Wetlands in drylands Large-scale appropriations for agriculture, conservation, and mining in Africa

Wetlands constitute a crucial source of livelihood for dryland populations, not only because of the presence of water but also because they hold other important resources such as fish, pastures, and fertile soils. This chapter looks at how large-scale appropriations of wetlands in Africa affect local access and resource use. Based on three case studies (irrigated agriculture in the Sahel, biodiversity conservation in Cameroon, and heavy sands mining in Mozambique), the chapter discusses three processes of change: the rigidization of resource use and management (as opposed to the flexibility suitable for a climatic-variability context); the institutional changes that undermine local common property institutions and eventually lead to open access and violence; and the (anticipated) loss of resilience as historical wetland users lose or face losing access to a key source of livelihood and food security.