SWEA

160 wetlands in Kenya and Tanzania were characterized regarding soils, hydrology, vegetation, land use, and human-environment interactions, and classified into five categories (Sakane et al., 2011). Representative wetlands were chosen for assessing their production potential by combining agronomic yield gap and vegetation observation trials with remote sensing and modeling approaches. The resulting agronomic potential will be extrapolated by up-scaling to the initially studied wetlands and will provide guidelines for future wetland protection or uses.

The contribution of INRES Crop Science to the SWEA project has an integrative character. A modeling framework for quantifying the effects of distinctive degrees of wetland disturbances and management on yields in crops and semi-natural vegetation are developed. It includes routines for scaling models from patch to wetland level and considers effects of environmental heterogeneity. The patch scale model implements the classical hierarchical yield gap concept.

The overall goal is to make the model operational for practical decision support. It will address the effects of wetland type, degradation level and management on wetland productivity and vulnerability. This approach requires model parameterizations which are simple, robust but yet accurate enough for application in the agro-ecological context of developing countries.

Sakane, N., M. T. van Wijk, M. Langensiepen, M. Becker, 2014. A quantitative model for understanding and exploring land use decisions by smallholder agrowetland households in rural areas of East Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 197, 159-173. DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2014.07.011.

Sakane, N., M. Alvaez, M. Becker, B. Böhme, C. Handa, H.W. Kamiri, M. Langensiepen, G. Menz, S. Misana, N. G. Mogha, B.M. Möseler, E.J. Mwita, H.A. Oyieke, M.T.van Wijk, 2011. Classification, characterisation, and use of small wetland in East Afrika. Wetlands 31 (6), 1103-1116.  DOI:10.1007/s13157-011-0221-4.

Alvarez, M., B.M. Möseler, M. Josko, M. Becker, M. Langensiepen,  G. Menz, B. Böhme, H. Oyieke, C. Handa, H. Kamiri, S. Misana, E. Mwita, N. Mogha, N. Sakane, 2012. SWEA-Dataveg – vegetation of small wetlands in East Africa.  In: Dengler, J., Oldeland, J., Jansen, F., Chytrý, M., Ewald, J., Finckh, M., Glöckler, F., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Peet, R.K., Schaminée, J.H.J. (2012)  [Eds.]: Vegetation databases for the 21st century. – Biodiversity & Ecology 4: 294–295. DOI:10.7809/b-e.00092

Alvarez, M., B.M. Möseler, M. Josko, M. Becker, M. Langensiepen,  G. Menz, B. Böhme, H. Oyieke, C. Handa, H. Kamiri, S. Misana, E. Mwita, N. Mogha, N. Sakane, 2012. Floristic classification of the vegetation in small wetlands of Kenya and Tanzania. In: Dengler, J., Oldeland, J., Jansen, F., Chytrý, M., Ewald, J., Finckh, M., Glöckler, F., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Peet, R.K., Schaminée, J.H.J. (2012) [Eds.]: Vegetation databases for the 21st century. – Biodiversity & Ecology 4: 63–76. DOI:10.7809/b-e.00060.

Böhme, B., M. Becker, G. Foerch, M. Langensiepen, G.J. Mwanghi, L. Njoroge, 2010. Key Determinants of Soil Water Availability for Agricultural Production in two Wetland Types in East Africa. Tropentag “World food system – A contribution from Europe”, Zurich, Switzerland, September 2010. http://www.tropentag.de/2010/abstracts/links/Boumlhme_nfeFbV1n.pdf

Alvarez, M., N. Mogha, B.M. Moeseler, C. Handa, H. Kamiri, M. Becker, N. Sakane, M. Langensiepen, 2010. Vegetation Analysis to Assess the Impact of Land Use History and Intensity on the Resilience of Small Wetlands in East Africa. Tropentag “World food system – A contribution from Europe”, Zurich, Switzerland, September 2010. http://www.tropentag.de/2010/abstracts/links/Becker_dO1S45lc.pdf

Mogha, N., B.M. Moeseler, M. Alvarez, M. Langensiepen, 2010. Impact of Land Use on Vegetation Communities and their Floristic Composition in the Small Wetlands of East Africa. Tropentag “World food system – A contribution from Europe”, Zurich, Switzerland, September 2010. http://www.tropentag.de/2010/abstracts/links/Mogha_FKemEsoQ.pdf

Sakane, N., M. Langensiepen, 2009. Agent-based Simulation of Human-environment Interactions in Small Wetlands in Kenya and Tanzania. Tropentag “International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development”, Hamburg, Germany, October 2009. http://www.tropentag.de/2009/abstracts/links/Langensiepen_j4GiZMeJ.pdf

Handa, C., N. Sakane, B. Boehme, H. Kamiri, E. Mwita, N. Mogha, 2009. Characterisation of Small Wetlands in East Africa. Tropentag “International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development”, Hamburg, Germany, October 2009.  http://www.tropentag.de/2009/abstracts/links/Handa_boPWe4qw.pdf