Regional Scale Risk to the Ecological Sustainability and Ecosystem Services of an African Floodplain System

The Phongolo floodplain is one of southern Africa's most important systems. In this study, we carried out a regional scale ecological risk assessment to evaluate the risk of multiple stressors associated with the use of the aquatic resources in the floodplain to selected social and ecological e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Risk analysis 2021-10, Vol.41 (10), p.1925-1952
Main Authors: O'Brien, Gordon, Smit, Nico J, Wepener, Victor
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive management
Africa
African cultural groups
Biodiversity
Ecological risk assessment
Ecosystem
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Environmental risk
Flood management
Flood plain management
Floodplains
Floods
Game preserves
High risk
Maintenance
multiple stressors
Pollution
Refuge
Regional analysis
regional‐scale risk assessment
Risk assessment
Risk management
socioecological endpoints
Strategic management
Sustainability
Sustainability management
Water pollution
Water Quality
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Summary:The Phongolo floodplain is one of southern Africa's most important systems. In this study, we carried out a regional scale ecological risk assessment to evaluate the risk of multiple stressors associated with the use of the aquatic resources in the floodplain to selected social and ecological endpoints representing its sustainability. The floodplain has undergone significant changes as a result of the impacts of multiple stressors. This includes high risk of impact and threatened sustainability between the Pongolapoort Dam and the Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR). This compares to relatively low risk to the maintenance of the endpoints within the NGR. The reserve provides a protection and refuge function for regional biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem sustainability processes. In the study a range of scenarios were considered and demonstrate that the system will respond to protection measures and or increased resource use options. Should flood reductions or water quality pollution drivers continue on increasing trajectories, the condition of the Phongolo River and floodplain will probably deteriorate into an unacceptable, unsustainable state. Removal of the protection services of the NGR would result in an unsustainable ecosystem and loss of ecosystem services for regional vulnerable African communities. Additional evidence should be obtained from monitoring and research to refine, validate, and update the assessment in an adaptive management context. The risk assessment framework approach implemented in the Phongolo floodplain can contribute to the management of other floodplains ecosystems and the sustainability management of social and ecological attributes and processes of these important ecosystems.
ISSN:0272-4332
1539-6924
DOI:10.1111/risa.13689