Oxbow lakes in Africa: Status, threats, and management strategies- A review

Environmental risks affecting oxbow lakes are a global concern, encompassing habitat loss, declining water quality, and biodiversity decline. This review focuses on African oxbow lakes, evaluating their anthropogenic risks, management implications, and case studies for conservation and policy insights. Oxbow lakes occur in various African river systems mostly within the Niger, Senegal, Gambia, and Okavango, functioning in flood regulation, fisheries, and wildlife habitats with distribution across regions shaped by climate, hydrology, and geology; while areas with ample rainfall and robust river flows have more oxbow lakes due to frequent channel migration, drier regions like the Sahel experience fewer and ephemeral lakes due to sparse river flows. The shallow depths of these oxbows are shaped by fluvial processes in floodplains, river dynamics and human activities, which influence their creation, numbers, sizes and longevity. The threats to these lakes arise from diverse human activities, including dam construction altering water levels, agricultural development causing erosion and nutrient runoff, urbanization and industrialization leading to pollution and eutrophication, pollution from industrial waste, and disruption from overfishing and invasive species. These challenges are compounded by socio-economic and political factors such as population growth, weak governance, and regulatory enforcement. Successful management of African oxbow lakes necessitate tailored strategies which draws lessons from global successes, while emphasizing community engagement, adaptive management, and hydrological restoration. To safeguard these ecosystems, comprehensive research, data collection, and integrated management strategies are essential.