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.
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
