ESA project helping African nations tackle water shortage problems

A European Space Agency (ESA) project is helping drought prone African countries tackle their water shortage problems.

Paris, Aug 5 : A European Space Agency (ESA) project is helping drought prone African countries tackle their water shortage problems.

As part of the IWAREMA (Integrated Water Resource management for Zambia) project, data from the multispectral MERIS sensor aboard the agency's environmental satellite, 'Envisat' was used to create maps depicting existing water resources, suitable dam locations and land cover.

The project carried out by the Belgium Company GIM (Geographic Information Management) in partnership with the University of Zambia and the Zambian water authorities, aims to provide local policy makers with the necessary tools for effective water resource management.

"The results of the IWAREMA project can be used to protect Zambia's ecosystems particularly in the Kafue flats where wildlife, agricultural activities, fisheries and tourism compete for regulated water resources," said Jack Nkhoma of Zambia's Department of Water Affairs.

Nkhoma said having access to these maps would allow authorities to determine the expansion of urban areas and loss of forest and agricultural areas as well as calculate the risk of erosion, change in water availability and percentage of surface water.

This, in turn, will allow for early flood warnings, he said.

"The results of the IWAREMA project can be used to protect Zambia's ecosystems. With a lot of pressure from population growth and urbanisation, the land cover maps will show how demographic variables and pressures will impact natural resources," he added.

The project focused on the Kafue River Basin, which is a sub-basin of the Zambezi River. The Kafue Basin is of great importance to the country's economy and is home to more than half of the country's population.

ANI