ABOUT THIS BOOK

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.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Michele Thieme joined the World Wildlife Fund's Conservation Science Program in 1999 and works to conserve freshwater life in WWF’s priority river and lake basins. Her current research centers on the role of protected areas in conserving freshwater ecosystems, and improving conservation planning in freshwater environments. She leads the Spatial Tools and Analysis Team and is an active member of the Impact Evaluation team.

Robin Abell is a senior freshwater conservation biologist at WWF. She specializes in broad-scale conservation planning to protect freshwater biodiversity.

Dr. Melanie L.J. Stiassny is Axelrod Research Curator at the Department of Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural History.

Paul Skelton is Managing Director Emeritus of the South African Institue for Aquatic Biodiversity.

REVIEWS

"Until now the variety and splendor of African wetlands have been well-kept secrets. At last we have a book that provides a tantalizing taste of some of those marvelous but highly threatened systems. Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar provides fundamental information on ninety-three of Africa's most significant wetland areas. Who can resist reading a book about places as diverse as the Okavango Swamps, the Kafue Flats, the Sudd, the Kasai, Lake Malawi, the Dry Sahel, the Inner Niger Delta, and Madagascar's Eastern Highlands, among many, many others?" --Jenny Day

"Freshwater Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar is a timely, excellent publication that offers pertinent information for handling conservation activities and promoting sustainable use of freshwater biodiversity in Africa and associated islands, including Madagascar. This significant tool for wetland managers in Africa opens new horizons. I urge all wetland managers to read it and use it repeatedly, so that we can collectively apply its helpful guidelines." --Anada Tiega

"Without doubt, the availability and quality of freshwater resources are the critical environmental management issues not only for the decade, but also for the century. Add the need to conserve biological diversity, and you have the key to ensuring the base for sustainable development and human survival. Blending detailed analyses with important essays on the conservation and wise use of wetlands and freshwater ecosystems, this book will be an invaluable resource for everyone implementing the Ramsar Convention and all who are concerned with African biodiversity and human development." --Peter Bridgewater

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Special Essays
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Boxes
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction
-The Evolution and Diversity of Africa's Freshwater
-Systems
-Threats
-Structure of the Book

Chapter 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

Chapter 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

Chapter 4. Reversing the Flow: Conservation Status of Africa's
-Freshwater Ecoregions
-Snapshot Conservation Status
-Future Threat Assessment
-Final Conservation Status

Chapter 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

Chapter 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

Appendices
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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