Ecohydrology for water, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilience in Africa

Africa is a continent of great natural resources, societal potential, and beauty. The rapid growth of population of people and cattle in sub-Saharan Africa has dramatically increased the pressure on the environmental resources, reducing their resilience and sustainability. To reverse this negative trend, ecohydrology needs to be implemented and this must start with a transfer of knowledge of ecohydrology, not only on a theoretical level but also in practical applications. Ecohydrology is about engineering a harmony between environment and society, ie it is a problem-solving science. It proposes low-cost, nature-based solutions. It often starts with the creation of demonstration sites, such as farmers' education centre in Asella, Ethiopia (Zalewski et al., 2010b).