Floodplain Rehabilitation

Waza-Logone has been affected by the construction of
a dam, reducing the flooding in 1500 km2. Annual
grasses invaded productive perennial grasslands,
reducing the carrying capacity for livestock,
fisheries and wildlife. In 1994, after local
consultations, a watercourse was re-opened.
Perennial grasslands gradually recovered in 600 km2.
Numbers of waterbirds increased two-fold; colonies
of piscivorous birds were frequently destroyed, but
others benefited from local communities
protection. Antelopes showed an increase that has
not persisted because of competition with livestock
which densities increased three-fold. There is a
problem in the sharing of the reflooding benefits
between wildlife and people that rapidly respond to
new opportunities. A dialogue was institutionalised
between protected area authorities and local

Autorentext
Paul Scholte is an ecologist specialised in Conservation in a Development context. He has 20 years experience in protected area- and rangeland management and rural development, based on which he authored 70 scientific publications. During his assignments Paul assured the on-the-job training of staff and supervised many students.

Klappentext
Waza-Logone has been affected by the construction of a dam, reducing the flooding in 1500 km2. Annual grasses invaded productive perennial grasslands, reducing the carrying capacity for livestock, fisheries and wildlife. In 1994, after local consultations, a watercourse was re-opened. Perennial grasslands gradually recovered in 600 km2. Numbers of waterbirds increased two-fold; colonies of piscivorous birds were frequently destroyed, but others benefited from local communities' protection. Antelopes showed an increase that has not persisted because of competition with livestock which densities increased three-fold. There is a problem in the sharing of the reflooding benefits between wildlife and people that rapidly respond to new opportunities. A dialogue was institutionalised between protected area authorities and local