ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the major ecosystems in the basin and the key services they deliver. It discusses the drivers of change and the threats to the continued provision of ecosystem services in the basin. The chapter also discusses the challenges faced by decision-makers who must find an appropriate balance, weighing the consequences of interventions that contribute to national priorities for economic development against the likely impacts on vital ecosystem services. The roots, leaves and bark of many different wetland and woodland species are used as medicines. The general lack of formal health facilities in rural areas means that people are very dependent on plant medicines. The ability of wetlands to improve water quality arises from natural purifying processes including: dilution, sedimentation, filtration, physical and chemical immobilisation, microbial interactions and uptake by vegetation and aquatic organisms. The effectiveness of these processes varies considerably between ecosystems and within ecosystems and may be highly ephemeral as plants grow and die.
