Tanzania’s dams: flood risk depends on how they’re planned and operated: The Rufiji River, which drains into Tanzania’s south-east coast, experienced a major wave of flooding in April 2024. The flooding caused tragic loss of life and affected at least 88,000 individuals. More than 28,000 hectares of crops were damaged. There has been much debate …
The surge in hydroelectric dams is driving massive biodiversity loss: Canadapanda / shutterstock Around the world, free-flowing natural rivers are being fragmented by dams, weirs and other barriers. It’s one of the biggest, yet least acknowledged, causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. River fragmentation is a key reason migratory fish populations have declined by 81% since …
Why beaver-like dams can protect communities from flooding – new research: A beaver-like dam at Wilde Brook on the Corve catchment in Shropshire. Daniel Jones, Author provided Low cost, human-made river barriers, similar to those built by beavers, can protect communities at risk of flooding. Our new research has found that such natural barriers intentionally …
Ukraine recap: dams, lies and economic statistics: The likely cause of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and power plant in the early hours of Tuesday morning remains shrouded in mystery – predictably, both sides are blaming each other. But it’s important to remember that under the Geneva conventions the destruction of infrastructure such as …
Nigeria floods: government’s mismanagement of dams is a major cause: The flooding wiped out farms in Kogi and other affected states. Sodiq Adelakun/AFP via Getty Images There has been severe flooding in Nigeria – the worst in a decade. Earlier this month, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency warned of catastrophic flooding for states located along …
Floods in Nigeria: building dams and planting trees among steps that should be taken to curb the damage: Floods have hit 27 of Nigeria's 36 states this year. Sodiq Adelakun/AFP via Getty Images Nigerians are no strangers to flooding. In some parts of the country, flooding is an annual event. But the intensity varies from …
Fish passes can reconnect species with habitats blocked by dams – here’s how they work: Over one million dams and culverts (tunnels that encircle rivers passing under roads) block the movements of fish and other wildlife in Europe. Scientists estimate that less than 1% of catchments in the UK are free of obstruction. A report …
South Africa has had lots of rain and most dams are full, but water crisis threat persists: Maria Khoza collecting water from the City of Tshwane municipality after a short closure of the a treatment plant caused by a sewage leakage in 2019. Phill Magakoe/AFP/GettyImages Most parts of South Africa, specifically its summer rainfall areas, …
Hydroelectric dams take toll on endangered big cats, study shows: Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock Big cats are among the most widespread top predators on Earth. Lions stalk zebra in the African savanna, tigers ambush antelope in the forests of Asia and jaguars hunt deer in the jungles of South America. They play an important role in ecosystems …
Insect population collapse: new evidence links it to dams: Over 40% of all insects, like this tropical dragonfly, are in decline Scottslm/Pixasbay Insects are the most numerous group of animals on the planet. There are an estimated 5.5 million species, 80% of which remain to be discovered. Yet insects are experiencing steep, widespread declines across …
South Africa in the news: Full dams don’t mean water security — Gauteng can’t afford to be complacent: After good summer rains, the dams that supply water to Johannesburg and much of South Africa’s economic heartland are full. This, then, is the time to start worrying about water supplies.: “South Africa” – BingNews Coronavirus Briefing: …
Why full dams don’t mean water security: a look at South Africa: Water flows from the Vaal Dam after several sluice gates were opened in February 2021. Heavy rains in the Gauteng province resulted in a spike in dam levels. Deaan Vivier/ via GettyImages After good summer rains, the dams that supply water to Johannesburg …
South Africa in the news: Let’s conserve water because dams will not always be this full: Dam levels in some parts have swelled, much to the relief of water stressed areas that were battling with diminishing water levels for months. It is not so long ago that Cape Town experienced the fear …: “South Africa” …
Reindeer: ancient migration routes disrupted by roads, dams – and now wind farms: Ilona Kater, Author provided Reindeer, or caribou as they’re known in North America, are impressive travellers. Herds made up of many thousands of animals can cover 5,000km each year in the far north of Europe, Siberia and Canada. This is one of …
Dams increase the risk of malaria. Here’s why: Shutterstock Many people in Africa are food insecure, vulnerable to shifts in climate and do not have access to electricity. There’s also a problem with accessing reliable, clean water, particularly in places with irregular rains. Building dams is one way that African countries are trying to address …
New dams in Africa could add risk to power supplies down the line: Hydropower plays a massive role electrifying many countries. Shutterstock In the 1980s and 1990s parts of Africa saw a surge in dam building for energy production. After a brief hiatus there has been renewed interested. Many new construction projects are planned and …
How building new dams is adding to Africa’s malaria burden: The Koka Reservoir in Ethiopia. Steps have been taken to reduce malaria infections without sacrificing the primary purposes of the dam David Stanley/Flickr More than 2,000 large dams have been built and more than 200 are currently under construction or planned in sub-Saharan Africa. The …