Imagine a river basin — the rivers, tributaries, creeks, and wetlands that gather water and deliver it to the sea — as the vital network that all things, living and nonliving, are connected to and dependent upon.
Reduction of watershed degradation and pollution, and thereby improvement of the health of freshwater ecosystems is one of the Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group's (ABCG) key focus areas.
Natural ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands harvest water, remove chemical and biological contaminants, and store and deliver this water for human use.
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is an increasingly popular strategy for addressing the linked challenges of climate change and poverty in poor countries, where dependence on natural resources for lives and livelihoods is high.
Southern Africa has significant biodiversity and natural resources, as well as a robust legal framework for natural resource management across borders. However, most countries in the region are water scarce or water stressed.