Ecosystems in a State of Flux: Evidence from A Kenyan Coastal Riparian Ecosystem

Abstract

Riparian ecosystems are considered hotspots of carbon and nitrogen transformations. These biochemical transformations are driven by anthropogenic activities in the immediate riverine water catchments. The anthropogenic activities may include and not limited to extraction of goods such as agricultural products, wood products, honey, plant based pharmaceutical products, livestock products, firewood, water and grass for thatching homesteads. Riparian ecosystems also provide important tangible and intangible ecosystem services comprising spiritual and aesthetic functions, pollination, ecosystem detoxification functions, carbon and nitrogen sequestration and CO2 sinks for amelioration of climate change impacts among others. These ecosystems are increasingly threatened by degradation attributed to land use changes. Human perturbations such as crop farming on riparian land, overgrazing and population pressure on land resources influence degradation of riparian ecosystems, with profound effects on biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods. Evidence from the literature indicates that although there is a general understanding regarding the response of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems to human perturbations, there is a dearth of information on the response of African riparian ecosystems to ecologic and socio-economic impacts.