Perceived benefits of littoral wetlands in Uganda: a focus on the Nabugabo wetlands

Wetlands, commonly called swamps in Uganda, are estimated to cover about 13% of the total land surface area (about 30,000 km²) of the country and represent a considerable ecological, social and economic value. In 1989, the Ugandan government formerly recognised that wetlands need to be conserved and contribute considerably to the National economy and rural livelihood. The present analysis is focused on the Nabugabo wetland ecosystem. Located in Central Uganda, it is an important part of the extensive system of wetlands that surround Lake Victoria. The Nabugabo wetland is a source of important resources that are basic to the local economy, including fishing, water utilization, agriculture, livestock, wetland plants for construction and more recently, tourism. Investment in the area is low and a large percentage of the local community depends on the wetland resources for basic sustenance needs. After achieving Ramsar status, demarcation and conservation activities were initiated by the local and national leaders. However, these conservation efforts have provoked conflicts between the land owners and the policy makers, in particular to the demarcation of areas for conservation In the present analysis, we examine the benefits, perceived by local leaders and community members, of the wetland and its services, as well as views towards its conservation and management. The results show that differences between the community leaders and member exist regarding the perceived benefits of the wetlands. Tourism, while providing some opportunities for local persons is not always viewed positively. Conservation activities are viewed positively but some questions remain as to whether such efforts help or hinder the local population, in particular regarding access to basic resources.     

The World Crane Action Plan: implications for conservation of cranes and wetlands in Africa

Beilfuss, R.D., Meine, C.D., & Archibald, F.W. 2000. The World Crane Action Plan: implications for conservation of cranes and wetlands in Africa. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 227.

The IUCN Species Survival Commission recently published The Cranes: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Prepared over the past three years by the IUCN Crane Specialist Group, the document reviews the status of the world's cranes (Family: Gruidae) and their habitats, summarises recent crane conservation actions, and specifies priority measures for the future. Eleven of the 15 crane species are now proposed for inclusion on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, and several subspecies and populations are critically endangered. Africa supports six species of cranes in 39 countries. The Black Crowned Crane Balearica pavonina, national bird of Nigeria, is resident in western and central Africa. The Grey Crowned Crane B. regulorum, national bird of Uganda, spans eastern and southern Africa. The Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculahrs, largest and. rarest of Africa's cranes, ranges from Ethiopia to South Africa. The Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus, national bird of South Africa, is endemic to South Africa and Namibia. The Demoiselle Crane A. Virgo and Eurasian Crane Grus grus are winter visitors. Cranes have been the focus of intensive captive propagation and reintroduction programs as well as extensive habitat protection efforts. They are also excellent umbrella species for ecosystem-level conservation efforts. Wetlands that provide a home for cranes include the floodplains of the great river systems of Africa, such as Kafue Flats and Zambezi Delta of the Zambezi River system, the Okavango River Delta, the Sudd of the Upper Nile River, the Bangweulu Basin and swamps of the Zaire River system, the Senegal River Delta, and the Inner Niger River Delta, and the wetlands of Lake Chad. Small, isolated wetlands provide vital breeding habitat. This presentation will provide an overview of the action plan for those interested in cranes in particular, as well as those working in ecosystems and regions where cranes occur.     

The role of wetland policies in the conservation of waterbirds: the case of Uganda

Mafabi, P. 2000. The role of wetland policies in the conservation of waterbirds: the case of Uganda. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 96–98.

Wetlands in Uganda provide important habitats for birds including several endemic species. With the ever increasing pressure to convert wetlands to agricultural lands, several species have lost their habitats, while others have become pests due to their opportunistic behaviour in modified habitats. The causes of wetland drainage and conversion in Uganda include population growth, economic reforms and a severe lack of information, legislation and inter-sectoral co-ordination. Community uses of wetlands have clear impacts on waterbirds. At Busolwe (case study 1) there is competition for land-use between Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum and man. Priority community uses of wetlands include fish-farming, agro-forestry and bee-keeping. There is a need for integrating bird conservation into overall wetland conservation objectives, especially with the aim of maintaining conditions suitable for waterbird survival during critical stages of the life-cycle. National wetland policies can play an important role in the conservation of waterbirds, as learned from Uganda's experiences. Recommendations for integrating bird conservation into the national wetland policy framework (as well as into national, district and local level planning processes) are made, which point to close co-operation between stakeholders for better management and on improved appreciation of wetlands values.     

The African Waterfowl Census: review and development of an international monitoring programme

Dodman, T. 2000. The African Waterfowl Census: review and development of an international monitoring programme. Ostrich 71 (1 &2):95.

The African Waterfowl Census (AFWC) is now in its sixth year of operation as a coordinated wetland monitoring programme for sub-Saharan Africa. A comprehensive review of the AFWC took place in 1995 and 1996, including a widely-circulated questionnaire and a special meeting in Senegal. The results from this review process are being used to develop the programme as a lasting tool for wetland conservation and management in Africa. This paper summarises these results. The AFWC currently involves about 25 countries, which all submit data annually to enable waterbird numbers and distribution to be viewed at regional and international levels. On a national level, results are used variably for the identification and designation of Wetlands of International importance (Ramsar Sites), for standard wetland monitoring programmes, for wetland and species management actions and for setting hunting quotas. In some countries, large networks have already been established, comprising scientists, managers and local volunteers. Priorities for the future operation of the AFWC include: a) the establishment of a Steering Committee with representation from all regions; b) election of National Coordinators in all countries; c) national and regional training initiatives; d) a field guide to African waterbirds and basic monitoring exercises; e) involving local communities in basic monitoring exercises; and f) increasing the use of results, especially in support of the Bonn and Ramsar Conventions. The AFWC is uniquely placed to help countries meet obligations under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) under the Bonn Convention. Increased collaboration and information exchange between National Coordinators and others will lead to a greater knowledge of wetland networks important for migratory waterbirds. This in turn will help in the identification of conservation priorities for particular species, for threatened wetlands that form vital components of migration networks and for threatened wetland habitats.     

The ecology of The Netherlands wetlands: characteristics,threats, prospects and perspectives for ecological research

Wetlands are among the worlds' most important, but also most threatened, environmental resources. Wetland losses have been in progress particularly from the industrial revolution onwards, because wetland functions could not successfully compete for space with other land uses. Wetlands became recently foci of conservation efforts because of the increased awareness of their importance in water management and wildlife conservation, and because of the diversity of their habitats. The Netherlands are relatively rich in wetlands: 16% of its' territory is regarded as internationally important wetland and 7% has been registered as such. The major Dutch wetland types are: coastal ecosystems, large riverine systems, base-rich freshwater systems, and nutrient-poor freshwater systems. Most threats to the Dutch wetlands are of man-made origin. They comprise: (1) Changes in hydrology leading to changed discharges, currents and desiccation; (2) Acidification; (3) Eutrophication; and (4) Toxification. Long-term threats are largely climate-change related, and concern temperature rise and the UV-B increase in irradiation. General conservation goals also apply to wetlands but Ramsar-registered wetlands have a special status. Conservation of the Dutch wetlands is difficult, because of the high population density of the country and its inherent threats. However, ecological targets and standards are increasingly set in national Policy Plans and international agreements. Rehabilitation and creation of wetlands is presently widely advocated, and sometimes realised. For ecological research, the sustainability of wetlands should get top priority. Such a research programme would focus on understanding the underlying ecological processes in natural and man-dominated wetland systems to prescribe conservation, rehabilitation and management strategies that would enhance the sustainability of these systems. Within this framework special attention should be directed to studies (1) At the ecosystem level of ecosystem parameters, of which natural oscillations and trends in time, and on which the impact of disturbances are quantified. Particularly these studies, in which often simulation models are used as tools for interpretation, can provide the basis for extrapolations in space and time; (2) On adaptation capacity and mechanisms of (groups of) species to extreme environmental conditions; (3) On (mutual) relationships between plants, animals and microorganisms (e.g. competition, grazing and mineralization); (4) On dispersion between small wetlands. For the contemporary quantitative assessment of the long-term effects of climate changes, the effects of temperature rise and increase in UV-B irradiation on individual species, communities and ecosystems should also be studied.     

The spatial distribution of soil organic carbon in tidal wetland soils of the continental United States

Tidal wetlands contain large reservoirs of carbon in their soils and can sequester carbon dioxide (CO₂) at a greater rate per unit area than nearly any other ecosystem. The spatial distribution of this carbon influences climate and wetland policy. To assist with international accords such as the Paris Climate Agreement, national‐level assessments such as the United States (U.S.) National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and regional, state, local, and project‐level evaluation of CO₂ sequestration credits, we developed a geodatabase (CoBluCarb) and high‐resolution maps of soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution by linking National Wetlands Inventory data with the U.S. Soil Survey Geographic Database. For over 600,000 wetlands, the total carbon stock and organic carbon density was calculated at 5‐cm vertical resolution from 0 to 300 cm of depth. Across the continental United States, there are 1,153–1,359 Tg of SOC in the upper 0–100 cm of soils across a total of 24 945.9 km² of tidal wetland area, twice as much carbon as the most recent national estimate. Approximately 75% of this carbon was found in estuarine emergent wetlands with freshwater tidal wetlands holding about 19%. The greatest pool of SOC was found within the Atchafalaya/Vermilion Bay complex in Louisiana, containing about 10% of the U.S. total. The average density across all tidal wetlands was 0.071 g cm^?3 across 0–15 cm, 0.055 g cm^?3 across 0–100 cm, and 0.040 g cm^?3 at the 100 cm depth. There is inherent variability between and within individual wetlands; however, we conclude that it is possible to use standardized values at a range of 0–100 cm of the soil profile, to provide first‐order quantification and to evaluate future changes in carbon stocks in response to environmental perturbations. This Tier 2‐oriented carbon stock assessment provides a scientific method that can be copied by other nations in support of international requirements.     

Detecting,measuring and reversing changes to wetlands

Wetlands around the globe have beenaltered, degraded or lost through a widerange of human activities. A variety ofconservation action have been undertaken inresponse to these changes, and much of thiswork aims to ensure: (a) the wise andsustainable use of wetland resources, (b)the maintenance of ecological character atwetland sites, and (c) that there is`no-net-loss' of wetlands at local,national and international scales. Theseaims have a number of underlyingassumptions about information available tounderpin associated conservation action.This paper reviews a number of theseassumptions and the associated researchneeds.     

Conservation strategies for coastal wetlands in the Gulf of California,Mexico

Wetlands worldwide, the fisheries they support, and the communities that depend on them are threatened by habitat modification. We describe strategies being used for wetland conservation in the Gulf of California, Mexico, their effectiveness, and challenges for implementation. We base our analysis on the authors’ experience working for local environmental non-governmental organizations and available literature. The strategies discussed include public and private policy instruments such as Environmental Impact Evaluations, environmental land easements, concessions and transfer agreements, Natural Protected Areas, and international agreements such as the Ramsar convention and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. We present examples from the Gulf of California that highlight some of the challenges to wetland conservation. These challenges range from governmental failure to enforce existing environmental legislation, lack of verification of requirements for development projects, to low economic penalties for wetland modification or destruction. We found that in the Gulf of California successful conservation of coastal wetlands required a combination of policy instruments and relied on integrating science, management, and public participation through partnerships between non-governmental institutions, academic institutions, community stakeholders, and government agencies.     

黄河流域湿地水鸟多样性保护对策

黄河是中华文明的发源地, 被誉为母亲河, 是两岸社会经济发展的保障, 切实保护好黄河流域湿地生态系统, 事关中华民族伟大复兴的千秋大计。黄河流域湿地总面积为391万ha, 其中80.4%分布在上游, 中游和下游分别仅12.5%和7.1%。黄河流域是东亚-澳大利西亚候鸟迁徙路线和中亚候鸟迁徙路线上水鸟的关键栖息地, 一些迁徙水鸟最关键的栖息地均分布在黄河流域, 如黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)、白鹤(G. leucogeranus)、丹顶鹤(G. japonensis)、斑头雁(Anser indicus)、大鸨(Otis tarda)、东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)、大天鹅(Cygnus cygnus)、疣鼻天鹅(C. olor)、青头潜鸭(Aythya baeri)等。尽管黄河流域湿地提供的水资源仅占全国的2%, 但维持着全国12%的人口饮水安全和15%的耕地用水, 湿地生态系统的脆弱性较高。截至2017年底, 黄河流域已建立各类湿地自然保护地230处, 其中国家公园2处、国家级自然保护区9处、地方级自然保护区68处、国家湿地公园145处、省级湿地公园6处, 湿地保护率达到65%, 高于我国湿地保护53%的平均水平。然而, 流域尺度现有水鸟生物多样性保护仍然面临不少挑战, 包括全球气候变化、水资源过度利用、水环境污染、栖息地丧失等。为此, 我们提出了建立以国家公园为主体的湿地保护地体系、开展濒危候鸟栖息地修复和强化黄河流域综合管理的体制机制建设等建议。     

Opportunistic wetland formation on reconstructed landforms in a sub-humid climate: influence of site and landscape-scale factors

Initiation of wetland features is integral to sustaining landscape eco-hydrological function and meeting defined goals in surface mine reclamation. Within the sub humid climate of the Athabasca Oil Sands, Canada, the water generation mechanisms (external water sources, internal feedback mechanisms) that enable wetlands to form opportunistically on recently reconstructed landscapes are currently unknown, restricting the flexibility in mine closure planning. To address this knowledge gap, we interpret site and local physical characteristics of opportunistic wetlands within the Athabasca Oil Sands through a synoptic survey. Wetlands formed in ~?8% of the random survey transect areas designed and planted for forestlands. Wetlands had vegetation structures characteristic of woody Salix spp. swamps and narrow-leaved Carex spp. marsh wetland types, with minor coverage of open water marshes. Wetlands formed opportunistically over a range of slopes, aspects and topographic positions, across contrasting fine and coarse-textured landforms. However, different wetland establishment and maintenance controls exist on fine and coarse-textured landforms. On coarse-textured landforms with large groundwater transmissivity, wetland formation was influenced by landscape-scale factors; wetlands were restricted to the toes of slopes and areas intersecting groundwater. On fine-textured constructed landforms, small and large wetlands occurred on lower landscape elevations with the potential for the external (cumulative) water sources, and in hydrologically isolated locations with little potential for runoff contribution from adjacent forestlands (saturation and wetland formation through internal feedback mechanisms). Regardless of landscape position, wetlands formed on flat areas and in shallow inward draining endorheic pans with clay rich soils where low water storage potential promotes frequent surface saturation. These findings have important implications in landscape reclamation design, suggesting that passive techniques that support internal feedback mechanisms may offer a more cost effective reclamation approach compared to more active, expensive techniques that aim to develop wetlands with external water sources.

     

Conservation in the community: the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project,Cameroon

Thomas, D.H.L., Anders, S. & Penn, N.J. 2000. Conservation in the community: the Kilum-Ijim Forest Project, Cameroon. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 157–161.

BirdLife International has worked for ten years in Cameroon's North-West Province to assist the local people and government of Cameroon in achieving the conservation and sutainable management of the last significant remnant of a unique montane forest ecosystem. The Kilum/Ijim forests are almost certainly the last remaining habitat for the conservation of two endemic and threatened bird species, Bannerman's Turaco Tauraco bannermani and Banded Wattle-eye Platytiera laticincta. The forests have no legal designation as formal protected areas but have been conserved through local concern and knowledge of the multiple values of an intact forest ecosystem, backed up by the enforcement of traditional regulations, and support from the project to finding solutions to peoples' land use and natural resource management needs within and outside the forests. The project is now working under the umbrella of a national Biodiversity Conservation and Management Programme in Cameroon, funded by the Global Environment Facility, to establish the Kilum/Ijirn as the first community-managed forest in the country. A brief history and background to the project is presented, with emphasis on lessons learned by BiraLife and the success of current efforts to achieve the conservation of the forests through community management. The issues are discussed in the general context of an integrated conservation and development programme (ICDP).     

State and management of wetlands in Bangladesh

Wetlands are a vital link between land and water in Bangladesh. A majority of the people of Bangladesh are critically dependent on wetlands. In this paper, the values of wetlands, causes and effects of wetlands degradation, as well as the present wetlands management approach, are analyzed and recommendations for wetlands management are suggested based on participatory rural appraisal (PRA), field visit, personal experience, and existing literature and information. Wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of ecosystems, but wetlands habitat of Bangladesh is under constant threat due to increase of population, intensive agriculture, overfishing, siltation, pollution, ill-planned infrastructures, lack of institutional coordination, lack of awareness, etc. As a result biodiversity is reducing, many species of flora and fauna are threatened, wetlands-based ecosystem is degenerating, and the living conditions of local people are deteriorating as livelihoods, socioeconomic institutions, and cultural values are affected. Wetlands management is not addressed separately in water management activities of Bangladesh. In order to balance human needs and wetlands conservation, a mainly community-based wetlands management approach has been taken in Bangladesh, but this is not enough to prevent the degradation of wetlands. Therefore, Bangladesh now needs a comprehensive strategy combining political, economic, social, and technological approaches to stop further degradation of wetlands. Therefore, wetlands management should be incorporated into a system of integrated land and water use and, indeed, into the socioeconomic system of the country. Policies, strategies, and management plans for sustainable use and conservation of wetlands of Bangladesh must be based on solid knowledge and understanding of their ecological and socioeconomic functions and processes.     

Manipulating,managing and rehabilitating mangrove-dominated wetlands along Florida’s east coast (USA): balancing mosquito control and ecological values

In Florida, mangrove-dominated wetlands have been manipulated and managed largely for control of mosquitoes or to make way for human development since the late 1800s. More recently, many wetlands have been rehabilitated as their contributions to estuarine ecosystems became apparent and techniques that restored valuable contributions without compromising control of mosquitoes became available. This paper documents the history of manipulations largely used to control mosquito production in wetlands on the east coast of Florida, which have included ditching, filling, and impounding. It describes the management of these environmentally sensitive habitats since World War II and approximately 40 years of effort to rehabilitate these systems and improve their management. Improvements have been accomplished via adaptive management, science-based decision making and engagement of diverse groups of resource managers and stakeholders. Interagency efforts to provide balanced management of these wetlands are discussed, and work is presented to demonstrate the outcomes from rehabilitating impoundments in the Indian River Lagoon. These strategies for management and rehabilitation should provide guidance for restoring and conserving critical ecosystem services delivered by mangrove-dominated wetlands elsewhere, including survival in the face of future environmental changes.

     

Waterbird and wetland research and conservation in Ghana: a ten year perspective

Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y. & Gordon, C. 2000. Waterbird & wetland research and conservationin Ghana: a ten year perspective. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 95.

The study outlines the evolution of ecological research on waterbirds and wetland conservation initiatives in Ghana over a ten year period, 1986–1996. A survey of waterbird populations was initiated in the country in October 1985, through a collaborative effort between the Ghana Government, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) UK and BirdLife International. These studies identified key wetland sites on the Ghana coast which have been regularly monitored up to today, thus providing the most comprehensive long-term data on waterbird populations within the West African sub-region. Over the ten year period the simple waterbird counting has led to comprehensive ecological research on waterbirds, the establishment of a national Bird Ringing Scheme and the development of a core of trained ornithologists in Ghana. In terms of conservation action, the data provided the justification for designation of the five most important coastal wetland sites as Ramsar sites and the establishment of the Ghana Coastal Wetlands Management Project (CWMP) to manage the sites. The management strategy adopted seeks not only to maintain the ecological integrity of the wetlands, but more importantly, to enhance the benefits derived from wetlands by local communities and improve the quality of life for the coastal people. Management actions are guided by a multi-disciplinary research on the coastal wetland ecosystem, which incorporates biological, physico-chemical and socio-economic dimensions. The large body of environmental data accumulated during the initial stages of the CWMP provide a solid base for the monitoring of the ecological character of the wetlands and the evaluation of management activities. The events in Ghana clearly demonstrate the value of a strong scientific data-base in our efforts to promote conservation of Africa's wetlands and wetland resources.     

Ensuring the adaptive potential of Coastal wetlands of India- the need of the hour for sustainable management

India is endowed with a variety of coastal wetlands viz., mangroves, seagrasses, saltmarshes, coral reefs, lagoons and tidal flats, and the country is also a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention of Biological Diversity, besides having a robust framework of laws and policies, governing the wetland conservation. However, the conservation strategies can better be improved in the context of increasing pressures and threats and limited success of restoration/rehabilitation. Land conversion and ecological degradation of coastal wetlands are the stressors, associated with rapid coastal developmental activities and climate change. The coastal wetlands require desired habitat niche and hence, the conversion of coastal wetlands to other land uses (including agricultural and urban lands) may lead to permanent loss, whereas ecologically degraded coastal wetlands may be resilient if supported by effective protection measures. Preventing the habitat conversion and maximizing the adaptive potential (viz., the ability of populations or species to adapt to rapid environmental change with minimal disruption) by preserving the ecological health are the need of the hour to safeguard the existing coastal wetlands and sustain the provisional ecosystem services offered by them rather than short-term increase in area by unproductive restoration/rehabilitation efforts. Since coastal wetlands are flow through ecosystems, preserving the hydrological connectivity, facilitating the connectivity between adjacent ecosystems and protection of natural corridors are potential strategies that are required to enhance the adaptive potential of coastal wetlands. This analysis calls for site-specific, long-term and integrated ecosystem-based protection, management and rehabilitation strategies based on scientific principles and enforcing the effective legislative measures to regularize the coastal developmental activities in India.

     

WETLANDS AND AGRICULTURE

SUMMARY

Emphasis is given to the importance of wetlands and the need for a rational and multi-use approach to their development. Their occurence in the landscape is explained and a brief account is given of characteristic soils and other related features.

Wetlands are widely distributed in certain landscapes and generally have high agricultural potential, especially for the production of cultivated pastures. A large proportion of the vleis in Natal have already been developed.

Important principles and procedures to be considered in planning wetland development are presented. The urgent need to develop a wetland strategy, initiate appropriate research, apply effective legislation and identify wetlands in need of total protection is stressed.     

Waterbird Response to Wetlands Restored Through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

Abstract: Conservation programs that facilitate restoration of natural areas on private land are one of the best strategies for recovery of valuable wetland acreage in critical ecoregions of the United States. Wetlands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provide many ecological functions but may be particularly important as habitat for migrant and resident waterbirds; however, use of, and factors associated with use of, CREP wetlands as stopover and breeding sites have not been evaluated. We surveyed a random sample of CREP wetlands in the Illinois River watershed in 2004 and 2005 to quantify use of restored wetlands by spring migrating and breeding waterbirds. Waterbirds used 75% of wetlands during spring migration. Total use-day abundance for the entire spring migration ranged from 0 to 49,633 per wetland and averaged 6,437 ± 1,887 (SE). Semipermanent wetlands supported the greatest total number of use-days and the greatest number of use-days relative to wetland area. Species richness ranged from 0 to 42 (x̄ = 10.0 ± 1.5 [SE]), and 5 of these species were classified as endangered in Illinois. Density of waterfowl breeding pairs ranged from 0.0 pairs/ha to 16.6 pairs/ha (x̄ = 1.9 ± 0.5 [SE] pairs/ha), and 16 species of wetland birds were identified as local breeders. Density of waterfowl broods ranged from 0.0 broods/ha to 3.6 broods/ha and averaged 0.5 ± 0.1 (SE) broods/ha. We also modeled spring stopover use, waterbird species richness, and waterfowl reproduction in relation to spatial, physical, and floristic characteristics of CREP wetlands. The best approximating models to explain variation in all 3 dependent variables included only the covariate accounting for level of hydrologic management (i.e., none, passive, or active). Active management was associated with 858% greater use-days during spring than sites with only passive water management. Sites where hydrology was passively managed also averaged 402% greater species richness than sites where no hydrologic management was possible. Density of waterfowl broods was 120% greater on passively managed sites than on sites without water management but was 29% less on sites with active compared to passive hydrologic management. Densities of waterfowl broods also were greatest when ratios of open water to cover were 70:30. Models that accounted for vegetation quality and landscape variables ranked lower than models based solely on hydrologic management or vegetation cover in all candidate sets. Although placement and clustering of sites may be critical for maintaining populations of some wetland bird species, these factors appeared to be less important for attracting migrant waterbirds in our study area. In the context of restored CREP wetlands, we suggest the greatest gains in waterbird use and reproduction may be accomplished by emphasizing site-specific restoration efforts related to hydrology and floristic structure. (JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 72(3):654–664; 2008)     

Differences exist in bird communities using restored and natural wetlands in the Parkland region,Alberta, Canada

Wetland restoration is used to compensate for historic and ongoing wetland losses. We compared bird community composition in 24 restored wetlands and 36 natural wetlands in the Parkland region of Alberta. Natural wetlands ranged in exposure to agricultural activity and were binned into three classes (low, medium, and high disturbance). Although the abundance and average species richness of birds were similar between restored and natural wetlands (analysis of variance: p > 0.22), the avian community composition differed significantly among wetland types (multiresponse permutation procedure [MRPP]: A = 0.05, p < 0.001). The avifauna using restored wetlands was distinct from the avifauna using natural wetlands spanning a range of disturbance levels (A = 0.02–0.06; p ≤ 0.006). Notably, restored wetlands were surrounded by less shrub/forest cover and more open water than low‐disturbance, natural wetlands. The majority (58%) of species using the surveyed wetlands were not classified as wetland‐dependent. Interestingly, if only wetland‐dependent species are considered, the avifauna using restored wetlands is no longer distinctive (MRPP: A < 0.01, p = 0.187), although the abundance of wetland‐dependent birds was marginally higher in restored wetlands (n = 24) than in low‐disturbance, natural wetlands (n = 10; Tukey's honestly significant difference test: p = 0.041). Overall, restored wetlands had reduced beta diversity compared to natural wetlands, regardless of whether the avifauna were restricted to wetland‐dependent species or considered comprehensively. This draws into question the legitimacy of the assumption that restoration can fully offset continued losses of natural wetlands.     

Conservation prioritization through combined approach of umbrella species selection,occupancy estimation,habitat suitability and connectivity analysis of kingfisher: A study from an internationally important wetland complex (Ramsar site) in India

Assessment of occupancy status, as well as projection of suitable habitats and connectivity of wetland indicator species, and thereby identification of potential conservation umbrella and projection of conservation priority areas are often considered important for wetland conservation. Kingfishers are wetland indicators and suffer from habitat degradation due to world-wide destruction of wetlands. Therefore, they can be considered potential candidates for conservation intervention. The present knowledge about the spatial distribution of suitable areas and habitat connectivity of kingfishers at a landscape level is non-existent. We conducted extensive surveys and recorded four kingfisher species in East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW; Ramsar site No. 1208; ∼125 km²). The occupancy estimates were highest for White-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis, WTK), followed by common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis, CK), stork-billed kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis, SBK) and lowest for pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis, PK). WTK has the highest amount of suitable areas followed by CK, PK and SBK. The spatial overlap of suitable habitats showed that SBK is the potential umbrella species and therefore provides conservation benefits to other kingfisher species and eventually to the EKW. In addition to water areas, emergent vegetation, crop lands and tree cover are other important habitats for kingfishers. The connectivity analyses revealed that suitable habitats were disjunct and are under various anthropogenic threats. Therefore, we need to protect suitable habitats and connectivity between them. Finally, we identified conservation priority areas. Conservation intervention on these high priority zones will not only be beneficial for kingfishers, but also for other avifauna having similar resource requirements as well as the wetland parse.     

50 Years on,w(h)ither the Ramsar convention? A case of institutional drift

Wetlands have declined in area and quality at an accelerating pace in the last 50 years. Yet, the last 50 years is when international attention has been focussed on wetlands through the Ramsar Convention. An analysis of how the convention has evolved over the past 50 years suggests it has been drifting away from its original mandate in a maladaptive manner, and this drift is a problem for achieving its original objectives. A review of the strategic plans of the convention revealed two key conditions for institutional drifting and the associated lack of success. The first condition lies in its unique situation as a non-UN convention, which reduces the convention’s visibility and interactivity with other biodiversity-related conventions, agencies, or programmes. The second condition is an increasing number of conventions dealing with biodiversity issues, all forcing the Ramsar Convention to seek different roles in an increasingly competitive institutional landscape. A more effective future for the convention arguably lies in reasserting its original mandate, but with cognisance of the changed environmental pressures of the twenty-first century. While this would narrow its increasingly broad focus, such a reorientation will allow wetlands and waterfowl to start a track to recovery, backed by active and focused Contracting Parties in a renewed international convention on wetland conservation, management, and sustainable use.