Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa
Abstract Wetlands provide essential ecosystem services in Africa, yet their extent and fragmentation remain poorly understood. Here we classify African wetlands at 10 m resolution, using seasonal composite imagery and a random forest algorithm. We estimate a total wetland area of 947,750 km² (10% of...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59373-2 |
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| author | Sani Idris Garba Susanna K. Ebmeier Jean-François Bastin Danilo Mollicone Joseph Holden |
| author_facet | Sani Idris Garba Susanna K. Ebmeier Jean-François Bastin Danilo Mollicone Joseph Holden |
| author_sort | Sani Idris Garba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Wetlands provide essential ecosystem services in Africa, yet their extent and fragmentation remain poorly understood. Here we classify African wetlands at 10 m resolution, using seasonal composite imagery and a random forest algorithm. We estimate a total wetland area of 947,750 km² (10% of global wetlands), comprising 46% marshes, 25% swamps, 22% peatlands, 5% seasonal wetlands, and 2% mangroves. Wetland fragmentation is strongly associated with high population densities in countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Egypt, Algeria, and Kenya. African wetlands store an estimated 54 ± 11 Gt of carbon, surpassing Europe’s 12–31 Gt. If drained, they could release 260 MtC yr−¹, nearly ten times the carbon sequestration of pristine wetlands (27 MtC yr−¹). These findings provide a crucial foundation for sustainable wetland management and policy development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-894d84bf94b74c93aeb61ae2c4205a86 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-894d84bf94b74c93aeb61ae2c4205a862025-08-20T02:03:32ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-59373-2Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across AfricaSani Idris Garba0Susanna K. Ebmeier1Jean-François Bastin2Danilo Mollicone3Joseph Holden4water@leeds, School of Geography, University of LeedsSchool of Earth and Environment, University of LeedsTERRA, Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio-Tech, Université de LiègeFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationswater@leeds, School of Geography, University of LeedsAbstract Wetlands provide essential ecosystem services in Africa, yet their extent and fragmentation remain poorly understood. Here we classify African wetlands at 10 m resolution, using seasonal composite imagery and a random forest algorithm. We estimate a total wetland area of 947,750 km² (10% of global wetlands), comprising 46% marshes, 25% swamps, 22% peatlands, 5% seasonal wetlands, and 2% mangroves. Wetland fragmentation is strongly associated with high population densities in countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Egypt, Algeria, and Kenya. African wetlands store an estimated 54 ± 11 Gt of carbon, surpassing Europe’s 12–31 Gt. If drained, they could release 260 MtC yr−¹, nearly ten times the carbon sequestration of pristine wetlands (27 MtC yr−¹). These findings provide a crucial foundation for sustainable wetland management and policy development.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59373-2 |
| spellingShingle | Sani Idris Garba Susanna K. Ebmeier Jean-François Bastin Danilo Mollicone Joseph Holden Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa Nature Communications |
| title | Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa |
| title_full | Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa |
| title_fullStr | Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa |
| title_short | Wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across Africa |
| title_sort | wetland fragmentation associated with large populations across africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59373-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saniidrisgarba wetlandfragmentationassociatedwithlargepopulationsacrossafrica AT susannakebmeier wetlandfragmentationassociatedwithlargepopulationsacrossafrica AT jeanfrancoisbastin wetlandfragmentationassociatedwithlargepopulationsacrossafrica AT danilomollicone wetlandfragmentationassociatedwithlargepopulationsacrossafrica AT josephholden wetlandfragmentationassociatedwithlargepopulationsacrossafrica |