Environmental impacts of development on wetlands in arid and semi-arid lands

Abstract

Wetlands, as defined by the Ramsar Convention, are productive ecosystems providing goods and services for people. Negative effects of "development' on wetlands are exemplified through adverse climatic effects, inadvertent environmental changes, non-sustainable alternative uses, exacerbation of problems, detrimental effects on rare species, social disruption, and sub-optimal management. The functions and values of wetlands, following the Adamus approach, are described and exemplified for the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands (Nigeria) and Lake Hula (Israel). Threats to wetlands from agricultural intensification, pollution, engineering schemes and urban development are discussed. Since the societies and institutions that degrade wetlands are themselves complex systems, an understanding of hydrology and ecology is insufficient for a wetland manager. Hydrologists should be more involved in wetlands and their sustainable utilization. "Political hydrology' must complement "scientific hydrology'. -from Author