Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES)
Marshlands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems; being disturbed for several decades as the population density rises. These disturbances, due to anthropogenic activities, impact their ability to deliver important ecosystem services (ES). In this study, we analyzed the current state of marshes i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Environmental Challenges |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021002766 |
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| author | Géant Basimine Chuma Jean Mubalama Mondo Katcho Karume Gustave Nachigera Mushagalusa Serge Schmitz |
| author_facet | Géant Basimine Chuma Jean Mubalama Mondo Katcho Karume Gustave Nachigera Mushagalusa Serge Schmitz |
| author_sort | Géant Basimine Chuma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marshlands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems; being disturbed for several decades as the population density rises. These disturbances, due to anthropogenic activities, impact their ability to deliver important ecosystem services (ES). In this study, we analyzed the current state of marshes in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Factors driving the utilization patterns of marshlands were also assessed in four selected marshes (Muku, Hogola, Chisheke, and Mudaka). The used methodology combined both analyses of satellite images and household surveys. Results showed that marshes' ecosystem utilization patterns in South-Kivu comprised of unsustainable farming practices, clay extraction for brick making, dwelling and settlement expansion, and aquaculture for fish production. The factors driving these utilization patterns combined both bio-physical and household socioeconomic characteristics. These include mainly reinforcement of restrictions for marshland use, the household head's age, income, and household size. Besides, the perception of marshes as wastelands is another driving factor on how people value and use marshlands in South-Kivu. These driving factors are to be considered in ensuring and maintaining marshland functions and ecosystem services (ES) to local communities that highly depend on marshes for livelihoods. As the population density increases substantially in the region, the demand for utilization patterns of marshlands for agriculture, aquaculture, brick making, and settlement and dwellings are also expected to increase in the near future. Therefore, both local communities and decision-makers should be involved in designing sustainable utilizations and conservation options to durably improve livelihoods of populations around these ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:44:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56987e70fdfe49a1ba98cc592108db37 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-0100 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T01:44:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Challenges |
| spelling | doaj.art-56987e70fdfe49a1ba98cc592108db372022-12-21T18:43:08ZengElsevierEnvironmental Challenges2667-01002021-12-015100297Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES)Géant Basimine Chuma0Jean Mubalama Mondo1Katcho Karume2Gustave Nachigera Mushagalusa3Serge Schmitz4Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Corresponding author.Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the CongoFaculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the CongoFaculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA), Bukavu, South-Kivu, Democratic Republic of the CongoLAPLEC, University of Liège, Liège, BelgiumMarshlands are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems; being disturbed for several decades as the population density rises. These disturbances, due to anthropogenic activities, impact their ability to deliver important ecosystem services (ES). In this study, we analyzed the current state of marshes in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Factors driving the utilization patterns of marshlands were also assessed in four selected marshes (Muku, Hogola, Chisheke, and Mudaka). The used methodology combined both analyses of satellite images and household surveys. Results showed that marshes' ecosystem utilization patterns in South-Kivu comprised of unsustainable farming practices, clay extraction for brick making, dwelling and settlement expansion, and aquaculture for fish production. The factors driving these utilization patterns combined both bio-physical and household socioeconomic characteristics. These include mainly reinforcement of restrictions for marshland use, the household head's age, income, and household size. Besides, the perception of marshes as wastelands is another driving factor on how people value and use marshlands in South-Kivu. These driving factors are to be considered in ensuring and maintaining marshland functions and ecosystem services (ES) to local communities that highly depend on marshes for livelihoods. As the population density increases substantially in the region, the demand for utilization patterns of marshlands for agriculture, aquaculture, brick making, and settlement and dwellings are also expected to increase in the near future. Therefore, both local communities and decision-makers should be involved in designing sustainable utilizations and conservation options to durably improve livelihoods of populations around these ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021002766Decision-makingEcosystem services (EC)Land degradationMLR (Multinomial Logistic Regression)South-KivuWetlands |
| spellingShingle | Géant Basimine Chuma Jean Mubalama Mondo Katcho Karume Gustave Nachigera Mushagalusa Serge Schmitz Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) Environmental Challenges Decision-making Ecosystem services (EC) Land degradation MLR (Multinomial Logistic Regression) South-Kivu Wetlands |
| title | Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) |
| title_full | Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) |
| title_fullStr | Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) |
| title_short | Factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of South-Kivu urban agglomerations based on Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) |
| title_sort | factors driving utilization patterns of marshlands in the vicinity of south kivu urban agglomerations based on rapid assessment of wetland ecosystem services rawes |
| topic | Decision-making Ecosystem services (EC) Land degradation MLR (Multinomial Logistic Regression) South-Kivu Wetlands |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021002766 |
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