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Wetlands play a critical role in the survival of many communities across the world, particularly in semi-arid areas where, during dry periods, they are an important source of water for domestic use and the production of crops.

Click to enlarge

Wetland grown vegetables "flooding" the markets in Malawi in the dry season

  

In most parts of the world, rural communities suffer from seasonal variations in food supply and the “hungry season” is a key feature of life for many millions of people.

This food shortage is often addressed by the drainage of wetlands or the use of areas with seepage water or a high water table to produce food crops in the dry season. Such crops can make a dramatic impact upon the availability of food in the hungry season, and even though the production is small, its value is great.
In some areas where uplands are badly degraded, wetlands can play a very important role in food security. This is the case in Western Wellega in Ethiopia, and also in Madagascar, where the concentration of nutrients and water in the valleys is the basis for survival.

CWEL is concerned with learning lessons from such systems and ensuring that they are environmentally sustainable in the long term. Current work includes training courses for government staff and communities in such areas as wetlands and food security, and developing with them local monitoring methods to measure sustainability.
Links:  
 
  • Food Security and Wetlands - Report of a Study for Wetlands International
 
  • Ethiopian Wetlands Research Programme - Policy Briefing Note 4: Wetlands and Food Security
 Policy Briefing Note 4
  • Leverhulme Trust Research - Dambos and Food Security