Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Managing ecosystem services demand under a changing catchment: a case study of Lake Malombe Catchment, Malawi

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Inland tropical freshwater shallow lakes’ catchments are experiencing a severe threat to their sustainability. Changing the lake landscape affects ecosystem services (ESs). However, these connections are often overlooked, resulting in policy conflicts. This study identifies major ESs and their link to United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and discusses their potential trade-offs and synergies. The multiple data collection approaches were employed, such as systematic review, key informant interviews, focus group discussion, rapid participatory appraisal (PRA), and geospatial techniques. The study findings identify 18 major ESs. The identified ESs were linked to seven SDGs such as zero hunger (SDG2), clean water (SDG6), climate action (SDG13), sustainable communities (SDG11), clean energy (SDG7), education (SDG4), life on land (15), and responsible consumption and production (SDG12). The land use/land cover classes showed significant change from 1989 to 2019, with cultivated land and settlements, increased progressively by 49% and 149%, while forest land and water-bodies declining by 84% and 8.5%. These land use/land cover dynamics influenced trade-offs and synergies between ESs and had severe ecological and economic consequences on the lake ecosystem and the local population. The findings from this study create a public debate among the diverse stakeholders on the sustainable utilization of landscape and diverse ESs in the tropical freshwater shallow lakes’ catchment to achieve several SDGs. The study recommends integrating various stakeholders’ interests into the policy framework and balancing economic and ecological models to sustain the freshwater shallow lakes’ ecosystems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  • Acreman, M., Harding, R., Lloyd, C., McNamara, N., Mountford, J., Mould, D., Purse, B. V., Heard, M. S., Stratford, C., & Dury, S. J. (2011). Trade-off in ecosystem services of the Somerset Levels and Moors wetlands. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 56(8), 1543–1565.

  • Arthington, A., Finlayson, C., Roux, D., Nel, J., Rast, W., Froend, R., . . . van Niekerk, L. (2017). Managing specific freshwater ecosystems. In C. Finlayson, A. Arthington, & J. Pittock, Freshwater ecosystems in protected areas (p. 33). Routledge.

  • Arvine, K., Castello, L., Jungueira, A., & Moulton, T. (2016). Linking ecology with social development for tropical aquatic conservation. Aquatic Conservation, 26(5), 917–941. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atela, J., Quinn, C., Minang, P., Duguma, L., & Houdet, J. (2016). Implementing REDD + at the national level: Stakeholder engagement and policy coherences between REDD + rules and Kenya’s sectoral policies. Forest Policy and Economics, 65(2016), 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2016.01.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnosky, A. (2015). Transforming the global energy system is required to avoid the sixth mass extinction. MRS Energy and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1557/mre.2015.11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, E., Peterson, G., & Gordon, L. (2009). Understanding relationships among multiple ecosystem services. Ecological Letters, 12(2009), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01387.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernués, A., Rodríguez-Ortega, T., Alfnes, F., Clemetsen, M., & Eik, L. (2015). Quantifying the multifunctionality of fjord and mountain agriculture by means of sociocultural and economic valuation of ecosystem services. Land Use Policy, 48(2015), 170–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan, B. (2013). Incentives, land use, and ecosystem services. Environmental Science & Policy, 27, 124–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CAWMA. (2007). Water for food, water for life: A comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture. Earthscan and Colombo: International Water Management Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cervelli, E., di Perta, E., & Pindozzi, S. (2020). Energy crops in marginal areas: Scenario-based assessment through ecosystem services, as support to sustainable development. Ecological Indicator, 113, 106180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chadzon, R. (2008). Beyond deforestation: Restoring forests and ecosystem services on degraded lands. Science, 320(2008), 1458–1460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiotha, S., Chinyenga, T., Nagoli, J., Likongwe, P., & Jamu, D. (2018). Socio-Ecological Resilience to Climate Change in a Fragile Ecosystem: The Case of the Lake Chilwa Basin, Malawi (1st ed.). Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • de Sherbinin, A., VanWey, L., McSweeney, K., Aggarwal, R., Barbieri, A., Henry, S., & Walker, R. (2008). Rural household demographics, livelihoods, and the environment. Global Environmental Change, 18(1), 38–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2007.05.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desta, H., & Fetene, A. (2020). Land-use and land-cover change in Lake Ziway watershed of the Ethiopian Central Rift Valley Region and its environmental impacts. Land Use Policy, 96(2020), 104682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desta, H., Lemma, B., Albert, G., & Stellmacher, T. (2015). Degradation of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia: A study of the environmental perception of school students. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, 20(4), 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1111/lre.12111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dibaba, W., Demissie, T., & Miegel, K. (2020). Drivers and implications of land use/land cover dynamics in Finchaa Catchment Northwestern Ethiopia. Land, 2020(9), 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9040113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Djoudi, H., Brockhaus, M., & Locatelli, B. (2013). Once there was a lake: Vulnerability to environmental changes in northern Mali. Regional Environmental Change, 13(2013), 493–508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-011-0262-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dudgeon, D. (2019). Multiple threats imperil freshwater biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Current Biology, 29(19), R960–R967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.08.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dulanya, Z., Croudance, I., Reed, J., & Trauth, M. (2014). Palaeolimnological reconstruction of recent environmental change in Lake Malombe (S. Malawi) using multiple proxies. Water SA, 40(4), 11–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dulanya, Z., Reed, J., & Trauth, M. (2013). Mapping changing shorelines in the Malombe and Chiuta lakes of Malawi—environmental effects of recent climatic variations. CATENA, 104(2031), 111–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elias, E., Seifu, W., Tesfaye, B., & Girmay, W. (2019). Impact of land use/cover changes on lake ecosystem of Ethiopia central rift valley. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 5(1), 1595876. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1595876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO. (2011). The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW)-Managing Systems at Risk. Food and Agriculture Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiedler, A., Landis, D., & Wratten, S. (2008). Maximizing ecosystem services from conservation biological control: The role of habitat management. Biological Control, 45(2008), 254–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.12.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FISH. (2015). Environmental Threats and Opportunities Assessment (ETOA) of four major Lakes in Malawi: USAID/FISH Project. Pact Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frijters, P., Clark, A., Krekel, C., & Layard, R. (2020). A happy choice: Well-being as the goal of government. Behavioural Public Policy, 4(2), 126–165. https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2019.39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebremedhin, S., Getahun, A., Anteneh, W., Bruneel, S., & Goethals, P. (2018). A drivers-pressure-state-impact-responses framework to support the sustainability of fish and fisheries in Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Sustainability, 2018(10), 2957. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godfray, H., Charles, J., & Tara, G. (2014). Food security and sustainable intensification. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gondwe, M., Cho, M., Chirwa, P., & Geldenhuyw, C. (2019). Land use land cover change and the comparative impact of co-management and government-management on the forest cover in Malawi (1999–2018). Journal of Land Use Science, 14(4–6), 281–305. https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2019.1706654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Government of Malawi. (2014). Mangochi district state of environment and outlook. Mangochi: Mangochi District Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gratzer, G., & Keeton, W. (2017). Mountain Forests and sustainable development: The potential for achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Mountain Research and Development, 37(3), 246–253. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-17-00093.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grunewald, K., & Bastian, O. (2015). Land use, maintenance, and protection to ensure ES. In Grunewald, K., Bastian, O (Eds) Ecosystem services-concept, method and case studies. Springer, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44143-5_6,pp. 185–292

  • Hara, M., & Njaya, F. (2016). Between a rock and a hard place: The need for and challenges to implementation of rights-based Fisheries Management in small-scale fisheries of southern Lake Malawi. Fisheries Research, 174(2016), 10–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Havens, K., Paerl, H., Phlips, E., Zhu, M., Beaver, J., & Srifa, A. (2016). Extreme weather events and climate variability provide a lens to how shallow lakes may respond to climate change. Water, 8, 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/w806022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, L., & Goethals, P. (2019). Opportunities and challenges for the sustainability of lakes and reservoirs in relation to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Water, 2019(11), 1462. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hochard, J., Hamilton, S., & Barbier, E. (2019). Mangroves shelter coastal economic activities from cyclones. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 116(2019), 12232–12237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussein, M. (2010). The role of Malawian local government in community development. Development Southern Africa, 20(2), 271–282. https://doi.org/10.1080/03768350302960

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPBES. (2018). The IPBES regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Africa. Bonn: IPBES Secretariat.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamu, D., Banda, M., Njaya, F., & Hecky, R. (2011). Challenges to sustainable management of the lakes of Malawi. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 31(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2010.11.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, A., Hilt, S., Kosten, S., de Klein, J., Paerl, H., & Van de Waal, D. (2019). Shifting states, shifting services: Linking regime shifts to changes in ecosystem services of shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology, 66(2021), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.13582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jogo, W., & Hassan, R. (2010). Balancing the use of wetlands for economic well-being and ecological security: The case of the Limpopo wetland in southern Africa. Ecological Economics, 69(7), 1569–1579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafumbata, D., Jamu, D., & Chiotha, S. (2014). Riparian ecosystem resilience and livelihood strategies under test: lessons from Lake Chilwa in Malawi and other lakes in Africa. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0052

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanyika-Mbewe, C., Thole, B., Makwinja, R., & Kaonga, C. (2020). Monitoring of carbaryl and cypermethrin concentrations in water and soil in Southern Malawi. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192, 595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08557-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kapute, F. (2018). The role of the Liwonde National Park in conserving fish species diversity in the upper Shire River, Malawi. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 21(2), 132–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1457389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keesstra, S., Bouma, J., Wallinga, J., Tittonell, P., Smith, P., Cerdà, A., & Fresco, L. (2016). The significance of soils and soil science towards realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Soil, 2(2016), 111–128. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-111-2016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kishindo, P. (2006). Customary land tenure and the new land policy in Malawi. Journal of African Studies, 22(2006), 213–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosamu, I.B.M, deGroot , W., & Kambewa, P. (2017). Actor-Based Design of a Management System for the Elephant Marsh Fishery in Malawi. ctor-Based Design of a Management System for the Elephant Marsh Fishery in Malawi, Society & Natural Resources, 30:3, 299–314. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2016.1209604.

  • Kosamu, I. B. M. (2014). Conditions for sustainability of the elephant Marsh Fishery in Malawi. Sustainability, 6, 4010–4027. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6074010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambin, E., & Meyfroidt, P. (2010). Land use transitions: Socio-ecological feedback versus socio-economic change. Land Use Policy, 27(2), 108–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2009.09.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laurans, Y., Rankovic, A., Billé, R., Pirard, R., & Mermet, L. (2013). Use of ecosystem services economic valuation for decision making: Questioning a literature blindspot. Journal of Environmental Management, 119(2013), 208–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.01.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Likoya, E. (2019). Climate Change in the Context of Changing Land Use and Cover: Case Study of the Shire River Basin Flood of 2015, MSc Thesis. University of Cape Town.

  • Makwinja, R., Chapotera, M., Likongwe, P., Banda, J., & Chijere, A. (2014). Location and Roles of Deep Pools in Likangala River during 2012 Recession Period of Lake Chilwa Basin. International Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/294683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Kaunda, E., Mengistou, S., Alemirew, T., Njaya, F., Kosamu, I., & Kaonga, C. (2021g). Lake Malombe fishing communities’ livelihood, vulnerability, and adaptation strategies. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 3, 100055. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Kosamu, I., & Kaonga, C. (2019). Determinants and values of willingness to pay for water quality improvement: Insights from Chia Lagoon, Malawi. Sustainability, 11, 4690. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11174690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Mengistou, S., Kaunda, E., & Tena, A. (2021a). Land use/land cover dynamics, trade-offs and implications on tropical inland shallow lakes’ ecosystems’ management: Case of Lake Malombe, Malawi. Sustainable Environment, 7(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2021.1969139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Mengistou, S., Kaunda, E., & Alamirew, T. (2021b). Economic value of tropical inland freshwater shallow lakes: Lesson from Lake Malombe, Malawi. African Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Mengistou, S., Kaunda, E., & Alamirew, T. (2021c). Spatial distribution of zooplankton in response to ecological dynamics in tropical shallow lake: Insight from Lake Malombe, Malawi. Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 36(1), 127–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.2021.1943019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Mengistou, S., Kaunda, E., & Alamirew, T. (2021d). Lake Malombe fish stock fluctuation: Ecosystem and fisherfolks. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 47(3), 321–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2021.07.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, M., Mengistou, S., Kaunda, E., Alemiew, T., Phiri, T., Kosamu, I., & Kaonga, C. (2021e). Modeling of Lake Malombe annual fish landings and catch per unit effort (CPUE). Forecasting, 3(2021), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast3010004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maltby, E., & Acreman, M. (2011). Ecosystem services of wetlands: Pathfinder for a new paradigm. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 56(8), 1341–1359. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2011.631014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwinja, R., Kaunda, E., Mengistou, S., & Alamirew, T. (2021f). Impact of land use/land cover dynamics on ecosystem service value—a case from Lake Malombe, Southern Malawi. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09241-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marques, M., Juerges, N., & Borges, J. (2020). Appraisal framework for actor interest and power analysis in forest management - Insights from Northern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, 111(2020), 102049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2019.102049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McShane, T., Hirsch, P., Trung, T., Songorwa, A., Kinzig, A., Montererri, B., & O’Connor, S. (2011). Hard choices: Making trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and human well-being. Biological Conservation, 144(3), 966–972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.04.038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendola, M., & Simtowe, F. (2015). The welfare impact of land redistribution: Evidence from a Quasi-experimental initiative in Malawi. World Development, 72(2015), 53–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.02.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyan, A. (2015). Droughts in Asian least developed countries: Vulnerability and sustainability. Weather and Climate Extremes, 7(2015), 8–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2014.06.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse, W., Schedlbauer, J., Sesnie, S., Finegan, B., Harvey, C., Hollenhorst, S., . . . Wulfhorst, J. (2009). Consequences of environmental service payments for forest retention and recruitment in a Coastal Rican biological corridor. Ecology and Society, 14(2009)23.http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss1/art23/.

  • Mouri, G., Takizawa, S., & Oki, T. (2011). Spatial and temporal variation in nutrient parameters in stream water in a rural-urban catchment, Shikoku ,Japan Effects of land cover and human impact. Journal of Environmental Management, 92(7), 1837–1848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.03.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munthali, M., Mustak, S., Adeola, A., Botai, J., Singh, S., & Davis, N. (2020). Modeling land use and land cover dynamics of Dedza district of Malawi using hybrid Cellular Automata and Markov model. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2019.100276

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Nagabhatla, N., Cassidy-Neumiller, M., Francine, N., & Maatta, N. (2021). Water, conflicts and migration and the role of regional diplomacy: Lake Chad, Congo Basin, and the Mbororo pastoralist. Environmental Science & Policy, 122(2021), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagoli, J., Green, E., Mulwafu, W., & Chiwona-Karltun, L. (2017). Coping with the Double Crisis: Lake Chilwa Recession and the Great Depression on Chisi Island in Colonial Malawi, 1930–193. Human Ecology, 45(2017), 111–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-016-9882-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nanthambwe, S. (2013). Policy sector for incorporating sustainable land management in the Shire River Basin and developing an institutional framework for sustainable land management. Lilongwe: Environment and Land Management Consultants.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ngongondo, C., Zhou, Y., & Xu, C. (2020). Multivariate framework for the assessment of key forcing to Lake Malawi level variations in non-stationary frequency analysis. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192, 593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08519-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu, S., & Insley, M. (2013). On the economics of ramping rate restrictions at hydropower plants: Balancing profitability and environmental cost. Energy Economics, 39(2013), 39–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Njaya, F., Donda, S., & Hara, M. (2018). A review of potential sources of revenue for sustaining fisheries co-management activities in the southern Lake Malawi, Mangochi district. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 21(2)168–175.https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2018.1471183.

  • Njaya, F. (2007). Governance challenges for the implementation of co-management: Experiences from Malawi. International Journal of the Commons, 1(2007), 137–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Njaya. (2009). The Lake Chilwa Fishing Household Strategies in Response to Water Level Changes: Migration, Conflicts, and Co-Management, Ph.D. Thesis. Western Cape: University of Western Cape.

  • Njiru, M., Mkumbo, O., & van der Knaap, M. (2010). Some possible factors leading to decline in fish species in Lake Victoria. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and, 13(1), 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634980903566253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nkwanda, I., Feyisa, G., Zewge, F., & Makwinja, R. (2021). Impact of Land-use/Land-cover dynamics on water quality in the Upper Lilongwe River Basin, Malawi. International Journal of Energy and Water Resources. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-021-00125-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okpara, U., Stringer, L., Dougill, A., & Bila, M. (2015). Conflict about water in Lake Chad: Are environmental, vulnerability, and security issues linked? Progress in Development Studies, 15(4), 308–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omondi, R., Ojwang, W., Olilo, C., Mugo, J., Agembe, S., & Ojuok, J. (2016). Lakes Baringo and Naivasha: Endorheic Freshwater Lakes of the Rift Valley (Kenya). In C. Finlayson, G. Milton, R. Prentice, & N. Davidson, The Wetland Book (pp. 1–12). Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_133-2.

  • Österblom, H., Sissenwine, M., Symes, D., Kadin, M., Daw, T., & Folke, C. (2011). Incentives, social-ecological feedbacks, and European fisheries. Marine Policy, 35(5), 568–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otiang’a-Owiti, G., & Oswe, I. (2007). Human impact on lake ecosystems: the case of Lake Naivasha. Kenya. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 32(1), 79–88. https://doi.org/10.2989/AJAS.2007.32.1.11.148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padgham, J., Jabbour, J., & Dietrich, K. (2015). Managing change and building resilience: A multi=stressor analysis of urban and peri-urban agriculture in Africa and Asia. Urban Climate, 12(2015), 183–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palamuleni, L., Ndomba, P., & Annegarn, H. (2011). Evaluating land cover change and its impact on hydrological regime in Upper Shire River Catchment, Malawi. Regional Environmental Change, 11(2011), 845–855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, J. (2013). Integrating culture and community into environmental policy: Community tradition and farm size in conservation decision making. Agriculture and Human Values, 30(2013), 159–178. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-012-9392-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawlak, K., & Kołodziejczak, M. (2020). The role of agriculture in ensuring food security in developing countries: considerations in the context of the problem of sustainable food production. Sustainability, 2020(12), 5488. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, P. (2010). “Our daughters inherit our land, but our sons use their wives’ fields”: Matrilineal-matrilocal land tenure and the New Land Policy in Malawi. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 4(1), 179–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531050903556717

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Place, F. (2009). Land tenure and agricultural productivity in africa: a comparative analysis of the economics literature and recent policy strategies and reform. World Development, 37(8), 1326–1336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.08.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pullanikkatil, D., Mograbi, P., Palamuleni, L., Ruhiiga, T., & Shackleton, C. (2018). Unsustainable trade-offs: Provisioning ecosystem services in rapidly changing Likangala River catchment in southern Malawi. Environment, Development, and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0240-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pullanikkatil, D., Palamuleni, G., & Ruhiiga, T. (2015). Impact of land use on water quality in the Likangala catchment, southern Malawi. African Journal of Aquatic Science, 40(3), 277–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raji, S., Odunuga, S., & Fasona, M. (2021). Quantifying ecosystem service interactions to support environmental restoration in a tropical semi-arid basin. Acta Geophysica, 69(2021), 1813–1841. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-021-00644-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rebelo, L., McCartney, M., & Finlayson, M. (2011). The application of geospatial analyses to support an integrated study into the ecological character and sustainable use of Lake Chilwa. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 37(1), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2010.05.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sachedina, H., & Nelson, F. (2012). The Development of Payments for Ecosystem Services as a Community-Based Conservation Strategy in East Africa. In J. Ingram, F. DeClerck, & C. Rumbaitis del Rio (eds) Integrating ecology and poverty reduction. Springer, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0186-5_12.

  • Sittisak, P., & Ekasingh, B. (2015). Trade-offs between the economic, social, and environmental objectives in optimal resource management in the Fang Watershed, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia, 5(2015), 38–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soesbergen, A., Sassen, M., Kimsey, S., & Hill, S. (2019). Potential impacts of agricultural development on freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria basin. Aquatic Conservation, 299(7), 1052–1062. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song, W., Deng, X., Yuan, Y., Wang, Z., & Li, Z. (2015). Impacts of land-use change on valued ecosystem service in rapidly urbanized North China Plain. Ecological Modelling, 18(2015), 245–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tambulasi, R. (2011). Local government without governance: a new institutional perspective of local governance policy paralysis in Malawi. Public Policy and Administration, 26(3), 333–352. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952076710374915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanentzap, A., & Coomes, D. (2012). Carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems: Do browsing and grazing herbivores matter? Biological Review, 87(1), 72–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.2011.00185.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turpie, J., Marais, C., & Blignaut, J. (2008). The working for water programme: Evolution of payments for ecosystem services mechanism that addresses both poverty and ecosystem service delivery in South Africa. Ecological Economics, 65(4), 788–798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.12.024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uddin, M., van Steveninck, E., Stuip, M., & Shah, M. (2013). Economic valuation of provisioning and cultural services of protected mangroves ecosystem: A case study on Sundarbans Reserve Forest, Bangladesh. Ecosystem Services, 5(2013), 88–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2019). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019. United Nations.

  • UN. (2021). The Sustainable Development Goals Report. United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaikre, M., Remm, L., & Rannap, R. (2020). Forest ditch maintenance impoverishes the fauna of aquatic invertebrates: Opportunities for mitigation. Journal of Environmental Management, 274(2020), 111188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Coppenolle, R., & Temmerman, S. (2020). Identifying ecosystem surface areas available for nature-based flood risk mitigation in coastal cities around the world. Estuaries and Coasts, 43(2020), 1335–1344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-020-00718-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van den Belt, M., & Stevens, S. (2016). Transformative agenda, or lost in the translation? A review of top-cited articles in the first four years of ecosystem services. Ecosystem Services, 22(Part A), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.09.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, L. (2012). The biology of disturbed habitats. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wamsley, T., Cialone, M., Smith, J., Atkinson, J., & Rosati, J. (2010). The potential of wetlands in reducing storm surge. Ocean Engineering, 37(2010), 59–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., Liu, G., Burton, G., & Leung, K. (2019). Thermal extremes can intensify chemical toxicity to freshwater organisms and hence exacerbate their impact to the biological community. Chemosphere, 224(2019), 256–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welcome, R., Cowx, I., Coates, D., Béné, C., Simon, F., Ashley, H., & Lorenzen, K. (2010). Inland capture fisheries. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen, Y., Schoups, G., & van de Giesen, N. (2017). Organic pollution of rivers: Combined threats of urbanization, livestock farming, and global climate change. Science and Reports, 7(2017), 43289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Were, D., Kansiime, F., Fetahi, T., & Hein, T. (2020). Soil organic carbon storage in a tropical freshwater wetland: The influence of vegetation type. African Journal of Aquatic Science. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085914.2020.1804821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weyl, O., Ribbink, A., & Tweddle, D. (2010). Lake Malawi: Fishes, fisheries, biodiversity, health, and habitat. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 13(3), 241–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (2018). Drinking-water, world health organization fact sheet. World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, K., Ye, X., Qi, Z., & Zhang, H. (2013). Impacts of land use/land cover change and socio-economic development on regional ecosystem services: The case of fast-growing Hangzhou metropolitan area, China. Cities, 31(2013), 276–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2012.08.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wubie, M., Assen, M., & Nicolau, M. (2016). Patterns, causes, and consequences of land use/cover dynamics in the Gumara watershed of Lake Tana basin, Northwestern Ethiopia. Environmental Systems Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-016-0058-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wynants, M., Millward, G., Patrick, A., Taylor, A., Munishi, L., Mtei, K., & Blake, W. (2020). Determining tributary sources of increased sedimentation in East-African Rift Lakes. Science of the Total Environment, 717(2020), 137266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, C., Zhao, W., Cherubini, F., & Pereira, P. (2021). Integrate ecosystem services into socio-economic development to enhance the achievement of sustainable development goals in the post-pandemic era. Geography and Sustainability, 2(1), 68–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2021.03.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, S., Geng, Y., Qian, Y., Chen, W., & Pan, H. (2019). Analyzing ecosystem services of freshwater lakes and their driving forces: The case of Erhai Lake, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(2019), 10219–10229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04476-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zohary, T., & Ostrovsky, I. (2011). Ecological impacts of excessive water level fluctuations in stratified freshwater lakes. Inland Waters, 1(1), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.5268/IW-1.1.406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zurqani, H., Mikhailova, E., Post, C., Schlautman, M., & Elhawej, A. (2019). A review of libyan soil databases for use within an ecosystem services framework. Land, 2019(8), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8050082

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The African Centre of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) provided financial support for this study under the World Bank's African Centres of Excellence (ACE II) Project, Grant Number GSR/9316/11.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. African Centre of Excellence for Water Management, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Rodgers Makwinja & Seyoum Mengistou

  2. Fisheries Department, Senga Bay Fisheries Research Center, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, P. O. Box 316, Salima, Malawi

    Rodgers Makwinja

  3. African Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture and Fisheries (AquaFish), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, P. O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

    Emmanuel Kaunda

  4. Water and Land Resource Centre of Addis, Ababa University, P. O. Box 3880, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Tena Alamirew

Authors
  1. Rodgers Makwinja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Seyoum Mengistou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Emmanuel Kaunda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tena Alamirew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

RM developed the methodology, sourced the data, analyzed the data, and developed the original manuscript. Authors SM, EK, and TA, FN, CK, EK supervised the study, reviewed and edited the manuscript, visualized and validated it. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodgers Makwinja.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors of this paper declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Informed consent

The authorities who approved the study were from the Mangochi District Council, Malawi. Participants were fully informed about the purpose of the study in their native language. Consent was sought from the study participants before each interview’s commencement, and no personal identification was registered. The consent was proposed verbally since the study’s cross-section nature required descriptive data, and the response had no personal, social, political, and significant risks to the participants. The data’s confidentiality was ensured, and access to raw data was allowed only after a shared agreement by the researchers involved in the designing, conducting, and funding of the study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Makwinja, R., Mengistou, S., Kaunda, E. et al. Managing ecosystem services demand under a changing catchment: a case study of Lake Malombe Catchment, Malawi. GeoJournal 87, 5305–5325 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10575-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10575-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation