Nile Ecosystems Valuation for Wise-Use
Wetlands provide an array of market and non-market benefits for immediate users but also offer wider catchment and global benefits. Yet, their economic and social values are often unrecognized. The steady and ongoing decline of wetland extent and quality in the Nile basin will lead to a further net decrease of overall value unless managed with greater focus, taking into account the economic value of direct use, indirect use and non-use.
The Nile Ecosystems Valuation for Wise-Use (Nile Eco-VWU) project developed and tested integrated tools for economic valuation of wetland ecosystems services that can be applied at local and regional scales, analyzing policy and investment trade-offs on water governance, ecosystem services and social equity.
A better understanding of the consequences of decisions for ecosystem services will help optimize wetland use for total economic value, and ultimately contribute to improved local and regional policies and enhanced livelihoods for local communities.
Four cases of threathened wetlands in the Nile basin
Training materials on wetlands management and valuation
Project highlights
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WLE's regional program in the Nile and East Africa Region (WLE Nile-East Africa) was a research-for-development initiative that sought to restore and bolster opportunities for increased agricultural productivity through key ecosystem services, especially in the resource poor areas of the region. WLE Nile-East Africa was one of four regional programs of WLE, which also included the Ganges, Greater Mekong, and Volta/Niger.