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Hydrological and biogeochemical indicators to assess ecosystem health and ecological integrity of Mt. Kenya and Aberdares, Kenya

Ongoing

Water catchment areas have a tight connection between their landscape and the rivers that drain them. Catchment degradation is usually assessed using changes in vegetation cover and other land use changes inferred by GIS techniques. While such methodologies are undoubtedly useful, their sensitivity to minor temporal changes may be limited. As a complimentary approach, the hydrology and biogeochemistry of rivers can offer useful insights into ecological processes that are linked to both land degradation and climate changes within these catchments. This project aims at exploring temporal patterns of physico-chemical and biogeochemical parameters that will provide information about catchment processes and link ecological processes to pressures affecting the integrity of these catchments. Such proxies can be useful indicators of ecosystem health, climate variability or form solid baselines for downstream monitoring of anthropogenic inputs into the water catchment areas. The project will develop indicators and build capacity for proper monitoring and a functional management of the Aberdares and Mt. Kenya.

Intervention type

South Initiatives

Duration

01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021

This project is being implemented in:
Flemish promoter Steven Bouillon
Local promoter Fred Omengo
Local partner institution KU Leuven
visit www.kuleuven.be
Local partner institution Kenya Wildlife Service
Other local partners Kenyatta University
Budget € 69.962