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Tropical Rivers and Wetlands: Impacts, Hazards, Conservation, and Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2024 | Viewed by 7963

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Edgardo M. Latrubesse

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Guest Editor

Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences-CIAMB, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Interests: hydrogeomorphoogy; fluvial geomorphology; water resources; tropical regions; large rivers; human impacts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Karla M. Silva de Farias

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Guest Editor

Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences-CIAMB and IESA-LABOGEF, Federal University of Goias-UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
Interests: water resources in tropical regions; soil and hydric erosion; tropical soils; territorial planning; land use-land cover changes
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Prof. Dr. Maximiliano Bayer

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Guest Editor

Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences-CIAMB and IESA-LABOGEF, Federal University of Goias-UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
Interests: hydrogeomorphology; fluvial geomorphology; fluvial sedimentology; water resources; tropical regions; human impacts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Manuel Eduardo Ferreira

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Guest Editor

LAPIG—Image Processing and GIS Laboratory, Institute of Socio-Environmental Studies, Samambaia Campus, Federal University of Goiás, Av. Esperança s/n, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, Brazil
Interests: environmental analysis with Remote Sensing and GIS technics; Ummanned Aerial Systems; geographic database and web map platforms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The environmental pressure on tropical rivers and other freshwater wetlands has increased rampantly during recent decades. In this Special Issue, we intend to address the multiple environmental drivers triggering impacts on tropical water resources, such as land use and land cover changes, dams, mining, irrigation, pollution, waterways, and flood hazards. The Special Issue intends to cover contributions on how human activities and climate change impact fluvial basins, freshwater wetlands, and river functioning. Emphasis will be given to hydrological, hydro-geomorphological, hydrochemistry, geospatial monitoring, river restoration, modelling, and hydro-ecological research. The issue will focus on scientifically sustained results on water resources management and sustainability planning, comprising a collection of articles aiming to solve tropical rivers' ongoing and future environmental challenges.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

Tropical rivers and wetlands hydrology, ecology, and geomorphology.
LULC in tropical basins and wetlands.
Landscape ecology of tropical rivers and wetlands.
Tropical water resources.
Management and conservation of tropical wetlands and rivers.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Edgardo M. Latrubesse
Prof. Dr. Karla M. Silva de Farias
Prof. Dr. Maximiliano Bayer
Dr. Manuel Eduardo Ferreira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

tropical rivers
tropical wetlands
hydro-geomorphology
human impacts
land use changes
land cover changes
mining
waterway
riparian ecology
water management
water resources
flood hazards
dams
aquatic ecology
environmental policies
modelling
restoration
monitoring

Published Papers (5 papers)

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23 pages, 4991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flood Risk Mapping during the Extreme February 2021 Flood in the Juruá River, Western Brazilian Amazonia, State of Acre

by José Mantovani, Enner Alcântara, José A. Marengo, Luciana Londe, Edward Park, Ana Paula Cunha and Javier Tomasella

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2999; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072999 - 03 Apr 2024

Viewed by 510

Abstract

Cruzeiro do Sul, a municipality in Northwestern Brazil is recurrently impacted by floods, particularly along the Juruá River. This study presents a comprehensive flood risk analysis by integrating geoprocessing, remote sensing, and hydraulic modeling techniques. Our objectives are to simulate flood extents, identify high-risk areas, and guide sustainable territorial management. Our findings illustrate that the flood impacts are distributed across urban (27%), agricultural (55%), and forest/grassland (17%) landscapes. Historical records and literature reviews also underscore a recurring pattern of extreme floods in the municipality, notably during February’s La Niña events. Some vulnerable urban neighborhoods were identified: Vila Cruzeirinho, Centro, Miritizal, and Da Várzea. These areas are especially susceptible due to their proximity to the river and increased surface runoff during high flood events. By amalgamating various data sources and methods, this research aids decision making for flood mitigation and urban development, fostering resilience against recurrent flooding events in Cruzeiro do Sul. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Rivers and Wetlands: Impacts, Hazards, Conservation, and Management)

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20 pages, 4381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Silt Management in the Lower Kosi River, North Bihar, India: Demand Assessment, Investment Model and Socio-Economic Development

by Rajiv Sinha, Kanchan Mishra, Priyesh Salunke and Vidya Sounderajan

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14952; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014952 - 17 Oct 2023

Viewed by 770

Abstract

The Kosi River, draining through Nepal and north Bihar, India, has been known for excessive sediment (commonly called silt) deposition—a primary cause of several hazards. However, there are still no good estimates of the volume of silt accumulated in the Kosi River channel, which makes removal and utilization of silt a major challenge, both technically as well as economically. In this work, we first present a novel method to estimate sediment volume on a reach scale using hydrological and channel planform data mapped from satellite images. We then identify various commercial uses of the Kosi River sediments such as embankment construction, backfilling, land reclamation, landscaping, agricultural applications, industrial applications, and geotextile silt walls. In consultation with various stakeholders, backfilling and embankment construction were identified as potentially the best solutions shortlisted for the development of a business case and investment model. Therefore, we prepared an investment model based on economic viability, cost-to-benefit ratio, and stakeholder consultations for two districts. We performed a SWOT analysis by breaking down the opportunities and risks into political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PEST-EL) factors to identify the pros and cons within the sector and of the ecosystem in which the stakeholders operate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Rivers and Wetlands: Impacts, Hazards, Conservation, and Management)

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17 pages, 1788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Ecosystem Services and Environmental Gentrification after Rehabilitating Brazilian Urban Streams

by André Golgher, Marcos Callisto and Robert Hughes

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043731 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1307

Abstract

The high levels of environmental pollution observed in urban freshwater ecosystems result in losses of ecosystem goods and services, reducing the well-being of human populations in densely populated tropical cities. The Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR) resembles other megacities in the Global South, with inadequate collection and treatment of domestic sewage being an important source of environmental degradation. However, urban stream rehabilitation can improve ecosystem quality and the physical and mental well-being of local citizens. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess whether the rehabilitation of three BHMR streams and the increased provision of ecosystem goods and services for local residents were associated with environmental gentrification and public health issues. To achieve this objective, we asked three questions. (i) Was there socioeconomic improvement in the households located near the rehabilitated streams? (ii) Did property values appreciate near the rehabilitated streams? (iii) Was the relative incidence of diseases decreased in the residents living near the rehabilitated streams? We tested three hypotheses. (H1) The socioeconomic profile of the households in the areas neighboring the rehabilitated streams improved. (H2) The property values of residences in the areas neighboring the rehabilitated streams increased. (H3) The incidence of waterborne and other types of diseases in the areas neighboring the rehabilitated streams decreased. To answer the first question and hypothesis, we compared 2000 to 2010 census tracts in the areas neighboring the rehabilitated streams with others in the municipality of Belo Horizonte (BH). We observed non-significant socioeconomic and demographic differences. To answer the second question and hypothesis, we used real estate transactions between 2009 and 2018 using hedonic models. After controlling for multiple interacting variables, we observed real estate appreciation after stream rehabilitation. To answer the third question and hypothesis, we analyzed the association between the prevalence of waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases, and other diseases in the residents living near the rehabilitated streams. To do so, we analyzed hospitalization data from 2005 to 2016 for residents neighboring the streams versus BH. We observed a significant increase in the prevalence of waterborne and vector-transmitted diseases until two years after the stream rehabilitation, followed by a decrease until 2010. Trends for other types of diseases differed from these and mostly followed the general tendencies of BH, indicating different temporal variations. Our results highlight that ecosystem goods and services fostered by urban stream rehabilitation have potential contributions to the well-being of urban populations. The economic analyses applied in the paper have clear policy implications in support of urban stream rehabilitation. Although South American countries lack mandatory rehabilitation investments, Belo Horizonte’s example can inspire other interventions in tropical megacities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Rivers and Wetlands: Impacts, Hazards, Conservation, and Management)

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17 pages, 1994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of Floodplain Wetland Fisheries of Rural Indonesia: Does Culture Enhance Livelihood Resilience?

by Achmad Syamsu Hidayat, Ismi Rajiani and Deasy Arisanty

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14461; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114461 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1981

Abstract

Preserving small-scale fisheries is the main concern of governments in sustainable growth development because more than 90% of fishers and workers make a living in this business including in floodplain wetlands currently affected by external shocks. Applying the sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) and framework, this research aimed to analyse the impact of environmental changes on fishing livelihoods in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Questionnaire administration and in-depth interviews were employed as data collection methods, and structural equation modelling was tested on samples of 550 fishers. We found that environmental changes in natural conditions and human activities had adverse effects on the sustainability of fishing livelihoods. Fishers found massive development disruptive to their fishing activities, putting their livelihoods at risk and making them vulnerable. The findings further acknowledge cultural significance with livelihood resilience. Since The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines culture as “the entire and distinguishing way of society life”, this dimension is integrated into the study’s well-recognised framework. The government is recommended to re-evaluate its approach to balancing economic, social, environmental, and cultural factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Rivers and Wetlands: Impacts, Hazards, Conservation, and Management)

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30 pages, 6551 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

We Have Eaten the Rivers: The Past, Present, and Unsustainable Future of Hydroelectricity in Vietnam

by Gerard Sasges and Alan D. Ziegler

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8969; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118969 - 01 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

Vietnam has one of the most intensively energy-exploited riverscapes in Asia with at least 720 hydropower facilities of various capacities currently in operation or in some stage of construction. These facilities represent about 26 GW of installed capacity. This degree of domestic exploitation is often overshadowed by the geopolitically contested manipulation of the waters of the international Mekong River. In contrast, the utilization of Vietnam’s hydropower resources has unfolded gradually and largely unremarked for more than half a century. This perspective argues that the harnessing of rivers and streams for electricity generation is the result of not only the country’s abundant hydrologic resources, but also its history, culture, and (geo)politics. The paper traces the processes that have produced this high level of river exploitation, its ambiguous history, and the uncertain future of hydropower in Vietnam in the context of sustainability. Further, the renewed interest in dam-building in recent years is part of a “theater of decarbonization” that masks the operation of powerful domestic and international lobbies with an interest in “heavy engineering” projects that will do little to meet the nation’s rapidly growing electricity needs but will likely incur detrimental ecological and sociological impacts. The paper ends by positing that rather than forging ahead with the construction of additional small hydropower facilities, a more ecologically and socially equitable policy could instead critically examine the sustainability of existing capabilities, resolve the factors limiting the development of other renewable sources of energy, and face the fundamental challenge of curbing energy use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Rivers and Wetlands: Impacts, Hazards, Conservation, and Management)

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