Importance of Wetlands/Discussion
Wetlands are known to be one of the world`s most vital resource due to the many environmental and socioeconomic benefits it the render. However, with its services to the general ecosystem it is being degraded at fast rate worldwide.
According to (Ajibola et al, 2016) the research carried out by Jansen and Schuyt (1998) in order to assess the economic values of the Kenya Yala swamp and also the resultant impact of the ever increasing population trends on the sustainability of wetlands. However, the researchers in the process discovered that population pressures result in an unsustainable use of the wetland resources and its services, this was not initiated by the local people but the Kenya government, they encourage wetlands reclamation for the purpose of agriculture.
The study was able to show that the economic loss of wetlands in the area is majorly a localized issue, but still the government has as well contributed to the loss of these ecosystems of which under normal circumstances are to be protected by the government. Having review other studies carried at in this area, it shows that wetland reclamation did not in benefit the local residents because the crops that was grown on the said converted swamp were cultivated for export purpose. Finally, this implies that the cost of converting the wetlands was accepted by the people as the goods and services they do get from the wetlands reduced. Talking about the values of the Yala swamp economically, it is very clear that the wetland provides many goods and services to the local communities and more also serve as habitat for both animals and plants which was dislodged as a result of alteration of Lake Victoria.
The second study was on the economic consequences of wetland degradation for local populist in the continent Africa, Schuyt 2005, however recognize the importance of wetlands for its provision for local communities in Africa. For the study, the Yala swamp in Kenya was use to quantify the dependence of human population in respect to wetlands.
Wetlands in Africa plays very important roles as it serves as source of water and nutrients necessary for biological productivity and also serve as habitat for plant and animals, thereby making the sustainable management of these system (ecosystem) critical to the long term health, welfare and safety of many communities in Africa.
With the disappearance of Mutubuki wetland in Chigombe community of Gutu district, Masvingo in Zimbabwe, a research was carried out by Hardlife, David, Godfrey, Somandla and proud (2014) ‘on the implication the implication of the loss and degradation of wetlands ecosystems on sustainable rural livelihoods of the people in Chigombe Community of Zimbabwe.’
‘They state that wetlands are areas that the water is at near or above the surface of the ground, often enough for hydric soils to form and/or for wetland plants to grow. More also they said that wetlands are very critical part of our natural habitats and provide important range of ecological and socio-economic goods and services which are important for environmental integrity and human wellbeing. Furthermore, they stated that wetlands are the most productive ecosystems known on planet as it provides numerous products, services, functions and multiple benefits such as water purification, water storage, nutrient cycling.
Ojekunle (2011) having reviewed the ecology of Nigerian wetlands to understand the factors influencing their utilization in terms of sustainable food production and also presented a designed alternative for food and water re-use production. The author however suggests or postulate that by adopting the use of water-recycling systems, precisely the waste water treatment plant and reclaimed water reservoirs; in this way sustainable use of water could be achieved.
Having examining the possible ways in which Nigerian communities can rescue or salvage the wetlands ecosystem in other to ensure sustainable fish production, Dauda (2014) accepted the fact that wetlands is one of the high valued resource that is unprotected (open to indiscriminate use). However, in the cause of this study, Dauda (2014) reviewed the term wetlands, its values and functions, regarding to fish production in Nigeria and the threats to wetlands sustainability in Nigeria. According to the study wetlands contribute to both the local and national economy in terms of fish production and fibre, it also helps in purification of water, use for recreational purpose and it provides other benefits such flood protection and pollution control. Wetlands as well serve as sites for scientific research purpose and discovery, education and commercial fishing, habitats and site of nutrient cycle for mammals, plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds and fishes.
Causes of Wetland Loss
In differentiating wetland degradation and wetland loss according to Moser, prentice and Frazier (1998) they define wetland loss as the loss of wetland areas as a result of converting wetlands areas to areas of non- wetlands as a result of human activities, while wetland degradation is said to be the impairment of wetland functions due to human activities. Wetland loss could also be referred to as modification of vegetated wetland to upland or a drained areas or to submerged environment which originally sustained wetlands dependent organisms. However, wetlands are considered to be lost if it has been degraded to the level that it has lost substantial natural values and functions.
In understanding the causes of wetland loss in China, Yin and Ming-xiang (2001) carried out a study and identified the anthropogenic causes of wetland loss, focusing on Sanjiang plan marshes, lakes in the middle reaches of Chanjiang (Yangtze) river, coastal rivers and mangroves, they identify lack of understanding of wetlands as the main reason for the blind or over exploitation of wetlands in China resulting in depletion and the loss of wetlands in China. The study also reviewed that human activities such as over exploitation of bio-resources, land reclamation, coastal erosion, pollution, urban development and tourism, siltation and exploitation of water resources and hydro- engineering are said to be major threat to the largest wetland in China. However, they concluded that coastal wetlands are the most affected wetlands as a result of reclamation for the purpose of agriculture, urban development and industrialization.
According to the study carried out by Desta, Lemma and Fetene in (2012) on the aspects of climate change and its associated impact on wetlands functions, it shows that wetlands is one of the utmost ecosystems that is vulnerable to anthropogenic activities that is being intensified by climate change. However, the author acknowledges that change in climate has the potential of altering the feature of wetlands like runoff rate, flow, temperature and general physical characteristic of the ecosystems. Such disturbance and alteration will therefore have effects on the functions of wetlands and thereby affects the goods and services it provides upon which human depends on (Desta et al. 2012).
Orimoogunje, Oyinloye and Soumah (2009) carried out a study on geospatial mapping of wetland potential in the city of Ilesa in Osun state of Nigeria, the study shows that agriculture and urbanization is the major threat to wetland in the area of study. According to the study, urbanization and agro-economic activities put pressure on wetland resources in the study area, urbanization and over cultivation of wetlands resources is as a result of the increasing population in the area and the suitability of the area for the production arable crops. For this reasons the area that were initially classified as wetlands have now been transformed or converted to agricultural area or settlement area. One of the findings of this study shows that the wetland area has drastically reduced, while that of agriculture and settlement has increase as shown in the table 1.
Table 1: Shows differences of land size for wetland, agriculture and settlement in 1991 and 2002
1991 2002
Wetland area 148ha 89ha
Agricultural area 9,017ha 14,435ha
Settlement area 4,541ha 10,012ha
Source: Orimoogunje, Oyinloye and Soumah (2009)
Tijani, Olaleye and Olubanjo (2011) carried out a study to examine the impact of urbanization on wetland degradation in Eleyele area of Ibadan, Nigeria. The study however highlights the environmental impact of urbanization and land-use in relation to the degradation of Eleyele wetland in Ibadan. The author describes Nigeria as a country that is highly blessed with coastal and inland wetlands, almost all of them are been threatened by anthropogenic activities such as land-use, agricultural activities and urbanization in to the emerging threats of climate change.
Ajibol, Adewale and Ijasan (2012) carried out a study to examine the effects of urbanization in wetlands in Lagos, and one of their founding’s was that the primary cause of wetland loss in the study area (Lagos) are mostly human motivated. The author listed the activities to include high-rural urban migration, sand-filling, industrialization and dredging of wetlands. The study however identified the persistent flooding in Lagos environ as a factor for the depletion and loss of its ecosystems. The study also identifies some effects of economic activities on wetlands and the impacts urbanization has on wetland in the area. Direct habitat loss, suspended solid additions, hydrologic variation, changed in water quality, increase runoff volumes, reduced infiltration, lessened stream based flows and groundwater supply, and prolonged dry periods according to this study are the resultant effects of urbanization in the study area (Lagos).