Understanding the influence of land use and catchment characteristics on riverine carbon and nutrient dynamics for improved water resource management.

Summary

Freshwater ecosystems are considered biogeochemical hotspots for both carbon and nitrogen transformations: they receive material from the catchment via surface runoff and groundwater, and only a third of the particulate material they receive is estimated to reach the ocean. Land-use and catchment characteristics have a strong direct influence on the downstream sediment, carbon and nutrient fluxes, which thus change due to e.g. agricultural activities or land use changes. This can have important negative effects on downstream water quality and ecological functioning in rivers, floodplains, and estuaries, e.g. via eutrophication, pollution, or the structure of biological communities. The effect of climate change may further contribute to alteration of the hydro-chemical characteristics of rivers. The proposed project will assess the effects of land-use and catchment characteristics on sediment, carbon and nutrient fluxes as well as assess the local communities’ knowledge and practices towards protection of water catchments/resources in selected key catchments in Kenya. The information generated will contribute to sustainable water resource management; land use planning and improvement of catchment environmental integrity.

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