Monitoring Urban Wetlands for Sustainable Urban Planning: The Case of Bahir-Dar City, Ethiopia
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Date
2024-05-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The urban wetland ecosystem is the most overlooked habitat, and its services and values have not been well appraised. There are many wetlands in Bahir Dar city, but it hasn’t received adequate attention and acknowledgment. By observing the problem, this study has been conducted to assess urban wetland monitoring in Bahir Dar city for sustainable urban planning and management. In the study, an explanatory research approach was employed along with survey methods. Throughout the investigation, a lot of descriptive statistics and analysis were conducted, together with thorough contextual assessments. The wetland dynamics quantification, which is based on satellite imagery is utilized to assess the biophysical environment using ArcGIS and Envi-Met simulation modeling tools; residents, governmental and non-governmental organizations are also considered to assess the socioeconomic aspects. In the end, the study identified around 20 wetlands in the city, with 45% being perennial and 55% exhibiting seasonal variations. These wetlands have great ecological importance to the residents of the city. However, poor solid and liquid waste management, lack of awareness, lack of legal framework, and urbanization are the primary challenges wetlands face to function sustainably in the urban landscapes of the study area. The study concludes that the benefits of wetland landscapes are not adequately prioritized by urban planners and decision-makers, which impedes their potential benefits. Finally, the research recommends the improvement of waste management, raising stakeholder awareness, strengthening legal frameworks, and monitoring urbanization that can ensure the ecological importance of wetlands for dwellers.
Key terms: urban wetlands, wetland ecosystem, sustainable urban planning, ecosystem functions, Bahir Dar