The integrated transect method as a tool for land use characterisation, with special reference to inland valley agro-ecosystems in West Africa

1996 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. van Duivenbooden ◽  
P.N. Windmeijer ◽  
W. Andriesse ◽  
L.O. Fresco
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Inland Valley

scholarly journals Impact of Climate and Land Use/Land Cover Change on the Water Resources of a Tropical Inland Valley Catchment in Uganda, East Africa

Climate ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Geofrey Gabiri ◽  
Bernd Diekkrüger ◽  
Kristian Näschen ◽  
Constanze Leemhuis ◽  
Roderick van der Linden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Land Use Land Cover ◽  
Lulc Change ◽  
Inland Valley ◽  
Headwater Catchment

The impact of climate and land use/land cover (LULC) change continues to threaten water resources availability for the agriculturally used inland valley wetlands and their catchments in East Africa. This study assessed climate and LULC change impacts on the hydrological processes of a tropical headwater inland valley catchment in Uganda. The hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to analyze climate and LULC change impacts on the hydrological processes. An ensemble of six regional climate models (RCMs) from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, were used for climate change assessment for historical (1976–2005) and future climate (2021–2050). Four LULC scenarios defined as exploitation, total conservation, slope conservation, and protection of headwater catchment were considered. The results indicate an increase in precipitation by 7.4% and 21.8% of the annual averages in the future under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. Future wet conditions are more pronounced in the short rainy season than in the long rainy season. Flooding intensity is likely to increase during the rainy season with low flows more pronounced in the dry season. Increases in future annual averages of water yield (29.0% and 42.7% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively) and surface runoff (37.6% and 51.8% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively) relative to the historical simulations are projected. LULC and climate change individually will cause changes in the inland valley hydrological processes, but more pronounced changes are expected if the drivers are combined, although LULC changes will have a dominant influence. Adoption of total conservation, slope conservation and protection of headwater catchment LULC scenarios will significantly reduce climate change impacts on water resources in the inland valley. Thus, if sustainable climate-smart management practices are adopted, the availability of water resources for human consumption and agricultural production will increase.

Soil Aggregates Stability of Forest Islands and Adjacent Ecosystems in West Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 283
Author(s):  
Amelie Baomalgré Bougma ◽  
Korodjouma Ouattara ◽  
Halidou Compaore ◽  
Hassan Bismarck Nacro ◽  
Caleb Melenya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Soil Aggregates ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Savanna Vegetation ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Forest Islands

In the more mesic savanna areas of West Africa, many areas of relatively tall and dense vegetation with a species composition more characteristic of forest than savanna are often found around villages areas. These ‘forest islands’ may be the direct action of human activity. To better understand these patches with relatively luxuriant vegetation, our study focused on how they influence soil aggregation in comparison with nearby areas and natural savanna vegetation across a precipitation transect in West Africa for which mean annual precipitation at the study sites ranges from 0.80 to 1.27 m a-1. Soil samples were taken from 0 to 5 cm and 5 to 10 cm depths and aggregate groups with diameters: > 500 μm, 500-250 μm and 250-53 μm (viz. “macroaggregates”, “mesoaggregates” and “microaggregates”) determined using the wet sieving method. The results showed significantly higher proportion of stable meso and macroaggregates in forest islands and natural savanna compared to agricultural soils (p <0.05). On the other hand, although there was no effect of land-use type on microaggregates stability, there was a strong tendency for the microaggregate fraction across all land use types to increase with increasing precipitation. Soil organic carbon and iron oxides contents are the most important factors influencing aggregate stability in West African ecosystems. By increasing soil structural stability, forest islands contribute to soil erosion reduction and the control of land degradation.

The Birds of Tropical West Africa, with Special Reference to Those of the Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast and Nigeria

1937 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
V. E. F. ◽  
David Armitage Bannerman ◽  
Wilfrid Robertson
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
Gold Coast

scholarly journals Die erkenning van die noodsaaklikheid van natuurbewaring ten opsigte van basiese grondgebruiksbeplanning in dierepubliek van Suid-Afrika

Koedoe ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. la Grange La Grange
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Physical Development ◽  
The State ◽  
The Republic

The concept of a natural resource is explained and nature conservation as a form of land use is discussed in some detail. Special reference is made to the National Physical Development of Planning and the Environment on the role played by nature conservation in basic usage of the soil as planned by the state in the Republic of South Africa.

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