Aquatic Ecosystem Management

Aquatic ecosystem functions such as the provision of clean water, soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. The water cycle closely connects rural and urban areas and urban food security is largely guaranteed by rural areas. Therefore, healthy ecosystems are crucial for water and food security. This interdependence will even grow in Africa in the presence of fast urbanization, agricultural development, industrialization, but also environmental changes, including climate change. Water quality issues are a significant threat to surface and ground waters with implications on ecosystem functioning. Regional monitoring of water using earth observation technology is increasingly important. The application examples are algal blooms, and land cover/land use dynamics on aquatic ecosystems. Topic include but not limited to:

• Control of invasive aquatic macrophysics
• Wetland management
• Restoration and remediation of contaminated fresh water lakes and Urban rivers
• Improved aquaculture and fishery technologies