Table 2. Summary of causes Theme... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2.

Summary of causes

Theme	Description	Manifestation in SSA
Population growth	Rapid urban population expansion increases demand for housing, infrastructure and services, frequently leading to the encroachment of wetlands	The rapid population growth in Lagos has resulted in substantial urban sprawl, encroaching on wetlands like the Lagos Lagoon and neighboring marshlands Kinshasa’s wetlands, particularly along the Congo river, have been severely impacted by urbanization, lowering their ability to regulate flooding and maintain biodiversity
Economic development	Urbanization increases the need for industrial and commercial areas. Wetlands, which are commonly seen as low-value property, are drained or filled to allow these developments	Dar es Salaam’s economic growth has resulted in the industrialization of wetlands, such as the Msimbazi River Basin Wetlands in Johannesburg, including the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, have been encroached, disrupting natural water cycles and leading to pollution
Infrastructure development	Roads, bridges and other infrastructure improvements typically deplete wetlands, which are removed or filled to facilitate urban connections	The Nairobi Expressway and other infrastructure developments have degraded wetlands, including the Nairobi River Basin Infrastructure initiatives in Addis Ababa, including the construction of new roads and housing, have resulted in the degradation of wetlands like the Akaki River basin. These projects have disturbed natural water flow and wetland ecosystems
Migration	Migration disrupts land-use planning and allows for the unrestrained growth of cities into wetland areas, without regard for environmental implications. Informal settlers are forced to dwell in wetlands owing to land availability and limited affordable housing options	In Accra, low enforcement of land-use planning has enabled urban sprawl into wetlands such as the Korle Lagoon The growth of informal settlements in Abidjan has degraded wetlands like as the Banco Forest wetlands, posing a threat to pollution, habitat deterioration and flooding

Theme	Description	Manifestation in SSA
Population growth	Rapid urban population expansion increases demand for housing, infrastructure and services, frequently leading to the encroachment of wetlands	The rapid population growth in Lagos has resulted in substantial urban sprawl, encroaching on wetlands like the Lagos Lagoon and neighboring marshlands Kinshasa’s wetlands, particularly along the Congo river, have been severely impacted by urbanization, lowering their ability to regulate flooding and maintain biodiversity
Economic development	Urbanization increases the need for industrial and commercial areas. Wetlands, which are commonly seen as low-value property, are drained or filled to allow these developments	Dar es Salaam’s economic growth has resulted in the industrialization of wetlands, such as the Msimbazi River Basin Wetlands in Johannesburg, including the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, have been encroached, disrupting natural water cycles and leading to pollution
Infrastructure development	Roads, bridges and other infrastructure improvements typically deplete wetlands, which are removed or filled to facilitate urban connections	The Nairobi Expressway and other infrastructure developments have degraded wetlands, including the Nairobi River Basin Infrastructure initiatives in Addis Ababa, including the construction of new roads and housing, have resulted in the degradation of wetlands like the Akaki River basin. These projects have disturbed natural water flow and wetland ecosystems
Migration	Migration disrupts land-use planning and allows for the unrestrained growth of cities into wetland areas, without regard for environmental implications. Informal settlers are forced to dwell in wetlands owing to land availability and limited affordable housing options	In Accra, low enforcement of land-use planning has enabled urban sprawl into wetlands such as the Korle Lagoon The growth of informal settlements in Abidjan has degraded wetlands like as the Banco Forest wetlands, posing a threat to pollution, habitat deterioration and flooding

Source(s): Authors’ own work