The Use of Traditional and Modern Tools for Monitoring Wetlands Biodiversity in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Biodiversity is being lost in wetlands at a faster rate than any other biome. Effective conservation and management of wetlands biodiversity requires data on species status and threats to inform decision-making. However, there are key challenges in Africa around the availability, usability and quality of data, willingness to use data, and capacity. We review these challenges, using examples from Ramsar sites and other wetlands across the continent, and propose solutions to help information users access high quality data in the right format at the right time. We assess the relevance of traditional monitoring methods, as well as innovative new tools such as remote sensing and environmental DNA. We conclude by explaining how governments, civil society and the private sector can enhance data collection by applying common, policy-relevant indicators, scaling up the application of traditional and appropriate new tools and protocols, building capacity in key institutions, and using partnerships and credible science-policy interfaces. Only by sharing and upscaling the solutions to data collection and use will we be able to mainstream biodiversity into decision-making and ultimately stop biodiversity loss across African wetlands.

An inventory of biodiversity data sources for conservation monitoring

“…Even for well-studied taxa like birds, time-series data are mostly from Europe and North America. These findings reflect recognised global trends, with major gaps in biodiversity data in high-biodiversity tropical countries [ 13 , 29 , 30 ]. There are generally more data for Europe and North America than other regions, and more for terrestrial birds, mammals and trees than for other taxa, but there is a lot of local variation [ 4 , 29 , 31 – 34 ].…”

“…All stakeholders should, at the very least, be collecting primary data to monitor their biodiversity priorities and projects. In addition, efforts need to be made to focus on data collection in the tropical regions housing most of the species and on those taxa that are most under-represented in data sets, such as marine and aquatic species, small mammals, invertebrates, fungi, plants and wide-ranging species [ 4 , 13 , 29 , 32 , 34 , 37 , 38 ]. More data from tropical countries are also needed if we are to be able to predict the impacts of climate change on tropical species [ 39 ] and assess projected range to set conservation priorities [ 40 ].…”

“…Blockages to biodiversity monitoring include lack of access to existing data sets [9], exacerbated by many organisations acting independently to develop their own databases and data platforms [11]. In high-biodiversity countries, such as in tropical Africa, limited capacity and expertise for data sharing and use are often compounded by more limited resources to pay for raw images and data processing, as well as limited internet capacity [9,12,13]. Many of the assessments of African biodiversity data have been led and conducted by scientists who are predominantly based outside the region [14,15], reflecting more systemic issues with capacity for research and monitoring [16][17][18].…”

Citizen Science for Bio-indication: Development of a Community-Based Index of Ecosystem Integrity for Assessing the Status of Afrotropical Riverine Ecosystems

“…However, in many places a comprehensive approach has not been developed on the use of socio-cultural knowledge and experiences in the assessment of the status of aquatic ecosystems (Reid et al, 2010). Social value systems are transient and transitory, as is the environment in which they operate, and are by no means laws of nature (Stephenson et al, 2020). Several fundamental social and cultural values are associated with basic needs, determined by the biology of biota, thus being less subject to modification (Hjalte et al, 1977).…”

“…The labels (a-d) represents sampled replicates of each site. equitable participation of data users, including local communities which can lead to better monitored results and sustainability (Stephenson et al, 2020). One such approach is the application of sociocultural perspectives that uses indigenous knowledge and parameters in the creation of indices.…”