Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar
A Conservation Assessment
As part of a global effort to identify those areas where conservation measures are needed most urgently, World Wildlife Fund has assembled teams of scientists to conduct ecological assessments of all seven continents. Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar is the latest contribution, presenting in a single volume the first in-depth analysis of the state of freshwater biodiversity across Africa, Madagascar, and the islands of the region. Looking at biodiversity and threats in terms of biological units rather than political units, the book offers a comprehensive examination of the entire range of aquatic systems.
In addition to its six main chapters, the book includes nineteen essays by regional experts that provide more depth on key issues, as well as six detailed appendixes that present summary data used in the analyses, specific analytical methodologies, and a thorough text description for each of Africa's ninety-three freshwater ecoregions.
Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar provides a blueprint for conservation action and represents an unparalleled guide for investments and activities of conservation agencies and donor organizations.
List of Special Essays
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Boxes
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
The Evolution and Diversity of Africa’s Freshwater
Systems
Threats
Structure of the Book
2. Approach
Geographic Scope of the Study
Ecoregions and Bioregions
Freshwater Habitat Types
Conceptual Foundations
Elements of Analysis: Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation
Status Indexes
Integrating Biological Distinctiveness andConservation Status
3. Biological
Distinctiveness of African Ecoregions
Africa and Madagascar’s Fresh Waters: Teeming with Life
Species Biological Values
Combining Species Richness and Endemism: Preliminary Biological
Distinctiveness
Nonspecies Biological Values
Synthesis of Biological Distinctiveness Data
Conclusions
4. Reversing the Flow:
Conservation Status of Africa’s
Freshwater Ecoregions
Snapshot Conservation Status
Future Threat Assessment
Final Conservation Status
5. Setting Priorities for
Biodiversity Conservation among Africa’s Freshwater Ecoregions
The Priority-Setting Matrix
Integrating Biological Importance and Conservation Status Indexes:
Where to Act First
Priority Ecoregions
Comparison with Other Priority-Setting
Exercises
Summary
6. Africa’s
Freshwater Systems and Their Future
Who’s Watching the Water?
Conservation Planning in Ecoregions and River Basins
Visionary Work in Freshwater Ecoregions and River Basins
Challenges to Freshwater Conservation and Sustainable Development in
Africa and Madagascar
Appendixes
A. Methods for Assessing the Biological Distinctiveness of Freshwater
Ecoregions
B. Methods for Assessing the Conservation Status of Freshwater
Ecoregions
C. Data on the Species Richness and Endemism of Ecoregions
D. Data on the Biological Distinctiveness, Conservation Status, and
Priority Class of Ecoregions
E. Statistical Analyses of Biological Distinctiveness and Conservation
Status Data
F. Ecoregion Descriptions
Glossary
Literature Cited
List of Authors
Index
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