Abstract:
The Wetland Classification and Risk
Assessment Index (WCRAI) is based on manifestations
of ecological processes in natural wetland ecosystems. The
index is hierarchical in structure and is designed to allow
identification and rapid assessment at the broadest levels
by non wetland experts in different disciplines to manage
natural wetlands. From previous studies, landscape ecology
has demonstrated the importance of considering landscape
context in addition to local site attributes when
explaining wetland ecological processes and ecological
integrity. The pressures that land uses and activities exert
on wetlands generate impacts that affect both the biotic
and abiotic characteristics of the surface water column and the surrounding riparian zone. Therefore, human-altered
land in a catchment and spatial patterns of surrounding
wetlands provide a direct way to measure human impacts
and can be correlated with indicators such as water chemistry
and biotic variables. The objective of this study was
to develop and test the WCRAI so that the index can be
used to classify different types of wetlands and to assess
their ecological condition (also known as “Eco-status”)
under different ecological conditions. The results obtained
from the WCRAI were indicative of the integrity of these
wetlands when compared to the status of the abiotic and
biotic variables measured at each sampling site. From an
economical perspective, the WCRAI can play a crucial
role in preventing unnecessary degradation of wetlands,
hence reducing financial loss through management, restoration,
or rehabilitation efforts. The methodology can be
applied very easily (due to its simplistic nature) by industry
stakeholders to continually monitor these wetlands.
