Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 14-20.
Saddle-billed stork (
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
), a large and wide-ranging African stork (see
Color Plate 14-20). This stork inhabits fresh, brackish, and saline marshes, wet meadows, and other open wetlands.
Seen here in a marsh of the Okavango River delta region. Photo courtesy of M. Storm.
disincentives to persuade the public and indus-
try to support broad wetland conservation
policies.
Human pressures on wetlands in the devel-
oping world are becoming more acute. Ever-
increasing demands for water to meet agricultural,
industrial and domestic needs add severe strains
to an already stretched resource. The implica-
tions of climate change, increased frequency of
severe storm events, and rising sea levels will
have ramii cations on natural ecosystems, wet-
lands included. In the absence of effective
conservation regulations, increasing land-use
pressures to meet food production will result in
wetland habitat alterations, as already evident
across the world. As a recent Ramsar report sug-
gests, the daunting challenge for nations will be
to craft legislation and build conservation strate-
gies ensuring sustainable wetland use in the
context of these global threats (Ramsar Strategic
Plan 2006). Furthermore, legislation and policy
need to be context-specii c to account for geo-
graphic and developmental factors rather than
employing a one-size-i ts-all approach.
