Monitoring biodiversity loss in rapidly changing Afrotropical ecosystems: an emerging imperative for governance and research

Biodiversity loss, the reduction or disappearance of organisms in an ecosystem, is accelerating globally. This loss poses significant risks to the global economy, as more than half of the global GDP is dependent upon natural capacity. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 adopted a global biodiversity framework to address this, aiming to halt extinctions, promote sustainable use, ensure benefit-sharing, and secure resources for implementation. The inextricable link between ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss due to human activities and environmental perturbations is well-established. Research in developed countries focuses on biodiversity's influence on ecosystem processes, mechanisms driving biodiversity-ecosystem relationships, and the links between biodiversity loss and policy. These studies provide a basis for policy design, but their application in Afrotropical ecosystems is limited by data availability. Effective policies for mitigating biodiversity loss require addressing drivers like population growth, resource-use demand, socioeconomic development, and reliance on natural resources. In Africa, political instability, ineffective intergovernmental agencies, limited government support, and lack of standardized datasets further exacerbate the problem. Africa lags behind in biodiversity studies due to data deficiency and insufficient financial and technical capacity, hindering policy formulation and implementation. This paper aims to highlight the need for data-driven biodiversity policy interventions and management implementation in Africa, emphasizing the challenges in funding and qualified personnel as hindrances to data acquisition and effective scientific studies.

The paper reviews existing literature on biodiversity loss, highlighting the global concern and the economic implications. It cites studies focusing on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function, including the impacts of environmental changes on diversity and matter/energy exchange. The review also covers the drivers of ecosystem change and biodiversity loss, categorizing them as direct (habitat change, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation, and pollution) and indirect (demographic, sociocultural, economic, technological, institutional, governance, conflicts, and epidemics). Existing literature reveals Africa's lagging position in biodiversity studies due to data scarcity and inadequate resources. The paper emphasizes the limited understanding of biodiversity-ecosystem linkages in Africa and the need for more research to inform effective policy and management interventions. Studies from developed countries, particularly on temperate ecosystems, are mentioned as a potential source of adaptable models, provided sufficient data from African ecosystems become available.

The methodology of this paper is primarily a review and synthesis of existing literature. The authors compile information on biodiversity data availability and quality in Africa, drawing from previous studies, reports from international organizations, and their own research experiences in the African Great Lakes region. They analyze the challenges related to data acquisition, management, and utilization, considering factors such as political instability, funding limitations, and lack of standardized protocols. The authors assess the drivers of ecosystem change and biodiversity loss in the Afrotropical region, categorizing them into direct and indirect causes and evaluating their impact on different ecosystem types. They examine the existing efforts to establish biodiversity databases and improve data accessibility in Africa. The paper also uses case studies from the African Great Lakes region to illustrate the challenges and opportunities for biodiversity research and monitoring. These case studies focus on the lack of basic information on fish species diversity, distribution, and population characteristics. The authors present a conceptual framework linking the drivers of ecosystem change and biodiversity loss to the need for funding and research capacity, highlighting the interconnectedness of these factors and their impact on effective conservation and management. The paper relies on extensive literature review to draw conclusions and make recommendations for improving biodiversity monitoring and policymaking in Africa. The geographic scope includes various African ecosystems, from forests to deserts and aquatic systems, with a focus on the African Great Lakes region as a case study.

The paper identifies several key challenges hindering biodiversity monitoring and conservation in Africa. Data deficiency is a major problem, with significant gaps in information on species, populations, distributions, and threat status across many African countries. Data availability is uneven, accessibility is limited due to lack of agreeable data-sharing policies, and usability is hampered by inconsistencies in data collection and management. Financial and technical capacity for data collection, management, and analysis are insufficient. The lack of a strong science-policy interface impedes the effective translation of research findings into policy decisions. The review finds that funding for biodiversity conservation in Africa is severely lacking, impacting the ability to conduct high-quality research and develop effective conservation strategies. The limited capacity of African professionals to access competitive funding further constrains research. The paper reveals that many African countries lack even the rudimentary elements of conservation science, reflecting the fact that biodiversity conservation is still perceived as a trivial theme in the national research agendas. Case studies from the African Great Lakes region reveal a dearth of basic information on riverine fish diversity and distribution, underscoring the broad data deficiency. The paper highlights the need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring initiatives and increased training capacity for aquatic and environmental scientists in the region. The authors also point out the need for further research into the interlinkages between ecosystem change and biodiversity loss, advocating for a more integrated approach to conservation strategies. The accelerating ecosystem degradation in Africa is driven by the surging demand for natural resources, population growth, land use change, pollution, and overexploitation. These pressures result in significant losses of ecosystem services and biodiversity. While there are efforts to establish biodiversity databases, significant challenges remain in data reliability, accessibility, and usability. The paper emphasizes the need for long-term monitoring programs and the importance of understanding biodiversity-ecosystem linkages to improve predictive capacity and enhance conservation efforts.

The findings highlight the critical need for improved biodiversity monitoring and data management in Africa to support evidence-based conservation policies. The lack of data and resources severely limits the ability to assess the state of biodiversity, understand the drivers of change, and develop effective conservation strategies. The interconnectedness of biodiversity and ecosystem function necessitates a holistic approach that considers both ecological and societal factors. The challenges faced in Africa are not unique; however, the scale of the problem and the limited resources available necessitate a focused and collaborative effort. The international community has a responsibility to support African researchers and institutions in building capacity and strengthening monitoring initiatives. The paper's emphasis on long-term monitoring programs reflects the need for sustained investment in research and data collection to better understand the complex dynamics of biodiversity change. An integrated approach incorporating the linkages between biodiversity, ecosystem function, and socioeconomic factors is crucial for the development of effective conservation strategies. The paper also emphasizes the critical role of improved data sharing and standardization to enable more robust analyses and better-informed decision-making. The findings contribute to the ongoing global discussion on biodiversity loss, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and capacity-building in developing countries.

This paper underscores the urgent need for improved biodiversity monitoring and research in rapidly changing Afrotropical ecosystems. The lack of reliable data and resources significantly hampers effective conservation efforts. The authors advocate for a comprehensive approach that integrates biodiversity-ecosystem linkages and addresses both ecological and societal drivers of change. Increased funding, capacity building, and collaborative research are crucial to address these challenges. Future research should prioritize long-term monitoring programs, harmonize data collection methods, and strengthen the science-policy interface to effectively inform conservation and management decisions.

The paper relies heavily on a review of existing literature and case studies. While the authors draw on their own research experiences, the generalizability of findings could be limited by the scope of the reviewed studies and the inherent biases present in existing biodiversity data. The paper does not provide a comprehensive quantitative analysis of biodiversity loss across all African ecosystems. Future studies could benefit from more quantitative assessments and data analysis to strengthen the conclusions and recommendations.