{"id":14467,"date":"2024-11-27T09:20:24","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T08:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceab.csic.es\/avaluen-els-impactes-de-la-salinitzacio-dun-dels-principals-rius-de-lafrica\/"},"modified":"2024-11-27T09:44:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T08:44:30","slug":"avaluen-els-impactes-de-la-salinitzacio-dun-dels-principals-rius-de-lafrica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceab.csic.es\/en\/avaluen-els-impactes-de-la-salinitzacio-dun-dels-principals-rius-de-lafrica\/","title":{"rendered":"Assessing the impacts of salinization in one of Africa\u2019s main rivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

An international research team, including researchers from the CSIC (CEAB and IDAEA) and the UIB, is studying the effects of increased salinity in the waters of the Gambia River. The project is pioneering due to its interdisciplinary perspective, evaluating both the ecological and socioeconomic effects of this growing global issue.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Freshwater salinization has severe consequences for ecosystems (such as biodiversity loss or changes in the carbon cycle) and people (lack of drinking water, health issues, or impacts on livelihoods, including agriculture, fishing, or mollusk harvesting). One of the areas in the world where it is causing the most damage is the Gambia River (West Africa), which is experiencing a significant increase in salinity due to a prolonged drought, a situation expected to worsen with rising sea levels and the construction of a massive dam that would drastically reduce its flow.<\/p>\n

For the first time, a research team is studying the salinization of this river and its impacts. They have started identifying, quantifying, and describing its consequences on key aspects such as changes in aquatic biodiversity, impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, the effects on mangrove areas, and consequences for people. The team includes experts in diverse fields \u2014 such as biogeochemistry, biology, ecology, geology, and social sciences \u2014 from research centers and universities in Africa, Australia, and Europe. Among them are researchers from the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), the Blanes Center for Advanced Studies (CEAB-CSIC), and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB).<\/p>\n

N\u00faria Catal\u00e1n, a CEAB-CSIC researcher and team member, explains: \u201cWe aim to understand both the changes in processes occurring within the river and its natural environment due to the increasing salinity of its waters, as well as the impacts on the local communities that depend on it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The research seeks not only to understand the effects of rising salinity in this African river but also to obtain a broader perspective on what is happening globally with the issue of freshwater salinization. As Miguel Ca\u00f1edo-Arg\u00fcelles, an IDAEA-CSIC researcher, explains, \u201cIt is a global problem that is increasing due to the combined effects of climate change and the growing demand for resources.<\/em>\u201d The project aims to gather evidence that can help develop strategies applicable anywhere this situation occurs. One of the objectives is to ensure that the proposed solutions are co-created with local populations.<\/p>\n

The team emphasizes that the results of the research project (called SALBIA) should serve at the local level, contributing to improved management of the Gambia River, and at the global level, providing a model for addressing salinization issues in other regions. \u201cWe hope this work will provide useful tools for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in areas vulnerable to salinization and help co-design possible ways to adapt to this impact,<\/em>\u201d state Pablo Rodr\u00edguez Lozano, a researcher at UIB, and Miguel Ca\u00f1edo-Arg\u00fcelles, from IDAEA-CSIC.<\/p>\n

Preliminary results<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Preliminary results from the first sampling campaign, conducted in the summer, indicate that salinity is altering the biodiversity patterns of the river. Communities of organisms have been found to vary significantly along the salinity gradient.<\/p>\n

Salinity is also affecting the movement and transformation of carbon within the river, influencing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 from the water and sediments. It has been observed that in saltier areas, especially in the lower reaches, greenhouse gas emissions are higher.<\/p>\n

A second sampling campaign is planned for early 2025 to continue gathering information on the environmental and socioeconomic effects of freshwater salinization.<\/p>\n

\"primera-campanya-salbia-autoria-laura-carrau-II\"\"riu-gambia-projecte-salbia-autoria-laura-carrau\"<\/p>\n

The SALBIA project: An interdisciplinary approach<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>This research project is structured around three sub-projects analyzing the impacts of salinization from different perspectives:<\/p>\n