Skip to main content

Alem Oyarmoi

Hydrological regulation in papyrus-based wetland systems.

Email: a.oyarmoi2@ncl.ac.uk

Project title

Assessment of sustainability of papyrus-based wetland water resources: case of Naigombwa wetland, Uganda

Supervisors

Project description

Wetlands are unique features of landscapes. They significantly influence the hydrology and quality of surface and ground waters. The giant sedge Cyperus papyrus is the largest of the 400 tropical sedge species within the genus, and is most widespread in Africa’s wetlands. But these wetlands are under pressure.

The few studies so far undertaken show loss rates of 0.5 to 5% every year. The key drivers of this are:

  • population and agricultural expansions
  • river regulation
  • climate change

The need for better understanding and modelling of regulating services are often alluded to but rarely quantified. It is also pointed out in literature.

Good knowledge of the dynamics of the regulating services could:

  • support trade‐off analysis
  • improve on its economic valuation and protection or conservation

My research assesses the dynamics of hydrological regulating services of papyrus-based wetland systems. I have chosen the Naigombwa wetland system as a case study. It faces the pressure of agricultural expansion through irrigation and river regulation. Thus, it could provide new insights and knowledge on the dynamics of hydrological regulating services of papyrus-based wetland systems amid climate change.