been employed to assess the ecological status of wetlands. Even though biological organisms are better indicators, biological approaches have been less applied in Ethiopia to assess the ecological status of wetlands. Therefore, there is an urgent need to monitor and assess Ethiopian wetlands by developing and adopting wetland assessment tools mainly using biological indicators.