From pixel to perception: integrating spatial, ecological, and socio-cultural datasets into the monitoring of wetland ecosystems - a case study of De Hoop Vlei

Abstract

Wetlands are globally threatened, with many experiencing degradation due to hydrological alteration, climate variability and increasing anthropogenic pressures. In South Africa, effective wetland management is often constrained by limited long-term ecological monitoring and the insufficient integration of ecological and social perspectives. Waterbirds, which depends on these habitats for breeding and feeding, serve as vital indicators of wetland health. Monitoring waterbird populations can therefore provide important insights into ecological changes within wetland systems. Wetlands provide essential cultural ecosystems services (CES) like recreation, aesthetic appreciation and wildlife observation, and these social benefits are rarely quantified or included in ecological assessments. Although remote sensing and citizen science datasets are increasingly used to monitor wetlands and waterbird populations, they are rarely integrated with assessments of how people experience and value wetland landscapes.