The spatial distribution of illegal hunting of terrestrial mammals in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic map

Globally, wildfires are considered the most commonly occurring disasters, resulting from natural and anthropogenic ignition sources. Wildfires consist of burning standing biomass at erratic degrees of intensity, severity, and frequency. Consequently, wildfires generate large amounts of smoke and other toxic pollutants that have devastating impacts on ambient air quality and human health. There is, therefore, a need for a comprehensive study that characterizes land–atmosphere interactions with regard to wildfires, critical for understanding the interrelated and multidimensional impacts of wildfires. Current studies have a limited scope and a narrow focus, usually only focusing on one aspect of wildfire impacts, such as air quality without simultaneously considering the impacts on land surface changes and vice versa. In this study, we use several multisource data to determine the spatial distribution, frequency, disturbance characteristics of and variability and distribution of pollutants emitted by wildfires. The specific objectives were to (1) study the sources of wildfires and the period they are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa over a 9 year period, i.e., 2007–2016, (2) estimate the seasonal disturbance of wildfires on various vegetation types, (3) determine the spatial distribution of black carbon (BC), carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke, and (4) determine the vertical height distribution of smoke. The results show largest burned areas in December–January–February (DJF), June–July–August (JJA) and September–October–November (SON) seasons, and reciprocal high emissions of BC, CO, and smoke, as observed by Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2) and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO). In addition, the results reveal an increasing trend in the magnitude of BC, and CO concentration driven by meteorological conditions such as low precipitation, low relative humidity, and low latent heat flux. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of multisource remotely sensed data in characterising long-term wildfire patterns and associated emissions. The results in this study are critical for informing better regional fire management and air quality control strategies to preserve endangered species and habitats, promote sustainable land management, and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.

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The socioeconomic and environmental impacts of wood energy value chains in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic map protocol

Environmental Evidence ◽

10.1186/s13750-015-0038-3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Paolo Omar Cerutti ◽

Phosiso Sola ◽

Audrey Chenevoy ◽

Miyuki Iiyama ◽

Jummai Yila ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Impacts ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Value Chains ◽

Systematic Map ◽

Energy Value ◽

Wood Energy ◽

Sub Saharan

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The epidemiological landscape of anemia in women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-91198-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Esteban Correa-Agudelo ◽

Hae-Young Kim ◽

Godfrey N. Musuka ◽

Zindoga Mukandavire ◽

F. DeWolfe Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Low Income ◽

Malaria Incidence ◽

Positive Association ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Women Of Reproductive Age ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractThe role of geographical disparities of health-related risk factors with anemia are poorly documented for women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to determine the contribution of potential factors and to identify areas at higher risk of anemia for women in reproductive age in SSA. Our study population comprised 27 nationally representative samples of women of reproductive age (15–49) who were enrolled in the Demographic and Health Surveys and conducted between 2010 and 2019 in SSA. Overall, we found a positive association between being anemic and the ecological exposure to malaria incidence [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.02], and HIV prevalence (AOR = 1.01, CI 1.01–1.02). Women currently pregnant or under deworming medication for the last birth had 31% (AOR = 1.31, CI 1.24–1.39) and 5% (AOR = 1.05, CI 1.01–1.10) higher odds of having anemia, respectively. Similarly, women age 25–34 years old with low education, low income and living in urban settings had higher odds of having anemia. In addition, underweight women had 23% higher odds of suffering anemia (AOR = 1.23, CI 1.15–1.31). Females with low levels of education and wealth index were consistently associated with anemia across SSA. Spatial distribution shows increased risk of anemia in Central and Western Africa. Knowledge about the contribution of known major drivers and the spatial distribution of anemia risk can mitigate operational constraints and help to design geographically targeted intervention programs in SSA.

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Inadequate accessibility as a cause of water inadequacy: a case study of Mpeketoni, Lamu, Kenya

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2013.009 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 598-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hussein Wako Gedo ◽

Md Manjur Morshed

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Local Factors ◽

Present Context ◽

Multiple Variables ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Major Factors

Water adequacy depends on multiple variables. The provision of adequate drinking water in Sub-Saharan Africa often gets blurred by distortions in supply and demand relationships. Different development organisations have attempted to find solutions to the provision of adequate drinking water. However, while some attempts have succeeded in addressing water adequacy in terms of both the quantity available and that demanded, most attempts have failed to address other components of water adequacy. This paper analyses one such case in Mpeketoni, one of the six administrative divisions in the coastal district of Lamu, Kenya, and emphasises that accessibility in terms of distance and price are the major factors determining the success of this initiative. The paper finds that, whilst the target quantity has been achieved, accessibility has not been ensured. Considering the local factors, this paper suggests a spatial distribution of water facilities for adequacy. The paper's conclusion is that the infrastructure required to reach the target is quite difficult in the present context, and thus alternatives must be considered.

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Characterization of Spatio-Temporal Trends and Periodicity of Precipitation over Malawi during 1979–2015

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11090891 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 891

Author(s):

Edwin Tadeyo ◽

Dan Chen ◽

Brian Ayugi ◽

Chunzhen Yao

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Function Analysis ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽

Wet Season ◽

Climate Change And Variability ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Annual Scale

Precipitation remains the key climatic parameter in sub-Saharan Africa, as it drives the economy through rain-fed agricultural production. Malawi is one of the countries most susceptible to the impacts of climate change and variability. This paper presents the characteristics of spatio-temporal trends and periodicity of precipitation in Malawi in the period from 1979 to 2015. The analysis was based on recent rain ground gauge data. In total, 31 out of 36 rainfall stations, which include some key stations from the southeast of Malawi, were selected for the study after robust homogeneity tests were applied to the datasets. Spatial distribution of annual mean precipitation showed that high amounts of rainfall are located in areas along the lake and the southeast part of Malawi. The spatial distribution of the wet season (November to April) precipitation from EOF (Empirical Orthogonal Function) analysis revealed ten wet years (1985, 1986, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, and 2015) and ten dry years (1981, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2005, 2011, and 2014). In general, the temporal trends analyses of seasonal (wet season) and annual precipitations both displayed slight decreasing slopes during the 37 years. The trend of precipitation per decade displayed an increase in precipitation during 1980s and 1990s, followed by a decrease in the 21st century. Furthermore, the analysis of the spatial and temporal variability and trends of rainfall showed that northern and central Malawi displayed a clearer variability than southern Malawi. Although the trends of most of the stations are not significant at 95% confidence level, the decreasing rates of rainfall in the last decade and the decreasing trends on wet season and annual scale detected by Mann–Kendall tests require closer monitoring of rainfall changes in the near future. The stations which exhibited significant trends (Naminjiwa and Dedza stations) also call for closer monitoring, since the area relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture for economic sustenance.

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