Sustainable Wetland Management Research Articles

Characterization of Fish Spawning Grounds near the Likouala-Aux-Herbes River, Lac Tele Community Reserve (LTCR), Republic of Congo, for Sustainable Wetland Management

Characterization of Fish Spawning Grounds near the Likouala-Aux-Herbes River, Lac Tele Community Reserve (LTCR), Republic of Congo, for Sustainable Wetland Management

Long-term evolution and driving mechanisms of the Baiyangdian wetland based on land cover frequency characteristics

For sustainable conservation and management of wetlands, it is essential to quantify the evolution progress and driving mechanisms of wetlands. This study examined Baiyangdian Wetland as a research area, and remote images and statistical yearbooks were used as data sources. Dominant zones of wetland were defined based on spatial characteristics of land cover frequency. A transfer matrix and random forest were used to analyze the evolution process and driving mechanism of typical wetlands in the North China Plain. Based on the results, following conclusions were arrived: (1) There was significant spatial differentiation of land cover frequency characteristics in the Baiyangdian wetland, with the cultivated land-dominated zone, the aquatic vegetation-dominated zone, and the water body-dominated zone being the three core zones of wetland ecosystem evolution. (2) There was a frequent and significant change of the Baiyangdian wetland due to extreme climatic conditions. Between 1987 and 2017, the built-up land area and the water body area increased by 4.62 and 16.17 km2, respectively, while the aquatic vegetation area decreased by 20.70 km2. A combination of natural and human factors caused changes in the wetland’s structure. (3) The driving mechanisms of ecosystem evolution in the Baiyangdian wetland were influenced significantly by space, time, and land cover types. Specifically, on a spatial scale, social factors were the predominant factors contributing to changes in water body and cultivated land in the cultivated land-dominant zone and the aquatic vegetation-dominant zone. In contrast, natural factors were the dominant factors leading to changes in aquatic vegetation. There was a greater contribution from social factors to the driving mechanism of changes in the water body, aquatic vegetation, and cultivated land in the water body-dominant zone than from natural factors. On a temporal scale, it was primarily influenced by natural factors in the early stages and socio-economic factors in the late stages, with the year 2002 serving as a turning point. The scale of land cover types can be seen primarily in the differences among the agricultural lands, aquatic vegetation, and water body. In particular, the Secondary Industry Out Value (SIOV) was highly sensitive to changes in the cultivated area. In addition, cumulative evaporation (EC) has been identified as the main factor responsible for the evolution of aquatic vegetation, which is closely related to the changes in water body.

Plant Diversity Response to Environmental Factors in Yellow River Delta, China

Plant diversity plays a crucial role in maintaining the functionality of a community and providing essential ecosystem services. Studying the plant diversity and its response to environmental factors in the Yellow River Delta, China, as a newly formed coastal land, is beneficial for protecting plant diversity in coastal areas and maintaining ecosystem stability. In this study, 56 sites were sampled to investigate the diversity of shrubs and herbaceous plant community and its response to environmental factors. The results indicate that the plants growing in the Yellow River Delta are predominantly from the Poaceae and Asteraceae families, with dominant communities consisting of species such as Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis, Setaria viridis, Imperata cylindrica, and Tamarix chinensis. The Shannon–Wiener index, Simpson diversity index, and Pielou’s evenness index exhibit average values of 0.34, 0.21, and 0.25, respectively, within the Yellow River Delta. These values collectively indicate a low diversity in the vegetation community, reflecting a relatively uncomplicated ecological structure in this area. Additionally, there were no significant differences in biodiversity indices under different soil formation times, but under different land cover types, the biodiversity index of cropland was significantly higher than that of impervious land. Soil salinity index exhibited a significant negative correlation with plant diversity (R2 = 0.279, p < 0.001) in the Yellow River Delta. Moreover, elevation (R2 = 0.247, p < 0.001) and temperature (R2 = 0.219, p < 0.001) showed significant positive effects on plant diversity. Regarding the ecological stoichiometry of plant elements, soil organic carbon exhibited a negative effect on the biodiversity index, while litter carbon showed a positive effect. This may be attributed to the unique topographical conditions and soil salinization in the Yellow River Delta. Our findings provide important references for the sustainable management of wetlands in the Yellow River Delta under conditions of soil salinization.

Spatio-temporal changes and hydrological forces of wetland landscape pattern in the Yellow River Delta during 1986–2022

ContextEstuarine wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services, but 20–78% of coastal wetlands are facing the risk of loss by the end of the century. The Yellow River Delta (YRD) wetland, one of the most productive delta areas in the world, has undergone dramatic changes under the influence of a precipitous drop of sediment delivery and runoff, coupled with the invasion of Spartina alterniflora. Monitoring the spatio-temporal patterns, thresholds, and drivers of change in wetland landscapes is critical for sustainable management of delta wetlands.ObjectivesGenerate annual mapping of salt marsh vegetation in the YRD wetland from 1986 to 2022, analyze the trends of wetland patch area and landscape pattern, and explain the hydrological drivers of landscape pattern evolution.MethodsWe combined Landsat 5‒8 and Sentinel-2 images, vegetation phenology, remote sensing indices, and Random Forest supervised classification to map the typical salt marsh vegetation of the YRD. We applied piecewise linear regression to analyze YRD wetland changes and stepwise multiple linear regression to assess the impact of hydrological factors on landscape pattern.ResultsWe identified three stages of landscape pattern evolution with 1997 and 2009 as critical junctures, including the rapid expansion stage, gradual decline stage, and bio-invasion stage. In the rapid expansion stage, the wetland area expanded by 70%, while the typical salt marsh vegetation (Phragmites australis) area was reduced by 25%. In the gradual decline stage, the wetland was reduced by 21% and the Phragmites australis area was reduced by 16%. In the bio-invasion stage, coverage of Spartina alterniflora expanded rapidly, with a 68-fold increase in area relative to 2009, expanding at an average rate of 344 hm2 per year.ConclusionsAreas of total wetland, tidal flat, and Phragmites australis were significantly influenced by cumulative sediment delivery and cumulative runoff, which together explained 61.5%, 75.7% and 63.8% of their variation, respectively. Wetland and tidal flat areas increased with cumulative sediment delivery, while cumulative runoff had a weak negative effect. For Phragmites australis, cumulative runoff had a positive effect, whereas cumulative sediment delivery had a negative effect. Water resources regulation measures should be taken to prevent the degradation of wetland ecosystems, and intervention measures can be implemented during the seedling stage to control the invasion of Spartina alterniflora.

Unlocking the power of public awareness: paving the way for sustainable wetland management in Anzali, Iran

The Anzali Wetland, located in the Guilan Province of Iran, is a vital ecosystem with significant ecological value. However, it faces numerous environmental challenges due to pollution, habitat degradation, and unsustainable resource use. This paper aims to assess the awareness and perceptions of local communities regarding the Anzali Wetland, Iran, and its management and how these factors might influence the implementation of the CEPA program. A quantitative survey based on a structured questionnaire was designed and administered to local communities within the wetland’s watershed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that local communities have limited knowledge about the wetland, often associating it solely with Anzali Lagoon. Despite this lack of awareness, most participants recognize the wetland’s importance in conserving wildlife. Further, participants identified domestic and industrial wastewater pollution as the most significant threat to the wetland. Additionally, education at the school level, the Internet, and virtual networks were perceived as effective means of raising awareness among the local population. The study highlights the importance of increasing public participation and interaction among different social groups to enhance awareness of the wetland’s value and environmental issues. It also emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts among stakeholders in wetland management and policy-making, including government agencies and civil organizations. By examining the significance of public awareness in the Iranian context, the study provides unique insights into wetland conservation efforts in a specific geographical and ecological setting. Furthermore, by considering the perceptions and opinions of these stakeholders, the study offers a holistic understanding of the diverse perspectives and interests related to wetland conservation, which adds depth and richness to the analysis.

Sustainable Wetland Management Using the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as a Guide in the Sierra Leone Case

Sustainable Wetland Management Using the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as a Guide in the Sierra Leone Case

2012–2018年兴凯湖“浮毯”沼泽植物组成动态数据集

The formation of kettle peatlands is a typical vertical peatland terrestrialization. There are few studies on the plant composition and dynamics of kettle peatlands, especially the long-term observation in freshwater lake wetlands. In this study, we observed the plant community composition of typical kettle peatlands in Xingkai Lake, Heilongjiang Province and followed strict rules to carry out field investigation, recording and laboratory analysis. This dataset contains the plant community composition, dominant plants, above-ground and belowground biomass, and plant density in the kettle peatlands from 2012 to 2018. Users can search the data by the survey year and plant community composition. On the one hand, the preparing and sharing of the long-term dataset about plant community in kettle peatlands could enrich the peatland plant community dataset. On the other, the data can be used as a support for students and researchers working in physical geography and ecology, and as a reference for ecological restoration and sustainable management of wetlands.

Ecosystem Service Reason to Save Wetlands: A Case of Geray Wetland, North Western Ethiopia

Efforts to conserve wetland ecosystems depend on the recognition of ecosystem services they provide. Hence, the study was conducted to analyze the ecosystem services of the Geray wetland and the driving force of its degradation. Structured questionnaires, personal interviews, focused group discussions, and field observations were used in data collection. Questionnaires were administered to 114 respondents obtained through random sampling of households. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression. Descriptive statistics like mean, percentage and frequency distribution were used to analyze quantitative data. The binary logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the impact of household-related independent variables on the dependent variable. Results showed that Geray wetland provides provisioning services (fish, fresh water, fodder and grazing services, firewood, crop, and fruit), regulating services (temperature regulation, water purification, sediment retention and erosion control), cultural services (recreation, tourism, and aesthetic) and supporting services (nursery, habitat, and accumulation of organic matter). Farm expansion, sedimentation, overgrazing, uncontrolled irrigation practices and deforestation of wetland vegetation, which are rooted in rapid population growth, open access to wetland resources, lack of awareness, lack of clear boundaries and weak institutional framework, were the main causes of the wetland degradation. Predictor variables like household size have a negative, and landholding size and age have positive significant impacts on the Geray wetland ecosystem. A high number of respondents were also aware of the measures (planting trees, trace building as a controlling method of erosion and conservation education to the community) to be taken to overcome the problems that face the Geray wetland. Thus, participatory sustainable wetland management is recommended to obtain more benefits from the wetland and minimize its destruction

Comparison of avian diversity between managed and unmanaged wetlands in Patna, Bihar, India

Abstract We compared the bird diversity of a managed (Rajdhani Jalashay) and an unmanaged wetland (Mustafapur) in Patna, Bihar, India. We recorded bird species by using point counts and fixed-route monitoring. At Rajdhani Jalashay, a total of 73 species were recorded, of which 15 species were winter visitors. Two species were in the Near-threatened category: Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), while the others were of least concern. At Mustafapur wetland, 67 species were recorded with 11 species as winter visitors. Simpson’s species diversity index was 0.78 at Rajdhani Jalashay, and 0.81 at Mustafapur wetland. The number of species of waders was 17 at Mustafapur wetland and 11 at Rajdhani Jalashay. The total number of Lesser Whistling-duck (Dendrocygna javanica), a resident bird was almost double (526) at Mustafapur wetland than that at Rajdhani Jalashay (234). The nitrate level was twice higher and the phosphate level was four times higher at Mustafapur wetland than those at Rajdhani Jalashay. The difference in species number and composition between the two wetlands may be attributed to the eutrophication resulting from high nitrate and phosphate levels at Mustafapur wetland. Unfortunately, the Mustafapur wetland is under threat due to human influences. The protection and sustainable management of natural wetlands is required for saving the biodiversity of the area.

Wetland soil microbial responses to upland agricultural intensification and snail invasion

Wetland soils harbor diverse microorganisms including bacteria, archaea, and fungi, all of which play significant roles in maintaining soil health and ecosystem functions but are susceptible to influences from multiple environmental changes. Agricultural intensification and biological invasion are two fundamental drivers of environmental change for wetlands, but their interactive effects on soil microbial communities remain less well understood, particularly for seasonal subtropical wetlands. Yet such understanding is vital for wetland conservation and management. In this study, we conducted a 14-week field mesocosm experiment to investigate how agricultural intensification and invasive apple snail (Pomacea maculata) – an emerging and increasingly concerning threat to natural and agricultural systems in southeastern U.S. – altered wetland soil microbial communities and structures. We found that invasive P. maculata showed selective effects on relative abundance of specific microbial taxa (e.g., Proteobacteria, Nitrospirota), and interactive effects with upland intensification on Spirochaetota and Mortierellomycota. Upland agricultural intensification also exerted significant and consistent effects on microbial composition and diversity across microbial domains. Changes in microbial composition were partly manifested through modifications in water chemistry, such as dissolved oxygen, which acted as environmental regulators. In addition, upland intensification led to more complex but sparsely connected microbial networks, while invasive snail presence decreased network complexity and resulted in greater modularity, less edge density, and longer path length, indicative of lower molecular information exchange efficiency. Our research emphasizes the need for a comprehensive evaluation of microbial responses (i.e., composition, diversity, and co-occurrence patterns) to better understand multi-stressor impacts from human activities on wetland belowground microbial communities. By holistically characterizing microbial responses, our findings show how global change drivers may impact wetland microorganisms in subtropical biomes and infer their functional consequences. Our results have important implications for sustainable landscape management and conservation of wetlands that are experiencing escalating human-induced environmental changes.

Mapping wetlands in Northeast China by using knowledge-based algorithms and microwave (PALSAR-2, Sentinel-1), optical (Sentinel-2, Landsat), and thermal (MODIS) images

Wetlands are rich in biodiversity, provide habitats for many wildlife species, and play a vital role in the transmission of bird-borne infectious diseases (e.g., highly pathogenic avian influenza). However, wetlands worldwide have been degraded or even disappeared due to natural and anthropogenic activities over the past two centuries. At present, major data products of wetlands have large uncertainties, low to moderate accuracies, and lack regular updates. Therefore, accurate and updated wetlands maps are needed for the sustainable management and conservation of wetlands. Here, we consider the remote sensing capability and define wetland types in terms of plant growth form (tree, shrub, grass), life cycle (perennial, annual), leaf seasonality (evergreen, deciduous), and canopy type (open, closed). We identify unique and stable features of individual wetland types and develop knowledge-based algorithms to map them in Northeast China at 10 m spatial resolution by using microwave (PALSAR-2, Sentinel-1), optical (Landsat (ETM+/OLI), Sentinel-2), and thermal (MODIS land surface temperature, LST) imagery in 2020. The resultant wetland map has a high overall accuracy of >95%. There were a total 154,254 km2 of wetlands in Northeast China in 2020, which included 27,219 km2 of seasonal open-canopy marsh, 69,158 km2 of yearlong closed-canopy marsh, and 57,878 km2 of deciduous forest swamp. Our results demonstrate the potential of knowledge-based algorithms and integrated multi-source image data for wetlands mapping and monitoring, which could provide improved data for the planning of wetland conservation and restoration.

Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Influencing Factors in the Zoige Alpine Wetland from the 1980s to 2020 Based on a Random Forest Model

Wetlands provide important ecosystem services, such as water conservation, biodiversity protection, and carbon sequestration. The Zoige alpine wetland is the largest high-altitude swamp in the world and plays a critical role in regional ecological balance and climate change. However, little is known about the fate of its soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. In this study, we estimated the degradation status of the wetland over the past 35 years and used machine learning to investigate the dynamics and driving factors of SOC at different soil depths of the Zoige wetland in 1985, 2000, and 2020. We also simulated the future SOC balance under different scenarios. The results showed that the area of Zoige wetland has degraded by 378.71 km2 in the past 35 years. Increased precipitation and solar radiation offset the adverse effects of global warming, making the soil act as a carbon sink in the past 35 years. The total SOC storage of the wetland soils in 1985, 2000, and 2020 was estimated to be 2.03 Pg, 2.05 Pg, and 2.21 Pg, respectively, with 46.95% of SOC distributed in the subsoil layers. Climate change was the most important driving factor controlling the SOC storage of the Zoige wetland, explaining 51.33% of the SOC changes in the soil. Temperature change was always the most important factor controlling wetland SOC, and precipitation had a greater impact on the topsoil. Under the temperature control targets of 1.5 °C and 2 °C, the SOC pool of the Zoige wetland will decrease by 60.21 Tg C and 69.19 Tg C, respectively. Under scenarios of a 10% and 20% increase in precipitation, the wetland soil will accumulate an additional 46.53 Tg C and 118.89 Tg C, respectively. The study results provide important references for the sustainable management of the Zoige wetland under the background of global climate change.

Assessing the sustainable management of Coastal Wetlands in Developing Economies: A Case Study on the Iture-Abakam Natural Wetland in Cape Coast, Ghana

Assessing the sustainable management of Coastal Wetlands in Developing Economies: A Case Study on the Iture-Abakam Natural Wetland in Cape Coast, Ghana

Ecosystem services of lake-wetlands exhibit significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity and scale effects in a multi-lake megacity

Climate change and anthropogenic disturbances are altering global lake-wetlands (LWs) and their ecosystem services (ESs), posing a threat to sustainable development. Understanding the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and scale effects of LWESs has risen to be a critical concern in the sustainable management of wetlands. Although the LWESs of large lakes or at the macro-region are well documented, their complexity in urbanizing areas remains to be further addressed. Here we aim to reveal the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and scale effects of LWESs under the coinciding effects of wetland conservation and urbanization through a study in Wuhan, a multi-lake city of central China. The LWESs and their spatiotemporal variations from 1999 to 2019 were characterized by nine indicators based on time-series remote-sensing images and statistical data. A V-shaped trend was observed in the area of the LWs over time, which decreasing by 8.12% in 1999–2010 while recovering by 9.57% in 2010–2019. The LW loss in the main urban area (MA) was mainly encroached by construction lands, while the restoration of croplands to LWs in the rural area (RA) completely offsets the loss of LWs. We found that the change rates of most LWESs were more severely degraded along a rural–urban gradient, except for cultural services. Specifically, the water supply (-57.39%), flood regulation (-34.19%), climate regulation (-31.36%), and biodiversity conservation (-62.13%) services were the most severely damaged in LWs in the MA. However, the carbon sink services of LWs in the RA suffer the most severe degradation. Not only with spatiotemporal heterogeneity but LWESs also showed obvious scale effects. The larger the LWs, the higher the ES capacity tends to be. Smaller LWs were heavily encroached, with the worst ES capacities. These results highlight that LW conservation should no longer be homogeneous, but should combine indicators of scale effects and spatial heterogeneity. Due to land resource constraints, those close to urban center should improve regulating and supporting service capacities, while further away, improvements in area and LWESs can be pursued to balance the demand growth. Further, it is important to conserve existing and small LWs from over-encroachment.

Socio-economic impacts of wetland conversion on residents of Port Harcourt municipality, Rivers State, Nigeria

Increased demand for land space in most urban areas often triggers the conversion of wetlands resulting in their total disappearance with attendant implications on man’s survival. This study examined the socio-economic impacts of wetland conversion on residents of Port Harcourt municipality. Data were sourced from both primary and secondary sources. Four (4) out of the twenty-four (24) reclaimed wetland sites were purposively selected for the study. The cross-sectional research design was used since there was no manipulation of the variables under investigation. A sample size comprised 280 heads of households from the eight proximate communities within the four selected reclaimed sites. The study revealed that wetland conversions have both positive impacts on residents of the study area. On a positive note, wetland conversion is a means of increasing land space for needed physical development and the provision of urban goods and services. The negative impacts of wetland conversion include the destruction of sources of livelihood for the people, the destruction of natural heritage and aesthetic areas and the destruction of conservation areas among others. The study advocates for the adoption of a sustainable wetland management strategy with an emphasis on the wise use of wetland resources to ensure the continued existence of wetlands in their pristine state, as this is the only way we can preserve the services that wetland provides to the survival of the human environment.

Macroinvertebrate assemblages along a gradient of physicochemical characteristics in four riverine wetlands, Upper Blue Nile basin, Northwestern Ethiopia

This study aims to examine the physicochemical variables that influence macroinvertebrate assemblages in wetlands of the Fetam River watershed. Macroinvertebrates and water quality samples were collected from 20 sampling stations across four wetlands between February and May 2022. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to elucidate the physicochemical gradients among datasets and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was applied to explore the relationship between taxon assemblages and physicochemical variables. Aquatic insects such as Dytiscidae (Coleoptera), Chironomidae (Diptera), and Coenagrionidae (Odonata) were the most abundant families, and they comprised 20-80% of the macroinvertebrate communities. As demonstrated by cluster analysis, three site groups including slightly disturbed (SD), moderately disturbed (MD), and heavily disturbed (HD) sites were identified. PCA showed a clear separation of slightly disturbed sites from moderately and highly impacted sites. Differences in physicochemical variables, taxon richness and abundance, and Margalef diversity indices were observed along the SD to HD gradient. Phosphate concentration was an important predictor that influenced richness and diversity. The extracted two CCA axes of physicochemical variables accounted for 44% of the variability in macroinvertebrate assemblages. Nutrient concentration (nitrate, phosphate, and total phosphorus), conductivity, and turbidity were the main drivers of this variation. This suggested the need for sustainable wetland management intervention at the watershed level, ultimately benefiting invertebrate biodiversity.

Impacts of land use/land cover change on wetland ecosystem services of Lake Abaya-Chamo Wetland, Rift Valley of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Wetlands in Ethiopia provide multiple ecosystem services; they are highly affected because of Natural processes, anthropogenic activities, and limited policy attention. It aimed this study at analyzing the ecological benefits and drivers of the degradation of the Abaya-Chamo lake-wetland. A questionnaire survey of 304 Household Heads, focus group Discussion, and Landsat imagery was used. Landsat images from the last 30 years (1990-2019) were also used to identify vegetation indices and turbidity in the study area. Normalized difference vegetation, water, and turbidity indices were used for image interpretation. Mean, it used correlation and regression for data analyses. Abaya-Chamo lake-wetland offers fish, fodder, irrigation, farmland, rainfall, habitat, tourism, aesthetics, recreation, carbon sink, air quality, and climate control services. The area showed siltation-led raising turbidity and a loss of 48.9% of its swamp area from 1990 to 2019. Farm expansion, siltation, invasive plants, open access and overuse of resources, lack of legal framework, and rapid population growth were the main drivers of wetland degradation. Invasive plants result in dwindling aquatic resources, economic and tourism benefits, and changes in local climate, rapidly depleting water and lake-wetland. Thus, the government should formulate a clear policy and legal framework for the sustainable management of wetlands.

Sustainable Wetland Management: A Case Study on Panidihing Bird Sanctuary Wetland Areas

Sustainable Wetland Management: A Case Study on Panidihing Bird Sanctuary Wetland Areas

Wetland Water Level Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks—A Case Study in the Colombo Flood Detention Area, Sri Lanka

Historically, wetlands have not been given much attention in terms of their value due to the general public being unaware. Nevertheless, wetlands are still threatened by many anthropogenic activities, in addition to ongoing climate change. With these recent developments, water level prediction of wetlands has become an important task in order to identify potential environmental damage and for the sustainable management of wetlands. Therefore, this study identified a reliable neural network model by which to predict wetland water levels over the Colombo flood detention area, Sri Lanka. This is the first study conducted using machine learning techniques in wetland water level predictions in Sri Lanka. The model was developed with independent meteorological variables, including rainfall, evaporation, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The water levels measurements of previous years were used as dependent variables, and the analysis was based on a seasonal timescale. Two neural network training algorithms, the Levenberg Marquardt algorithm (LM) and the Scaled Conjugate algorithm (SG), were used to model the nonlinear relationship, while the Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Coefficient of Correlation (CC) were used as the performance indices by which to understand the robustness of the model. In addition, uncertainty analysis was carried out using d-factor simulations. The performance indicators showed that the LM algorithm produced better results by which to model the wetland water level ahead of the SC algorithm, with a mean squared error of 0.0002 and a coefficient of correlation of 0.99. In addition, the computational efficiencies were excellent in the LM algorithm compared to the SC algorithm in terms of the prediction of water levels. LM showcased 3–5 epochs, whereas SC showcased 34–50 epochs of computational efficiencies for all four seasonal predictions. However, the d-factor showcased that the results were not within the cluster of uncertainty. Therefore, the overall results suggest that the Artificial Neural Network can be successfully used to predict the wetland water levels, which is immensely important in the management and conservation of the wetlands.

Keta Lagoon: Uncovering Suppressed Heritage Practices for Sustainable Wetland Management

Current efforts to integrate heritage practices in the sustainable management of wetlands in postcolonial nation-states assume that these practices have always existed in the forms they are now. The colonial order, whether deliberately or otherwise, suppressed many local traditional practices. The postcolonial authority’s adoption of Western science invariably continued the suppression, albeit in a more liberal form. In the Ramsar Convention, natural scientists were assigned the role of conserving wetlands ‘‘for the benefit of humankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of natural properties of the ecosystem.’’ This became known as the wise use principle. This article highlights the history of the Keta wetlands and proposes an integration of key knowledge holders into management plans for a wise use of wetlands in postcolonial states. The colonial and postcolonial regimes made the knowledge holders invisible. Modern imaginaries – Western legal institutions, Western science and Christianity – were privileged over local heritage practices. It therefore requires historical and heritage expertise to uncover local sustainable knowledge for integration into the Ramsar management plan, hence a wise use of wetlands in postcolonial states.