Stakeholder‐enhanced environmental flow assessment: The Rufiji Basin case study in Tanzania

Abstract

Abstract:Environmental flows (E flows) are now a standard part of sustainable water management globally but are only rarely implemented. One reason may be insufficient engagement of stakeholders and their priority outcomes in the E flow-setting process. A recent environmental flow assessment (EFA) in the Kilombero basin of the Rufiji River in Tanzania concentrated on a broad-based investigation of stakeholders' use and perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by the river. The EFA process generally followed the Building Block Methodology but with an enhanced engagement of stakeholders. Engagement began with the involvement of institutional stakeholders to explain the purpose of the EFA and to elicit their priority outcomes.Extensive interactions with direct-use stakeholders followed to investigate their uses of and priorities for the rivers. Results were used by the EFA specialist team in choosing flow indicators and defining measurable environmental objectives. The specialists then met to reach a consensus of the flow requirements. The EFA results were lastly reported back to stakeholders.During the Kilombero EFA we learned that stakeholders at all levels have a good awareness of the natural services provided by a healthy river and can contribute to the setting of environmental objectives for the rivers and floodplain. These can be factored into the biophysical assessments of river flows required to maintain habitats, processes, water quality and biodiversity. It is therefore important to allocate significant resources to stakeholder engagement. It now remains to be seen if enhanced stakeholder engagement, including the increased understanding and capacity built among all stakeholders, will increase support for the implementation of the recommended flows.

Microhabitat preferences of fish assemblages in the Udzungwa Mountains (Eastern Africa)

“…The Udagaji catchment is densely forested, whereas the Mgugwe catchment is naturally covered by forest and shrubs in similar proportions. Although the Udagaji River has been identified as a possible water source for a large irrigation scheme in the Kilombero Valley (see O'Keeffe, Graas, Mombo, & McClain, ), the basin area of the Mgugwe River is larger (213 vs. 25 km 2 ). In accordance, the mean annual flow of the Mgugwe River corresponds to 2.83 m 3 /s (1957–1991) whereas that of the Udagaji River corresponds to 0.81 m 3 /s (1957–1991).…”

Assessing River Basin Development Given Water‐Energy‐Food‐Environment Interdependencies

“…This is a concern, given ongoing changes in the basin are already associated with important points of contestation (Materu et al, 2018). For example, at various times, tensions and competing explanations have played out in the Great Ruaha subcatchment over the actions and 10.1029/2019EF001464 impacts of smallholder agriculture and pastoralists, irrigation expansion, land-grabbing, and conservation (England, 2019;International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, 2018;Kashaigili et al, 2006;Lankford et al, 2009;Mwakalila, 2005;O'Keeffe et al, 2017;The Citizen, 2015;Walsh, 2012).…”

Large rivers as complex adaptive ecosystems

“…This legacy of modification represents a challenge for the current management of these landscapes. The manuscripts by Hein et al () and Schletterer et al () provide examples of these challenges, whereas the study of O'Keefe et al () shows how a transdisciplinary approach has been employed to develop and implement sustainable environment flow regimes.…”

“…The third manuscript in this section is that of O'Keefe et al, () who outlines the development and implementation of environmental flow assessment (EFA) in the Kilombero Basin of the Rufiji River in Tanzania. Environmental flows are now a standard part of sustainable water management globally but are only rarely implemented.…”

“…Environmental flows are now a standard part of sustainable water management globally but are only rarely implemented. O'Keefe et al () argue this is because of the insufficient engagement of stakeholders and their priority outcomes in the environmental flow‐setting process. In this study of the Rufiji River, a broad‐based investigation of stakeholders' use and perceptions of the ecosystem services provided by the river was established and used as a framework for the assessment of flow regimes that would maintain them.…”