Utilization Of Wetland Resources Research Articles

Losses and destabilization of soil organic carbon stocks in coastal wetlands converted into aquaculture ponds.

Coastal-wetlands play a crucial role as carbon (C) reservoirs on Earth due to their C pool composition and functional sink, making them significant for mitigating global climate change. However, due to the development and utilization of wetland resources, many wetlands have been transformed into other land-use types. The current study focuses on the alterations in soil organic-C (SOC) in coastal-wetlands following reclamation into aquaculture ponds. We conducted sampling at 11 different coastal-wetlands along the tropical to temperate regions of the China coast. Each site included two community types, one with solely native species (Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis and Mangroves) and the other with an adjacent reclaimed aquaculture pond. Across these 11 locations we compared SOC stock, active OC fractions, and soil physicochemical properties between coastal wetlands and aquaculture ponds. We observed that different soil uses, sampling sites, and their interaction had significant effects on SOC and its stock (p < .05). Reclamation significantly declined SOC concentration at depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm by 35.5% and 30.3%, respectively, and also decreased SOC stock at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths by 29.1% and 37.9%, respectively. Similar trends were evident for SOC stock, labile organic-C, dissolved organic-C and microbial biomass organic-C concentrations (p < .05), indicating soil C-destabilization and losses from soil following conversion. Soils in aquaculture ponds exhibited higher bulk density (BD; 11.3%) and lower levels of salinity (61.0%), soil water content (SWC; 11.7%), total nitrogen (TN) concentration (23.8%) and available-nitrogen concentration (37.7%; p < .05) than coastal-wetlands. Redundancy-analysis revealed that pH, BD and TN concentration were the key variables most linked with temporal variations in SOC fractions and stock between two land use types. This study provides a theoretical basis for the rational utilization and management of wetland resources, the achievement of an environment-friendly society, and the preservation of multiple service functions within wetland ecosystems.

Impacts of wetland loss and fragmentation on the hydrology of Zimbabwe's highveld

Abstract Wetland loss and fragmentation are among the greatest threats to water resources in developed and developing countries. While several studies on wetland fragmentation have been done, a few have looked at impacts of wetland fragmentation on hydrology, with none having been done on Zimbabwe's highveld headwater catchments. There is a critical need to investigate the influence of wetlands on flow regimes of highveld headwater catchments, to understand the hydrological role that wetlands play in sustaining water resources. Endowed with dambos, marshes and riverine wetlands, Zimbabwe's highveld play a significant role in sustaining Zimbabwe's water resources, with major river systems originating from the highveld plateau, having wetlands as their source regions. Hydrologic impacts of wetland fragmentation on flow regimes of highveld headwater catchments i.e., Upper Manyame (Manyame catchment), Nyagui (Mazowe catchment) and Macheke (Save catchment) were analyzed for the period from 1984–2021. Analysis of landcover and wetland change as well as streamflow characteristics was done for 1984, 1994, 2004, 2014 and 2021 periods. Simulation of streamflow under wetland fragmentation was done using the topographically driven rainfall-runoff model (TOPMODEL), which was set up, calibrated and validated for the most sensitive parameters, which include scaling parameter (m), transmissivity (To) and root zone available water capacity (SRmax). Results from landuse/cover analysis for the period between 1984 and 2021 showed a decrease in wetland area, followed by an increase in built up area and bare land for the same period, owing to expansion of urban areas and cultivation into wetland areas. Hydrological simulation by TOPMODEL and flow duration curve analysis show that wetland fragmentation has resulted in increased peak flows, while low flows have declined for the three catchments. The findings of this research would be helpful in understanding the hydrological functions of highveld wetlands, providing the reference for protection and sustainable utilization of wetland resources in the highveld catchments.

Current situation and protection countermeasures of wetland resources in Shaanxi

In order to guide the management, protection and utilization of wetlands in Shaanxi Province, this paper analyzes and summarizes the current situation and existing problems of the protection and utilization of wetland resources in Shaanxi Province, and puts forward suggestions accordingly. There are 4 wetlands and 12 wetland types in Shaanxi Province, 308,500 hectares. The area and proportion of various wetlands are 257,600 hectares of river wetlands, 83.50%; 32,300 hectares of artificial wetlands, 10.46%; 7,600 hectares of lake wetlands, 2.46%; and 11,000 hectares of swamp wetlands, 3.58%. There are 77 families, 207 genera, 341 species and 3 varieties of wild vascular plants in the wetland, including 2 species of key wild protected species at the national level and 4 species at the provincial level. In view of the problems in the protection and utilization, such as the collaborative mechanism has not been established, the resource background has not been completely clear, and the investment is insufficient, we should build a scientific and appropriate wetland evaluation index system in Shaanxi Province, carry out the investigation and evaluation of wetland resources in the province, continue to carry out wetland ecological restoration and reconstruction projects, establish and improve wetland protection management and technical system, and formulate the protection and utilization direction of different types of wetlands.

Boundary Determination of Lake-Type Wetland Park Based on GIS Multifactor Analysis.

One key carrier for wetland resource protection is wetland park, the main form of which includes lake-type wetland park. To determine the management and control boundary of lake-type wetland parks scientifically and reasonably is of great significance to the sustainable protection and utilization of wetland resources. From the perspective of landscape architecture, and landscape ecology, this paper studies the boundary determination of Changdang Lake National Wetland Park (the Park) based on satellite remote sensing information technology and GIS technology and in virtue of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). In this study, 12 subindicators were selected from three levels including visual control, human geography, and ecological control. The weight of each indicator was determined by AHP, and then the influencing factors were transformed into graphic data by using GIS technology. Finally, the Park's boundary was determined by factor superposition analysis based on the weight. The research shows that the newly defined management and control boundary are about 340 sq.km, which effectively integrates the human and natural ecological resources around the lake area, makes the development of the surrounding areas harmonious, ensures the integrity of the lake area ecosystem, and facilitates the sustainable development of wetland resources.

Extracting Wetland Type Information with a Deep Convolutional Neural Network.

Wetlands have important ecological value. The application of wetland remote sensing is essential for the timely and accurate analysis of the current situation in wetlands and dynamic changes in wetland resources, but high-resolution remote sensing images display nonobvious boundaries between wetland types. However, high classification accuracy and time efficiency cannot be guaranteed simultaneously. Extraction of wetland type information based on high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images is a bottleneck that has hindered wetland development research and change detection. This paper proposes an automatic and efficient method for extracting wetland type information. First, the object-oriented multiscale segmentation method is used to realize the fine segmentation of high-resolution remote sensing images, and then the deep convolutional neural network model AlexNet is used to classify automatically the types of wetland images. The method is verified in a case study involving field-measured data, and the classification results are compared with those of traditional classification methods. The results show that the proposed method can more accurately and efficiently extract different wetland types in high-resolution remote sensing images than the traditional classification methods. The proposed method will be helpful in the extension and application of wetland remote sensing technology and will provide technical support for the protection, development, and utilization of wetland resources.

The difficult choice - to conserve the living filters or utilizing the full potential of wetlands: Insights from the Yala swamp, Kenya

Wetlands are very productive ecosystems and provide a lot of goods and services to wetland-dependant communities worldwide. Despite their importance in terms of ecological, biological and socio-economic roles, they remain constantly under threat and many continue to be degraded and sometimes even lost at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic reasons. It is crucial to comprehend the utilization of wetland resources in terms of their ecological, restorative potential, biological and socio-economic roles and thereafter suggest on their wise use. The objective of the study was to determine the management and utilization of Yala swamp, the effects of the swamp utilization on livelihoods and conservation, and explore sustainable land use strategies for the swamp. Questionnaires were administered to 490 household heads from four project sites in two counties; 8 focused group discussion and 50 key interview informants were used to get information on the utilization. About 78.1% of the household heads were categorized as poor followed by the rich (15.1%) whereas the very rich and very poor had the same proportion. About 50.8% had land of 1–2.99 ac and up to 14.9% were landless. This encouraged them to encroach on the swamp. There were conflicts on land ownership which exacerbated destruction of the swamp. However, over 87% of the household heads had an interest in sustainable management of the swamp due to the benefits got from the swamp. Farming followed by use of papyrus were the main livelihood activities across all wellbeing categories. There is an urgent need to protect the swamp against encroachment and unsustainable exploitation. Further, the community should be sensitized on the importance of wetlands not only for livelihoods but also for conservation of biological diversity. Involvement of community in management of the swamp is necessary for participatory management. Several opportunities for sustainable development of the swamp should be explored by all stakeholders.

Wetland ecosystem service function and its value accounting:A case study of Fuzhou City, China.

Wetland plays an important role in ecological protection and social development. Scientific and rational evaluation of the values of wetland ecosystem service is the basis of protection and sustainable utilization of wetland resources. How to scientifically and effectively assess the wetland ecosystem gross ecosystem product (GEP) and make it into the national GDP accounting system are the focus of the scientific community and government departments. In this study, the accounting framework of wetland ecosystem GEP was constructed. Based on multi-source data and from the aspects of function and value, the accounting of wetland GEP in Fuzhou City was carried out. The results showed that the GEP of wetland ecosystem in Fuzhou City was 239.23 billion yuan in 2015. Such value mainly came from the ecological regulation service value (157.869 billion yuan), which accounted for 66.0% of the total and was about 2.2 and 15.6 times of the product supply service value and cultural service value. Among the ecological regulation services of wetlands, hydrodynamic regulation service and climate regulation service were the highest. Together, they accounted for 82.9% of the ecological regulation service value. The ecological regulation value per unit area of wetland in Fuzhou City was 1347.8 thousand yuan·hm-2, which was higher than the mean level of the whole country. In the districts and counties of Fuzhou City, the value of wetland ecosystem in Minqing County was the largest, about 88.83 billion yuan, accounting for 40.1% of the total value of product supply and ecological regulation. In terms of types, coastal wetlands in Fuzhou City had the largest function of ecological regulation services, which was about 2.5 times of that of river wetlands and constructed wetlands. The accounting of GEP of wetland ecosystem in Fuzhou City is an important practice for the conviction of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", which would provide technical support for guiding local government to scientifically manage wetland ecosystem.

Evaluation of wetland ecosystem services in green core of Changzhutan urban agglomeration, Hunan

Wetland in Changzhutan green core area of Hunan Province provides a number of ecosystem services for local urban construction and economic development. The evaluation of wetland ecosystem services may provide the wetland value data for the construction of Changzhutan urban agglomeration, and provide the basis for the creation of ecological compensation for wetland ecological protection. In this study, 8 service functions: water conservation, pollution degradation, carbon fixation & oxygen release, soil fixation & fertilizer preservation, nutrient accumulation, microclimate improvement, habitat provision provision, and scientific research & culture recreation were selected to evaluate the ecological service functions of wetlands in the green core area. The results showed that: (1) The total value of wetland ecological services in the green core area was 748 million yuan/a, among which the water conservation function was the dominant service function, with the highest value (319 million yuan), followed by the carbon fixation & oxygen release function and the pollution degradation function (156 million yuan and 125 million yuan, respectively). (2) From the perspective of the three prefecture-level cities, the total annual ecological value of Changsha wetland (353,007,600 yuan/a) was the highest, followed by Xiangtan (268,140,900 yuan/a), and Zhuzhou (126,749,900 yuan/a) was the lowest. (3) From the perspective of each district and county, both the total value and individual value of wetland service functions are the highest in Yuetang District, followed by Yuhua District and Tianxin District, and the lowest in Xiangtan County. The research results may provide a reference for the construction of wetland ecosystem service evaluation index system, strengthen the protection and utilization of wetland resources, and provide data support for the improvement of ecological civilization in Changzhutan urban agglomeration.

Threats to sustainable utilization of wetland resources in ZIMBABWE: a review

Wetlands are some of the most productive natural ecosystems in Zimbabwe as they provide a wide range of goods and services. The article examines spatial and temporal changes in wetland utilization patterns as well as threats to these fragile ecosystems and proffers suggestions to achieve sustainable use of wetlands. Literature on wetland use shows that cultivation (73%) and livestock grazing (36%) are the dominant wetland use activities in Zimbabwe. Combined with urban housing development, these land uses are the biggest contributors to wetland degradation and loss. About 57% and 27% of wetlands are in the moderately and severely degraded categories respectively. However, the effect of land uses, especially cultivation, on wetland ecology, is heterogeneous. Livestock grazing changes vegetation structure and composition and, ultimately, disturbs the wetland’s hydrology. Settlement establishment results in the disappearance of the wetland ecosystem. Considering that the two dominant land uses, cultivation and livestock grazing, are cornerstones of rural economies, there is need for further research to understand spatial variations on the impacts of similar land uses on different wetland types in different geographical settings. Therefore, further research should be done to understand the sustainability of human land uses on different wetland types, depending on their hydrogeomorphic characteristics, in order to continually promote sustainable development of the dependent societies.

Wetland Resource Utilization By Spot-Billed Pelicans In Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

The Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), a near threatened bird and one of eight pelican species in the world, can be found only in South and Southeast Asia over an area between 129000 and 181000 km2 with strongholds in India, Sri Lanka, southern Cambodia and coastal areas of Sumatra. In India,it is presently distributed in southern and northeastern India with concentrations in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Assam states. The present study deals how the spot- billed pelicans utilize the wetlands as well as their behaviour is noted in order to plan conservation and management strategies for the species.

Ecological conditions and ecosystem services of wetlands in the Lake Tana Area, Ethiopia

Although wetlands are known to provide vital ecosystem services, the current state of wetlands in Ethiopia in terms of their ecosystem service components remains poorly understood. Wetlands located in the UNESCO Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve have been highly degraded, but possess highly valuable resources. Therefore, this study sought to assess the major ecological states and identify the main ecosystem services (ESs), along with local people's perceptions of wetland management. Nine wetlands were selected from pristine/reference, agricultural and urban land uses of the Lake Tana area. Numerous ESs were identified, categorized into four main ecosystem services, analyzed using a conceptual model adopted for this purpose, and their ecological conditions were assessed using a range of methods. The results revealed that the provisioning and cultural services were found to surpass the regulatory and supporting services of wetlands in agricultural and urban types, as compared to wetlands located in pristine areas. Although most of the local residents positively viewed wetland regulation and supporting services, weak policy and decision support such as wetland use planning, investment interventions and communal land ownership, and poor development of diversified livelihood were found to pose major challenges to sustainable utilization of wetland resources. The range of plant species diversity among the impaired wetlands was observed to be related to the degree of disturbance, with urban and agricultural wetlands being highly degraded as compared to pristine wetlands. Moreover, these impaired wetlands were found to be invaded by upland and exotic weeds, out-competing the socioeconomically and ecologically important native species.

Community-level adaptation to minimize vulnerability and exploit opportunities in Kampala’s wetlands

This paper discusses benefits that informal wetland communities in Kampala, Uganda derive from their location in the wetland and how they adapt to minimize vulnerability to hazards such as floods and disease vectors. We focus on the mechanisms, preferences and ability to adapt. A total of 551 households were interviewed in addition to four focus group discussions and five key informant interviews. Free water from spring wells and cheaper rental units topped the benefits from location, while the main benefit associated with the wetland is that it supports crop farming. Tenure status was significantly associated with the preference and perceived ability to adapt: tenants were less likely to prefer to adapt, and less likely to perceive themselves as able to afford adaptation, than landlords. There is a need for coordinated adaptation strategies that involve all stakeholders and that enhance equitable utilization of wetland resources without compromising their ecosystem services and economic benefits.

Role of wetlands resource utilisation on community livelihoods: The case of Songwe River Basin, Tanzania

The role of wetland resources on community livelihoods was examined in Katumbasongwe and Mpunguti villages in Songwe River Basin (SRB), Tanzania. The study focused on wetland resource utilization patterns and its significance in supporting rural livelihoods. Various methods were used to complement each other in addressing the study, namely structured questionnaires, participatory methods and remote sensing techniques. The study shows that 81.7 and 85.6% of the sample population in Katumbasongwe and Mpunguti village respectively depended largely on wetland resources for their livelihoods. These include rice production, livestock keeping, fishing and harvesting of macrophytes for weaving. Wetland resource utilisation patterns have been towards expansion of rice production and settlement at the expense of other land cover types. This has been driven largely by high market demand for rice and increased population. The study observed that the nature and extent of wetland resource utilization patterns vary considerably from one socio-economic group to another depending on their flexibility and access to livelihood assets. Agricultural intensification and input support to farmers is expected to increase agricultural productivity. However, such intervention should take into consideration the socio-economic differentiation of the households. Moreover, proper land use plan and management are crucial for enhanced sustainability of wetland resources and other potentials in supporting livelihoods. Key words: Agriculture, wetland resources, land use, rural livelihood, Songwe River basin.

Community perceptions on the impact of the recession of Lake Victoria waters on Nyando Wetlands

Lake Victoria experienced drastic water level changes from October 2005 raising concerns about impact to the livelihood of the communities around the lake. The study investigated impacts of the water level decline on land use changes, wetland resource utilization, household food production, income generation, fish catches, water supply, quality and quantity and biodiversity changes within the Nyando wetlands in Western Kenya. Data was collected between August and December 2006 through in-depth household interviews of 120 randomly selected wetland resource users; key informant interviews (KII), and focused group discussions (FGD). Qualitative description and SPSS computer package Version 11.6 was used for statistical data analysis. Results of the study indicate that receding water levels led to increased availability of land for farming through reclamation and conversion of exposed wetland areas; over-exploitation of macrophytes; increased food production and income generation; and increased conflicts in the use of wetland resources. Water recession also caused shortage of domestic water supply, decrease in fish catches and biodiversity. The study recommends establishment of buffer zones to protect papyrus, formulation of national policies on wetland conservation, creation of alternative sustainable development options, and development of site specific wetland management plan to regulate the utilization of wetland resources. Key words: Lake Victoria, water recession, Nyando wetlands, community perceptions.

湿地资源保护经济学分析——以北京野鸭湖湿地为例

湿地资源保护是全球生态保护的核心问题之一。在分析湿地资源保护的经济属性的基础上,以北京市野鸭湖湿地为案例,运用经济学的理论和方法以及清晰的图表重点分析了野鸭湖湿地资源保护过程中的外部性以及资源利用中成本与收益两个问题。研究结果表明:(1)从正外部性分析,个人收益小于社会收益,个人保护的湿地资源小于社会最优量,会造成湿地资源保护的不足;从负外部性分析,个人成本小于社会成本,个人对湿地资源的利用水平大于社会最优利用水平,造成湿地资源的过度利用;(2)根据湿地资源利用的成本收益分析结果,"搭便车"行为会造成湿地资源的退化甚至恶化;(3)明晰产权有利于湿地资源配置效率的提高。研究结果可以为中国湿地保护过程中出现的资源利用矛盾提供有益的借鉴,特别是为保护北京野鸭湖湿地提供理论支撑和政策建议。;A wetland ecosystem is one of the most important ecosystems on earth. It plays important roles in ecological balances and provides human beings with products such as food, water and entertainment. Therefore, wetland resource conservation is one of the key issues in global ecological environment protection. Based on the analysis of economic attributes of wetland resource conservation and the theories of property rights, public goods and externality, this research, taking the Beijing Wild Duck Lake (BWDL) wetland as an example, emphatically analyzed (1) the externality in the processes of BWDL resource protection and (2) the costs and the profits in the BWDL resource utilization. The results show: (1) Individual profits may not be compensated due to positive externality, which leads to the deficiency of resources during the wetland protection. We hold that a reasonable compensation mechanism should be built in order to compensate the people who participate in the protection of wetlands. Only when their individual profits were safeguarded then can the social optimal point be achieved. In addition, people who destroy wetland resources may not be punished due to negative externality. If there is no valid constraint mechanism for these behaviors of destroying wetland resources, deterioration of wetland resources cannot be avoided. Hence, in the view of externality theory, the primary reason caused the wetland deterioration is the lack of compensation and constraint mechanism of positive and negative externality. (2) Free riding will lead to the deterioration of wetland resources. Taking cage fish culture in the BWDL as an example, we analyzed the negative effect from free riding. Results show that free riding existed in the utilization of wetland resources, resulting in the excessive use of wetland resources. Once the carrying capacity of local wetland ecosystems was broken, wetland resources will deteriorate further. Hence, one of the most challenges facing by wetland resources protection is how to coordinate the contradiction between cost and benefit during the protection and utilization of wetland resources. (3) A clear property rights is good for wetland resources protection. Free riding and externality are, fundamentally, results of unclear property rights of wetland resources. In China, most of natural resources with characteristics of public goods belong to two types: state or collective ownership. The allocation efficient of wetland resources will be low under the condition of unclear property rights. Individual person who protect wetland resources cannot get expect revenue. Converting the operation right and revenue right to individual may be a good way to solve the above problems. Individual is response for cost and benefit during the utilization of wetland resources. The allocation efficient will be improved and market failure can thus be avoided. Thereafter, administers of wetlands should define behaviors and reasonability of damage behaviors of wetland resources. Meanwhile, they should also make clear about the right and responsibility of wetland resource users. These research results would provide references for the problems in wetland protection processes in our country. In particular, it can provide scientific basis and policy options in the BWDL wetland conservation.

FRACTAL RESEARCH ON DYNAMIC CHANGE OF THE BEIJING WILD DUCK LAKE WETLAND RESOURCES BASED ON GIS AND RS

The theory and characteristics of the fractal theory are described. The wetland data of the Beijing Wild Duck Lake in 1998, 2000 and 2002 were obtained on the basis of RS and GIS technology. Using the fractal dimension numerical model on two dimensional Euclidean space, the authors worked out the fractal dimension values and the stability levels of all kinds of wetland resources. The dynamic changes of wetland resources in the study area was finally obtained according to the physical meaning of fractal dimension and the level of stability. The results of the study indicate that marshes and lakes constitute the most key elements and also the most unstable wetland elements in wetland environments. It has been proved in practice that fractal theory has ample application scope in the study of wetland dynamic change. The fractal dimension and the level of stability can supply the decision-making basis for the appraisal of wetland environments and the sustainable utilization of wetland resources.

Community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) in Xinhui, Guangdong Province, China

Using institutional appraisal focused groups (FG) and participatory appraisals with Dillman Total Design Method (TDM), this study examines community interaction with and utilization of wetland resources in Xinhui, Guangdong Province, China. Field results show high commercial activities and corresponding impacts on coastal environment. Other interacting factors identified include: legislation and ecosystem management, stakeholders’ participation, international guidelines criteria, and utilization of mangrove resources in the region. Sensitivity index and community-based natural resources management collaboration comparison percentile showed significant differences between cumulative distributions of respondents (D = 0.2568, P = 0.078). Likert statement of 11 sensitivity optional indexes in EMS of K–S test at 0.05 level of P = 0.078 also show significant differences in interaction between respondent groups and sensitivity factors. This indicates a dysfunction between regional environmental management systems and CBNRM in Xinhui coastal district. Considering the high tourism potential and economic quest of the region, there is the need for coordinated community enlightenment and further studies on the social, ecological and economic value of wetland resources.

Neotropical wetlands: New instruments in ecosystem management

The management of wetland ecosystems in the neotropics is a challenging task due to the ecological, geographical and socio-political complexity of these areas. These difficulties are compounded by an incomplete knowledge of system dynamics and the potential impacts that economic activities may have on wetland ecosystem functioning. There is a growing body of potential tools that can be utilized to study and monitor these large complex ecosystems. These include the use of remote sensing information, in situ hydrological and microclimate sensors with long-term dataloggers, hydrological and ecological modelling approaches based on limited historical data, energy-based models, ecological-economic indicators of wetland resource use and others. We tested some of these approaches in an international research project dedicated to the study of a large Argentine wetland, the “Esteros del Ibera” (www.unisi.it/wetland). The study focused on examining and developing instruments for the management of Latin American wetlands. Local and regional decision makers are now using project-generated instruments to make decisions for wetland resource management. The creation of innovative decision-making tools for sustainable wetland-resource utilization is an important challenge for the future.