Assessment of the socio-economic
value of freshwater species for the
northern African region
Assessment of the socio-economic
value of freshwater species for the
northern African region
Edited by Diego Juffe-Bignoli and William R.T. Darwall
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
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Cover pictures:
1.- Collection of reed in the River Nile. Photo © Jon Savage.
2.- The Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), native to the Nile Basin, is a highly valuable species. Photo © W.A. Djatmiko.
3.- Fishermen in the river Nile, in Egypt. Photo © dingoup.
4.- Mint species trade in a local market in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo © besopha.
5.- Use of Juncus articulatus and Juncus maritimus in Saidia, a touristic resort in north-eastern Morocco. Photo © M. Melhaoui.
6.- The Oued Za Gorges in Morocco. Photo © Jean-Pierre Boudot.
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Citation: Juffe-Bignoli D. and Darwall W.R.T
(eds.) (2012). Assessment of the socio-economic
value of freshwater species for the northern
African region. Gland, Switzerland and Málaga,
Spain: IUCN. IV + 84 pages.
This publication has been made possible by
funding from the Spanish Agency for
International Cooperation and Development
(AECID).
Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and
Málaga, Spain.
Copyright: © 2012 International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Available from:
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
C/ Marie Curie 22
29590 Campanillas, Malaga, Spain
Tel: +34 952 028430
Fax: +34 952 028145
www.iucn.org/mediterranean
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ISBN: 978-2-8317-1509-4
Layout: Simetrica S.L.
Rereading and corrections: Chris Tribe
Produced by: IUCN Centre for Mediterranean
Cooperation
Printed by: Solprint
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
This book has been printed on ecological
chlorine-free paper.
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ............................................. 1
3.2.1. Inland fisheries ........................... 22
Executive summary ............................................. 2
3.2.2. Ornamental fish .......................... 23
3.2.3. Aquaculture ................................ 24
1. Introduction ................................................... 5
1.1. Freshwater ecosystems: conservation
status and socio-economic value ............. 6
1.2. Situation analysis for the northern African
region ....................................................... 8
1.3. Objectives of the study .......................... 10
3.3. The importance of freshwater fishes to
livelihoods in northern Africa .................. 25
3.3.1. Egypt ........................................... 26
3.3.2. Maghreb countries ...................... 28
3.3.3. Conclusion .................................. 30
3.4. Patterns of distribution ........................... 31
3.5. Threats to species
2. Methodology................................................. 11
2.1. Assessment of the conservation status of
of socio-economic value ......................... 32
3.6. Ten conclusions and recommendations .. 34
northern African freshwater species ....... 12
2.2. Data compilation .................................... 12
Case study 3.1 The European Eel: a northern
2.3. Geographical scope ............................... 13
African perspective, by D. Juffe-Bignoli ............. 36
2.4. Spatial analysis ...................................... 14
Case study 3.2 The Nile Tilapia Oreochromis
2.5. Use and livelihood value ........................ 15
niloticus in Egypt, by M. Saleh .......................... 39
3. The socio-economic value
of freshwater fish ....................................... 17
3.1. Conservation status of freshwater fish
4. The socio-economic value
of aquatic plants ........................................ 41
4.1. Conservation status of aquatic
species ................................................... 18
plant species .......................................... 43
3.2. Socio-economic value ............................ 19
4.2. Socio-economic value ............................ 44
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
4.2.1. Medicinal use .............................. 47
Case study 4.1 Uses and socio-economic value of
4.2.2. Food ............................................ 48
Mentha species in northern Africa, by L. Rhazi,
P. Grillas and D. Juffe-Bignoli ............................ 61
4.2.3. Other uses .................................. 49
4.3. The importance of aquatic plants to
livelihoods in northern Africa .................. 49
Case study 4.2 Socio-economic importance of
Phragmites australis in northern Africa, by L. Rhazi,
P. Grillas, B. Poulin and R. Mathevet ................ 63
4.3.1. Morocco ...................................... 50
4.3.2. Other northern African countries .. 52
5. Conclusions and recommendations ......... 66
4.4. Crop Wild Relatives—value
for the future .......................................... 53
6. Appendices ................................................. 69
4.5. Patterns of distribution ........................... 54
4.6. Threats to species
of socio-economic value ......................... 57
4.7. Ten conclusions and
recommendations ................................... 59
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Appendix 1—List of freshwater fish
species of socio-economic value ....................... 70
Appendix 2—List of aquatic plant species
of socio-economic value .................................... 73
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank Jane Kloda from the UNEP–
WCMC species programme and Dr Boye Gricar for
sharing information on the ornamental fish trade,
and Thomasina Olfield and Gemma Goodman from
TRAFFIC for providing the Access database used
to carry out this study. Special thanks go to Vicki
Crook from TRAFFIC and Matthew Gollock from the
Zoological Society of London for their advice on the
European Eel case study. We also thank Imtinen
Ben Haj Jilani and Amina Daoud-Bouattour from
Faculté des Sciences de Tunis (Tunisia) for
providing pictures and survey data, Florence
Daubigney from Tour du Valat for sharing pictures
and Professor Mohammed Melhaoui from
Université d'Oujda (Morocco) for providing
information on freshwater species use in the
Moulouya Basin (Morocco). We are grateful to
Danna Leaman and Uwe Schippmann from the
IUCN–SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and
Nigel Maxted and Sam Lala from the IUCN–SSC
Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group for checking all
plant species included in this study against their
databases and for providing bibliography.
We also thank a number of individuals who
provided advice, relevant bibliography and contacts:
Nieves García and Annabelle Cuttelod from IUCN;
Lori Curtis and Cherif Toueilib from FAO Fisheries
and Aquaculture Department; Steve Davis and
Shahina Ghazanfar from Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew; Robert Holland; Kevin Smith, David Allen,
Jacques Lemoalles; Christophe Béné; Edward H.
Allison; Abebe Getahun and Serge Muller.
Additionally, we are grateful to Christopher Tribe,
who edited the document, Sonsoles San Román
and Violeta Barrios for their comments. Finally we
thank the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean
Cooperation for coordinating the project and the
Spanish Agency for International Development
Cooperation (AECID) for the financial support that
enabled us to carry out this study.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Reservoir, Ouezzane, Morocco. Photo © Gilles Jacquemin.
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every day of our lives we benefit from what nature
provides for us. The food we eat, the water we
drink, the clothes we wear, even our mobile phones
and computers have been manufactured with
natural resources extracted from species and
ecosystems that have played a major role in our
success as a civilization. In technologically
advanced societies this link to nature may seem
distant and probably irrelevant, but it is there
through complex supply chains, and we still
depend on it. In many parts of the world people rely
on the resources nature provides by using them
directly, selling them or working in activities that
exploit them. Even so, despite the innumerable
services that nature provides, for centuries we
have consumed these resources as if they were
infinite, destroying habitats, putting thousands of
species at risk and causing the extinction of many
others.
Freshwater ecosystems contain a remarkable
proportion of the world’s biodiversity: they hold
9.5% of all known species, including a third of all
vertebrates, even though they occupy less than 1%
of the earth’s surface. Despite the significance of
freshwater biodiversity, it is one of the most
threatened resources on earth. Nevertheless,
people benefit from freshwater ecosystems all over
the world. They use the water and plants, they
gather fish, molluscs and crabs, they cultivate
crops in their floodplains, or they use them for
recreational activities. There is unanimous
agreement in the scientific and conservation
community that there is a need not only to protect
freshwater ecosystems and their associated
services, but to guarantee that people in barren
rural areas have access to these resources in
order to ensure their health and livelihoods without
compromising the integrity of these supporting
ecosystems. This project aims to assess the socioeconomic value of freshwater species across the
northern African region within the context of the
threats to those species as previously determined
and documented by the IUCN Red List of
Threatened SpeciesTM.
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Northern Africa is a place where the balance
between the allocation of freshwater for human
consumption and the protection of freshwater
biodiversity is complex and at risk. Water resources
in the region are already under great stress from
the pressures exerted by a growing population,
such as the increased demand for drinking water
and water for agriculture. Water itself, however, is
only one of many services that freshwater
ecosystems provide. Freshwater ecosystems in
northern Africa, like others throughout the world,
also support species that are of direct socioeconomic importance to local communities,
providing products such as food, construction and
craft materials, and medicines. However,
freshwater species in northern Africa also face
some of the highest levels of threat in continental
Africa, with 28% of all fishes, molluscs, crabs,
dragonflies and damselflies, and aquatic plants
threatened with extinction.
IUCN has recognized the importance of integrating
information on species conservation status with the
socio-economic benefits they provide. The aim
here is to link IUCN Red List data on the extinction
risk for 877 species across northern Africa with
information on these freshwater species’ socioeconomic value, and to evaluate levels of
dependence on wetland services in conjunction
with the known threats faced by the species
underpinning these services. The results of this
project have enabled us to identify species of high
socio-economic importance and the threats to their
long-term survival and sustainable use. Actions
needed to ensure the future sustainable use of
these resources are discussed. Such an integrated
approach aims to greatly strengthen the body of
evidence in support of the case for conserving
wetland biodiversity. Nonetheless, species and
ecosystems should not be protected just because
they are useful to humans, but because
biodiversity sustains all life on earth, including
humankind.
The information presented here was collated
through a combination of literature survey and
email correspondence alone. It was outside the
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
scope of the project to draw directly upon the
wealth of knowledge of individuals, such as would
be possible through workshops. Therefore, when
similar studies are attempted in future, we
thoroughly recommend that regional workshops
should be held to better access the wealth of
additional information that could not be retrieved in
this study.
GENERAL OUTCOMES
• Almost one-third (31.26%) of all the species
included in this study provide direct socioeconomic benefits to people in the northern
African region.
• One in four (24.75%) of the utilized species are
already at risk of extinction within the northern
African region.
FRESHWATER FISHES
• Of the 128 freshwater fishes included in this
study, at least 59 (46.09%) are of socio-economic
value and utilized in northern Africa, and 99
(77.34%) are utilized in continental Africa.
Twenty-two species of fish previously valued in
fisheries are already Regionally Extinct.
• More than one-third (35.59%) of the 59 utilized
freshwater fish species in northern Africa are
threatened with regional extinction, including one
endemic species, which is hence also globally
threatened. The main threats are habitat loss and
degradation due to human activities, which affect
more than 60% of freshwater fish species.
• The most frequent uses of freshwater fish are for
food (through inland fisheries or aquaculture), the
ornamental fish trade and game fishing.
• At least 378,000 people in Egypt depend directly
on activities related to the harvesting and/or
farming of freshwater fishes, an activity that
generated around USD 355.7 million in 2009.
• In the Maghreb countries, inland fisheries and
aquaculture operate at a smaller scale than in
Egypt but still provide an important input to the
livelihoods of many thousands of people. Here,
there are few freshwater fish species so there will
potentially be fewer harvesting options if the
species that are used are lost. A few species,
such as the European Eel (Critically
Endangered), are particularly important.
• Fish families with the largest numbers of utilized
species are the Cichlidae (Cichlids), Cyprinidae
(Barbs and Barbels) and Mochokidae
(Catfishes).
Large Tilapia cages near Alexandria, Egypt. Photo © Graeme Macfadyen.
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AQUATIC PLANTS
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Over a quarter (27.61%) of the freshwater plant
• Given the important role that aquatic plants and
species native to northern Africa are used directly
freshwater fish play in the lives of people in
by people in the region, and 70% of these
northern Africa, the protection and sustainable
species are collected from the wild.
use of these resources must be taken into
• One in five (20.28%) of the 143 aquatic plant
species used in northern Africa are threatened
with regional extinction. The Rif mountain range
and Mediterranean coast of Morocco, the area
from the Kroumiria region in Algeria to the
Sejenane region in Tunisia, and the Nile Delta
area hold large numbers of threatened plants of
socio-economic value.
• The five main uses of plants are: for medicines,
as food for people, as ornamentals, for animal
feed, and in the production of handicrafts and
construction materials.
• Plant families with the highest numbers of utilized
species are the Cyperaceae (Sedges) and
Poaceae (Grasses), and those providing the
highest socio-economic value in terms of the
numbers of people involved and income
generated are the Poaceae (Grasses),
Juncaceae (Rushes), Lamiaceae (Mints) and
Typhaceae (Bulrushes).
• Of the plants included in this study, 66% are Crop
account in development plans through
environmental impact assessments and
integrated catchment management approaches.
• Local communities whose livelihoods depend on
these resources should be encouraged and
empowered to participate in conservation
planning, and to develop or participate in
sustainable harvesting and/or farming
programmes and ecotourism.
• Priority areas for conservation identified through
this project are those that hold a high proportion
of threatened species of socio-economic value.
These include the Lower Nile and Nile Delta, the
Rif, Middle Atlas and High Atlas mountain ranges
in Morocco, and the coastal mountain ranges of
Algeria and Tunisia.
• Species identified as both under threat and of
high socio-economic value should be prioritized
for conservation initiatives aimed at minimizing or
mitigating impacts on their habitats through
integrated management initiatives at catchment
and/or sub-catchment scale.
Wild Relatives (CWR); they are of clear value to
people in that they provide the genetic base upon
which many commercial crops depend.
• Further studies are required to complete an
overall economic assessment of the socioeconomic value of aquatic plants in northern
Africa.
Sparganium erectum is listed as Near Threatened in the
northern Africa region. Photo © M. Menand.
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INTRODUCTION
1
INTRODUCTION
Diego Juffe-Bignoli1
1.1. Freshwater ecosystems: conservation status and socio-economic value
1.2. Situation analysis for the northern African region
1.3. Objectives of the study
River system in Morocco. Photo © Jean-Pierre Boudot.
1
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
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1.1. FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS:
CONSERVATION STATUS AND
SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE
Freshwater ecosystems contain a remarkable
proportion of the world’s biodiversity: they hold
9.5% of all known species, including a third of all
vertebrates (Strayer & Dudgeon, 2010), even
though they occupy less than 1% of the earth’s
surface. Despite the significance of freshwater
biodiversity, it is one of the most threatened
resources on earth (Dudgeon, 2010; Vörösmarty,
et al., 2010). Based on those species groups that
have been globally assessed, the IUCN Red List of
Threatened SpeciesTM reveals that a high
proportion of freshwater-dependent species are
either threatened or extinct (Thieme, et al., 2010)
including 35% of amphibians, 46% of freshwater
mammals and 38% of freshwater turtles. In
continental Africa, one in five freshwater species
(21%) is at risk of global extinction (Darwall, et al.,
2011).
It is widely accepted that freshwater ecosystems,
which include not only rivers, lakes, marshes and
fens but also extensive rice fields and large deltas,
provide a varied range of services to people, such
as food, clean water, flood control and recreation
opportunities, among many others (Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). Furthermore,
access to clean water and sanitation is considered
a fundamental human right by the United Nations
(UN) and yet a significant proportion of the world’s
population (884 million) does not have access to
improved sources of drinking water (WHO/UNICEF,
2010). This shortfall is predicted to become even
greater because as global population, and
therefore freshwater demand, rises the quantity
and quality of freshwater remains limited and
simply may not meet demand in the future.
Drinking water is not the only service provided by
freshwater ecosystems. The classical view of
services provided by wetlands is well known
among the conservation community (Figure 1.1)
but it has been historically ignored by governments
and decision makers, with the result that
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exploitation of wetland habitats has led to
irreversibly degraded conditions or conversion to
alternative uses. Nevertheless, people benefit from
freshwater ecosystems all over the world. They use
the water and plants, and they gather fish,
molluscs and crabs, to name just a few of the many
wetland products. These are provisioning services
and are the main focus of this report. Freshwater
ecosystems may also provide other, less obviously
quantifiable services such as climate regulation,
water purification and detoxification of wastes,
climate change mitigation and cultural services. For
example, the cultural and spiritual values of
wetlands are sometimes difficult to quantify but can
play an important role in local livelihoods,
especially in remote and pristine areas where
tourism might take place. People in the United
States are reported to spend USD 24–37 billion
each year on tourism activities related to
recreational fishing (Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment, 2005). Even if not tourism related,
non-quantifiable religious or spiritual values of
wetlands can be equally important, and this is not
restricted to developing countries. For example,
freshwater ecosystems in the Doñana National
Figure 1.1. Ecosystem services provided by freshwater
ecosystems (adapted from Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
2005).
INTRODUCTION
Park in Spain play a key role in the Pilgrimages of
the Virgen del Rocío. This is a centuries-old
religious and cultural event of regional significance
in Spain, which still involves hundreds of
thousands of people and usually becomes a major
media event each year (Papayannis, 2008).
southern Africa (SADC, 2008). The study covered
What is the role of species in the services that
freshwater ecosystems provide? In addition to the
evident provisioning services described above,
freshwater species underpin all other services as
ecosystem function depends upon the functional
characteristics of these species and their
distribution and abundance over space and time
(Hooper, et al., 2005). Balvanera et al. (2006)
aimed to quantify the effects of biodiversity on
ecosystem functioning by carrying out a metaanalysis of studies over a 50-year period (1954–
2004). They concluded that biodiversity had
positive effects on most of the ecosystem services
studied but they stress that further research is
necessary to confirm the nature of these
relationships. This is particularly true for freshwater
biodiversity where, even though the links between
biodiversity and ecosystem functioning seem
evident to scientists and practitioners, the way
these links function and the effects of biodiversity
loss on them is still unclear (Dudgeon, 2010).
Nonetheless, the understanding of these links is a
vital area of research for informing the sustainable
management of natural resources, and most
authors recommend taking a precautionary
approach in which the importance of biodiversity to
ecosystem service provision is assumed.
showed that the contribution of wetlands was
The social and economic benefits of freshwater
systems and their species are also well known and
there are many examples available in the literature.
Economic valuation of freshwater ecosystems has
been widely acknowledged as an essential step
towards well-informed planning and decision
making (De Groot, et al., 2006). A classic study is
the economic valuation of wetlands in the Zambezi
River basin (Turpie, et al., 1999), a vast and
diverse hydrological system covering more than
1.38 million km2 in eight countries and sustaining
the livelihoods of nearly 30 million people across
al. (2010) established that 56 million people are
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four large areas in the region (Barotse Floodplain,
Caprivi–Chobe Wetlands, Lower Shire Wetlands
and Zambezi Delta), and assessed the value of
wetland resources by focusing on many aspects of
the livelihoods of local communities. Results
essential to people’s livelihoods, as all the wetland
communities made use of fish, wild animals, palms,
grasses, reeds, papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and
food plants. Plant use, including the value added
through production of mats and baskets, had a
total economic value of between USD 436,000 and
2.8 million. Fish provided between 13 and 43% of
total income and in all areas this resource was
more important than cattle or crops in terms of total
and relative income. Inland fisheries are in fact an
important component of the livelihoods of hundreds
of thousands of people in Africa. Neiland and Béné
(2003) carried out a review of fisheries valuation in
the major river basins of West and Central Africa.
They revealed that the total potential annual
fisheries production for all the river basins in West
and Central Africa is 1.34 million tonnes, with a
potential annual value of USD 749 million and
employing around 227,000 fishers. The
contribution of freshwater ecosystems and species
to local livelihoods in Africa and northern Africa will
be explored in further chapters of this report.
Freshwater ecosystems are highly significant in
developing countries. Hundreds of thousands of
people depend on freshwater species and
ecosystems in rural and poor communities. Béné et
directly involved in inland small-scale fisheries in
the developing world, and that small-scale fisheries
are a vital source of nutrition and income for a
large part of the rural population living near
freshwater bodies in sub-Saharan Africa. This does
not include large-scale fisheries or the harvest of
other wetland resources such as water, plants,
crabs or molluscs, which are also important for
many thousands of people across Africa. Local
communities in Africa rely not just on natural
resources but also on wetland agriculture and, as
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
the population in Africa is predicted to grow,
pressures on these resources are very likely to
increase (Darwall, et al., 2011). As agricultural
development and direct resource use increase, the
capacity of wetlands to sustain the wide range of
ecosystem services they currently provide may be
compromised (Rebelo, et al., 2009).
It should not be ignored that in some cases the
unsustainable use of freshwater resources may be
implicated as a significant cause of species
extinction. Such over-exploitation is generally
associated with a number of more complex issues.
For example, the real cause of the decline of the
Critically Endangered European Eel, Anguilla
anguilla, endemic to the Mediterranean and
Europe, is not well understood. Threats to this
species include over-harvesting but in combination
with many other anthropogenic activities, such as
water over-abstraction, water pollution and dam
construction. These have simultaneously
degraded and destroyed the habitat, increased
species mortality levels, and rendered the Eel
unable to complete its life cycle. The story of this
species is dealt with in Chapter 3 (Case study 3.1:
European Eel).
Given the importance of freshwater ecosystems to
people and the high level of threat to the species
supporting these ecosystems, there is an urgent
need to protect them and their associated services,
and to guarantee that people in poor rural areas
have continued access to these resources to
ensure their health and livelihoods without
compromising the integrity of the ecosystem. This
is not an easy task. To achieve this goal the
conservation status of freshwater biodiversity
needs to be assessed, the ways in which these
freshwater systems provide their services needs to
be understood, the socio-economic value of
freshwater systems needs to be determined, and
finally resources need to be allocated in a
sustainable manner. Red List status has already
been assessed for 877 species across northern
Africa (García, et al., 2010). This project now aims
to integrate these assessments with newly collated
information on the socio-economic value of these
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freshwater species. We will subsequently be able
to evaluate levels of dependence upon wetland
services in conjunction with the known threats
faced by the species underpinning these services.
Actions needed to ensure the future sustainable
use of these resources can then be developed.
Such an integrated approach aims to greatly
strengthen the body of evidence for the importance
of conserving wetland biodiversity.
1.2. SITUATION ANALYSIS FOR THE
NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
The northern African region (NAR) is a place where
the balance between the allocation of freshwater
for human consumption and the protection of
freshwater biodiversity is complex and at risk.
Water resources in the region are already under
great stress from the pressures exerted by a
growing population, such as the increased demand
for drinking water and water for agriculture. As
pointed out above, drinking water itself is not the
only service that freshwater ecosystems provide
(see Figure 1.1). It is likely that freshwater
ecosystems in northern Africa, like others
throughout the world, also include species of socioeconomic importance to local communities and
national economies, providing food, construction
and craft materials, and medicines. Several studies
in the region already confirm this (e.g. Benessaiah,
1998; Khattabi, 1997; Khattabi, 2006).
The northern Africa Freshwater Biodiversity
Assessment (García, et al., 2010) was carried out
between 2007 and 2009 and involved several
workshops and thorough data compilation in order
to assess the conservation status and map the
distributions of freshwater species in the region.
The project assessed the conservation status of all
fishes, crabs, odonates (dragonflies and
damselflies) and molluscs and a selected number
of plants, making a total of 877 species. The
assessment was part of a larger six-year project
that aimed to assess the status of freshwater
biodiversity throughout continental Africa. This
involved dividing the continent into six regions and
INTRODUCTION
conducting similar assessments in each one. The
regional reports on western Africa (Smith, et al.,
2009), eastern Africa (Darwall, et al., 2005), central
Africa (Brooks, et al., 2011), southern Africa
(Darwall, et al., 2009) and northern Africa (García,
et al., 2010) are freely available online. The northeastern African assessment was completed but
has not been published in report form. The main
results of the five reports and of all the species
assessments are also available through the IUCN
Red List website (www.iucnredlist.org). A final
collation of all data from these regional
assessments resulted in the Pan Africa report
(Darwall, et al., 2011), which summarizes the
findings and assesses the conservation status of
all species at the level of continental Africa.
Overall, the Pan Africa biodiversity assessment
involved the work of more than 200 scientists and
Red List specialists, who assessed some 5,000
freshwater species.
Freshwater species in northern Africa are among
the most threatened in the world. The northern
Africa Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment
revealed that 28% of all species assessed are
threatened with extinction, 9% are Near
Threatened and 14% are Data Deficient. This
means that half of the freshwater species in the
NAR are either at risk of extinction (classified by
IUCN as Threatened species), are very close to
meeting the thresholds (Near Threatened species),
or there is not enough information available to
determine whether the species are at risk or not
(Data Deficient species). Several freshwater
ecoregions of northern Africa are of conservation
concern and were identified as priorities for
conservation by Thieme et al. (2005) (Figure 1.2).
Both the Permanent Maghreb region and the Nile
Delta were regarded as Critical (Table 1.1). The
main threats identified in the Permanent Maghreb
region, for example, were the sensitivity of
freshwater habitats to the effects of invasive
species, water over-abstraction, overgrazing,
tourism, urbanization and infrastructure
development, with overall water scarcity of primary
concern. In the Nile Delta, wetlands have lost more
than 50% of their original area in the past century
due to land reclamation for agriculture,
sedimentation and erosion.
Table 1.1 Freshwater ecoregions in northern Africa—some relevant figures
Freshwater ecoregion
Conservation status
Biological distinctiveness
Permanent Maghreb1
Critical
Globally outstanding
I
Nile Delta
Critical
Nationally important
IV
Vulnerable
Nationally important
V
Vulnerable
Bioregionally outstanding
V
Temporary Maghreb3
Relatively stable
Continentally outstanding
III
Dry Sahel
Relatively intact
Nationally important
V
Lower Nile
Red Sea Coastal
2
Source: Thieme, et al., 2005. The latest version of Freshwater Ecoregions is available in Abell, et al. (2008).
1
Recently divided into two ecoregions: Atlantic Northwest Africa and Mediterranean Northwest Africa.
Recently renamed Western Red Sea Drainages.
3
Recently renamed Sahara.
2
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Priority class
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 1.2. Freshwater ecoregions in northern Africa (from Abell, et al., 2008).
1.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
In recognition of the value of integrating information
on both the conservation status of species and
their socio-economic benefits, IUCN is now
collating information on their livelihood value in
conjunction with existing data on their extinction
risk held in the IUCN Red List. The extinction of
species of socio-economic importance is a double
loss: a loss of biological diversity and the loss of a
natural resource on which humankind depends. As
outlined above, freshwater species in northern
Africa are among the most threatened on the
continent and yet the importance of these species
to the livelihoods of thousands of people is not fully
understood. This project aims to fill in this
information gap through a process of data
compilation and expert consultation and the
subsequent integration of the findings with existing
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
information on species conservation status as held
in the IUCN Red List. This will enable us to
identify those species that are both threatened
and of high socio-economic importance. It will
also allow us to determine and report on the overall
socio-economic value of freshwater species
throughout the region.
The aim of this study is therefore to assess the
socio-economic value of all the freshwater fish and
plant species previously assessed for the northern
Africa Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment and to
associate this value with their regional and global
conservation status.
METHODOLOGY
2
METHODOLOGY
Diego Juffe-Bignoli1
2.1. Assessment of the conservation status of northern African freshwater species
2.2. Data compilation
2.3. Geographical scope
2.4. Spatial analysis
2.5. Use and livelihood value
The Siwa Oasis in Egypt. Photo © K evin Smith
1
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
In this section we describe how data on the use of
and trade in species were compiled, the
geographical scope of the project, and methods for
the assessment of socio-economic value. Further
information on the species selection criteria and
species assessment mapping methodologies is
available in García, et al. (2010).
Levels (IUCN, 2003). Species were listed within one
of the 11 regional categories, ranging from species
that are not at immediate risk of extinction, classed
as Least Concern, to species that are Regionally or
Globally Extinct (EX) (Figure 2.1).
The raised index markRG is used to indicate
regional categories of threat. For example, the
species Alestes dentex VURG is globally listed as
2.1. ASSESSMENT OF THE
CONSERVATION STATUS OF NORTHERN
AFRICAN FRESHWATER SPECIES
The conservation status of each species was
assessed during the northern Africa Freshwater
Biodiversity Assessment (García, et al., 2010). The
assessments were carried out according to the 2001
IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1
(IUCN, 2001) and followed the Guidelines for
Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional
Least Concern (LC) but is considered Vulnerable
across its range in northern Africa. For all
regionally endemic species, such as the Critically
Endangered Aphanius saourensis, regional and
global conservation status are the same.
2.2. DATA COMPILATION
During the northern Africa Freshwater Biodiversity
Assessment, in addition to the information needed to
Figure 2.1. IUCN Red List Categories at the regional level (IUCN, 2003).
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
METHODOLOGY
assess species extinction risk (distribution,
population and population trends, habitats, threats,
etc.), data on the utilization of species across the
region were also compiled. This was not done
systematically as the primary aim of the workshops
was to assess the conservation status of the species.
Nevertheless, the information that was collected is
valuable and provides an excellent starting point for
the current study on the socio-economic importance
of freshwater species in the region.
First, the list of assessed species was revised to
update any taxonomic changes and to include
information on any new species. Freshwater fish
and aquatic plant definitions were as given by
García, et al. (2010). Information on the use and
economic value of these species was then
compiled from that obtained through the five
regional assessments and the final Pan Africa
assessment, all carried out between 2005 and
2010. In a third step, new data were gathered
through desk-based literature research and
consultation of regional experts via email. More
than 40 experts on northern African freshwater
plants and fishes and conservation professionals
involved in the utilization of species were invited
via email to contribute to the project by supplying
published and in-press studies, unpublished
surveys and local knowledge. The IUCN–SSC
Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and the IUCN–
SSC Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group were
contacted to provide relevant information from their
own databases.
For each of these species information was
gathered, where possible, on:
• USE: types of use, where the species is used
and by whom, and whether it is harvested from
the wild and/or cultivated;
• VALUE: whether the species is valued as a
subsistence resource and/or is traded at local,
national and/or international levels; information
on the monetary value of species was also
collected where available;
• LIVELIHOOD IMPORTANCE: the importance of
the species to the livelihoods of local
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
communities, including, for example, the
numbers and identity of people depending on it;
• LEVEL OF THREAT: the existing IUCN Red List
status of the species.
Information on the first three categories above was
combined with existing data on the level of threat to
each species. It was then possible to determine the
number of species considered to be of socioeconomic value, the places where they are used,
the spatial relationships between used species,
and their conservation status, with a focus on those
species identified as being both threatened and of
high socio-economic importance. Finally, these
results revealed the overall importance of
freshwater ecosystems to the livelihoods of
northern African people.
Data were collected in a custom-designed Access
database with the aim of later migrating these data
into the Species Information Service database
(SIS), which is used to manage the information
contained in the IUCN Red List, thus bringing
together information on species’ conservation
status and socio-economic value. The project
database holds information on the utilization, trade
and livelihood importance of any species which has
also had its conservation status assessed for the
IUCN Red List. This information will be combined
with that on species conservation status within SIS.
Information within SIS is made freely and widely
available to conservation decision makers,
scientists and educators through the IUCN Red List
website.
The spatial data used in this project were extracted
from the geodatabase generated during the
northern Africa Freshwater Biodiversity
Assessment (García, et al., 2010) and the aquatic
plants of the Mediterranean basin regional
biodiversity assessment (IUCN, 2010).
2.3. GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE
The countries included in this study are those that
lie within the geographical area covered by the
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 2.2. Northern Africa assessment area (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit).
northern Africa Freshwater Biodiversity
Assessment (García, et al., 2010), focusing mainly
on Algeria, Egypt (downstream of the Aswan Dam),
Libya, Morocco and Tunisia (Figure 2.2). The area
covered by Lake Nasser within Egypt and
upstream of the Aswan dam has been excluded in
order to be consistent with the geographical range
over which these species were originally assessed.
However, given the large amount of available data
on fisheries within this immense reservoir, we
occasionally refer to information for this area.
Some species not known to be used in northern
Africa may in fact be used in other African
countries. Where this is the case, this information
is also recorded and the species is recognized to
be of potential socio-economic value within the
project region. This is important as a species may:
i) be used in northern Africa but its use has not
been recorded, and/or ii) have potential value for
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
future use. Consequently, the use of sub-Saharan
species is also mentioned in the results, where
such information is available.
2.4. SPATIAL ANALYSIS
Spatial analysis was carried out using ArcGiS
software developed by ESRI. The minimum
planning units used for mapping and analysing
freshwater species distributions and use were
modified HYDRO1K river catchments (Figure 2.3).
The HYDRO1K Elevation Derivative Database at
the highest level of resolution (Level 6) was
developed by the United States Geological
Survey’s EROS Center. This dataset aims to
provide detailed global topographic information on
streams, rivers and drainage basins for use in
continental- and regional-scale modelling and
analyses (USGS EROS, 2011). HYDRO1K
METHODOLOGY
Figure 2.3. HYDRO1K catchments in the northern African region.
catchments were chosen as it is generally
species. The picture is much broader than that.
accepted that the river/lake basin or catchment is
Barbier (1993) set out a methodological framework
the most appropriate management unit for inland
proposing a number of different methods for
waters. It is recognized that a species may be not
valuing wetland benefits, which then inspired other
utilized in all parts of its river sub-catchment, but
models all based on the same basic concepts that
until finer-scale spatial detail becomes available
can also be applied to species. Figure 2.4 shows a
each species is assumed to be used throughout its
schematic of the total economic value of wetlands,
distribution range. For more information about the
including information on how the various
methodology followed for mapping species
component values relate to ecosystem services.
distributions, see García et al. (2010).
Only the direct use value of species was recorded
for this report. This is recognized to represent only
2.5. USE AND LIVELIHOOD VALUE
a small, more readily quantified component of the
When should a species be considered of socio-
overall ecosystem services provided by wetlands
economic value? The most obvious answer would
(see Figure 2.4). Nonetheless, information on
be: when it is exploited for some kind of economic,
direct use values of species will help to
social or cultural activity that benefits people in any
demonstrate the great importance of wetland
aspect of their daily lives. However, this only takes
species to many people dependent on them. A
account of the direct use and current value of the
species was initially considered to have direct
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 2.4. Total economic value of wetlands and ecosystem services involved (adapted from De Groot, et al., 2006).
socio-economic value if the IUCN Red Listing
process had recorded it as being used in some
way. This initial information set was then further
developed and expanded by means of the
literature search and expert consultation conducted
under this project. A species is therefore
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
considered to be of socio-economic value when it
has been reported as being utilized in some way.
This can be any kind of direct use, including as
medicine, food, animal feed, handicraft or
construction material, or for extraction of chemicals
for industries, ornamental use, etc.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
3
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC
VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Diego Juffe-Bignoli1, Mohamed Reda Fishar2 and Magdy Saleh3
3.1. Conservation status of freshwater fish species
3.2. Socio-economic value
3.2.1. Inland fisheries
3.2.2. Ornamental fish
3.2.3. Aquaculture
3.3. The importance of freshwater fishes to livelihoods in northern Africa
3.3.1. Egypt
3.3.2. Maghreb countries
3.3.3. Conclusion
3.4. Patterns of distribution
3.5. Threats to species of socio-economic value
3.6. Ten conclusions and recommendations
Case study 3.1: The European Eel: a northern African perspective, by D. Juffe-Bignoli
Case study 3.2: The Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Egypt, by M. Saleh
European Eel in Venice Fish Market, November 2010. Photo © Mats Forslund, WWF-SE.
1
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), 101 Kasr El-Aini St., Cairo, Egypt.
3
Fisheries and Aquaculture Independent Consultant, Cairo, Egypt.
2
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
In the following sections the socio-economic value
Africa Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment (see
of freshwater fish in the northern African region
Section 1.2 for further details of this project). All
(NAR) will be assessed. First, the conservation
species were assessed to determine their regional
status of freshwater fish in the region is outlined
risk of extinction within northern Africa except for
(Section 3.1). Then, the socio-economic
(Section 3.2). Section 3.3 examines the importance
Oreochromis niloticus, the Nile Tilapia, assessed
as Least Concern (LC) in continental Africa. One
species, Arius lasciatus, was excluded from the
analysis as it is not considered to be a freshwater
species. With the exception of the European Eel
(Anguilla anguilla) all the species included in this
study are endemic to continental Africa.
of freshwater fishes in people’s livelihoods.
Threatened species account for 27.6% of all
Patterns of distribution of utilized and threatened
species assessed at a regional level and 31.3% of
species and the threats to those species are
all freshwater fishes endemic to northern Africa (for
described in Section 3.4. Section 3.5 deals with
the latter group of species the assessment
threats to species of socio-economic value. Lastly,
represents their global status) (Table 3.1). This
some final conclusions are presented (Section 3.6).
level of threat is considered high as it is above the
importance of freshwater fishes in the area is
analysed, showing which species are used, how
are they used and where they are collected, and
focusing on the most common uses and the most
important freshwater fish species and families
proportion of threatened fish listed for continental
Africa at both regional (21.8%) and global (22%)
3.1. CONSERVATION STATUS OF
FRESHWATER FISH SPECIES
scales (Darwall, et al., 2011). It is the highest level
in all the regional assessments, the next highest
A total of 128 freshwater fish species and
threat levels being recorded in eastern Africa,
subspecies were included in this study, accounting
where 26.7% of the regionally assessed species
for all those known to occur in northern Africa at
and 27.7% of the endemics are threatened with
the time of completion of the original northern
extinction (Darwall, et al., 2005).
Table 3.1 Number of freshwater fish in each regional Red List Category in the northern African region
IUCN Red List Category
All Fishes
%
Endemics
%
Extinct (EX)
1
0.8%
1
3.1%
Regionally Extinct (RE)
23
18.1%
0
0%
Critically Endangered (CR)
1
0.8%
1
3.1%
Endangered (EN)
8
6.3%
2
6.3%
Vulnerable (VU)
26
20.5%
7
21.9%
Near Threatened (NT)
2
1.6%
2
6.3%
Least Concern (LC)
26
20.3%
11
34.4%
Data Deficient (DD)
41
31.5%
8
25.0%
100%
32
100%
Total number assessed
127
1
1
Threatened
categories
This table does not include Oreochromis niloticus, the Nile Tilapia, as it has not been assessed at a regional level in
northern Africa. This species has been listed as Least Concern in continental Africa. However, given the key socioeconomic value of this species, it is included in this study.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
A total of 23 freshwater fish species were listed as
Regionally Extinct (RE), one as Extinct (EX) and 41
as Data Deficient (DD), together accounting for
51.1% of all species assessed. Thus half of the
species native to northern Africa are either already
extinct in the region or there are insufficient data to
assess their current risk of extinction. In view of
these figures, freshwater fish in northern Africa are
clearly not only among the most threatened on the
African continent but have already suffered
important losses in diversity. Threats to species of
socio-economic value are discussed in Section 3.5.
3.2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE
Ninety-nine species (77.3%) of freshwater fish
native to the NAR are of socio-economic value to
people across continental Africa, according to the
definition in Section 2.5. Of these, 59 species are
known to be used in the NAR, which represents
46% of the freshwater fish included in this study.
The difference between the number of species
used throughout Africa and the number used in
northern Africa is accounted for by: i) the fact that
22 of the 23 Regionally Extinct species, which are
therefore no longer available for harvesting within
the NAR, are still harvested in sub-Saharan Africa,
and ii) the selective use of some species in subSaharan Africa but not in northern Africa. The study
also revealed that 11 (25%) of northern African
endemic fishes are used by people in the region.
The two main end uses of freshwater fish are for
food and for the ornamental fish trade (Figure 3.1).
Aquaculture and game fishing are the third and
fourth most frequently recorded uses. Other
reported uses are as fishing bait, for research and
as ornamental species in public aquaria or ponds.
The source of the fish (captured in the wild or bred
in captivity) was recorded for each of four end use
categories (Figure 3.2). To correctly interpret the
data in Figures 3.1 and 3.2, it must be understood
that a single species may be sourced both from the
wild and from captive breeding and also used for
several purposes. For example, many fishes from
the Cichlidae family are both caught in the wild and
raised in fish farms. Species such as Oreochromis
niloticus (LC), Oreochromis aureus (LCRG) or
Tilapia zillii (LCRG) are captured by local fishermen
in the Nile River and certain lakes in northern
Egypt and sold to the markets, and they are also
raised in fish farms to be sold for food. Other
species such as Barbus callensis may be caught
Figure 3.1. Number of species used for each recorded purpose (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit). Note that a single species
might have several recorded uses.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 3.2. Origin of the resource for four major end uses of fish (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit). Note that a single
species might be sourced from the wild or from captive breeding and also used for several purposes.
by local fishermen in Tunisia and Algeria and are
LCRG) and the African Bonytongue (Heterotis
also raised in captivity for the international
niloticus RERG).
aquarium trade. The European Eel (Anguilla
anguilla ENRG) is a threatened species that is of
high commercial value. Both the elvers (juvenile
eels) and adults are collected by local fishermen.
As the captive breeding of Eels is still in its early
stages (PRO-EEL, 2011), the industry relies on the
harvest of elvers, which are either processed for
food (considered a delicacy) or raised in captivity to
be sold as adults for food (see Case study 3.1).
This study also determined if a species is used
primarily for subsistence, and whether it is traded
locally, or is of national or international commercial
value. A species may be valued locally and found
in local markets but also traded internationally for
the aquarium trade. Micralestes acutidens (RERG),
for example, is found in the international aquarium
trade and is also used in the Nile Basin as bait to
catch the Tiger Fish (Hydrocynus vittatus DDRG).
Most freshwater fish, in terms of the number of
Results show that most utilized species have
species used for food (consumed directly by local
subsistence and local economic value (90%
people and/or sold in the markets) are sourced
from the wild. It is important to stress that, except
in poor and remote areas of Algeria, Morocco and
Tunisia, fish are normally harvested by professional
fishermen and traded in local or national markets.
The aim of these fisheries is to obtain money from
and 86% respectively) and that 71% of species
that are used are traded at a national level while
one quarter (25%) are traded internationally, the
latter being mostly ornamental species (see
Section 2.2.2).
a harvested crop but part of the catch may be
Nearly all fish families have at least one species
directly consumed in fishermen’s households.
that is used in the region. Five families have a
Species that are grown for food in fish farms
higher number of utilized species and are
(aquaculture), although fewer in number, are of
considered of high socio-economic value (Figure
high socio-economic value as will be discussed in
3.3). These are Cyprinidae (Cyprinids), Cichlidae
Section 3.2.3—these include several species of
(Cichlids), Mochokidae (Catfishes), Mormyridae
Oreochromis and Catfish (e.g. Clarias gariepinus
and Alestidae (Tetras).
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Cyprinidae is the family with the highest number of
Least Concern. It is commonly present in
species utilized in the NAR. It also comprises the
reservoirs, small lakes and rivers in these
greatest number of species. Of the 34 species of
countries, where, although not a primary source of
Cyprinids known in northern Africa, at least 16 are
food, it represents one of several food options for
used, including four species endemic to the
people in rural communities.
Maghreb countries (Barbus callensis LCRG, Barbus
Cichlidae is probably the most important family
figuiguensis LCRG, Barbus moulouyensis LCRG and
from a socio-economic point of view. It includes
Barbus nasus NTRG). These may not be highly
globally important species used as a source of
productive species but can be an important source
food, for the ornamental trade or for aquaculture
of protein for people in remote rural areas where
production. There are only two species for which a
livelihood strategies are based on several sources
use has not been recorded (Tilapia ismailiaensis
of food, of which these fish are one. One example
and Oreochromis ismailiaensis); both are listed as
is the Algerian Barb (Barbus callensis), which is
Data Deficient mainly due to taxonomic
endemic to the NAR and has been assessed as
uncertainties and they possibly represent the same
Figure 3.3. Number of species used in each freshwater fish family (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit).
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
species. Most species in this family have two or
three uses. For example, Astatotilapia bloyeti
VURG, Hemichromis bimaculatus ENRG, Tilapia
guineensis DDRG and Sarotherodon melanotheron
melanotheron DDRG are all used as a source of
food, for the aquarium trade and for aquaculture.
The family includes the group known as Tilapias of
which the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus),
native to the Nile Basin, is a highly valuable
species. It is extensively farmed in Egypt and
throughout the world, but it is also considered an
important food source in subsistence fisheries in
Africa (See Case study 3.2).
those in the other countries included in this study:
Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. Egypt
contains a significant portion of one of the largest
river basins in the world: the Nile, and it is here
where inland fisheries are more developed and
where many fishermen live on the money obtained
from selling their catch or working for fishing
companies. Egypt is ranked as the fourth largest
inland fishery producer in Africa and the 11th in
the world in 2008 (FAO, 2010). While inland
fisheries do exist in the other countries, they are on
a much smaller scale. For example, the inland
freshwater fish catch in Egypt was 237,500 tonnes
in 2009, while only 6,020 tonnes were landed in
Morocco and 1,191 tonnes in Tunisia in the same
year (FAO, 2009). However, FAO data do not
account for artisanal and subsistence inland
fisheries, which are generally not recorded, so
these figures should be taken with caution. More
detail on the fisheries and people involved in this
activity is given in Section 3.3.
3.2.1. Inland fisheries
Globally the most important continents for inland
capture fisheries in terms of tonnage are Asia, with
66.4% of all capture fisheries production, and
Africa with 24.5% (FAO, 2010). Within northern
Africa, in terms of quantity, there is an important
distinction between inland fisheries in Egypt and
Table 3.2 Prices of selected fish species
Fish species/group
EGP wholesale EGP Retail USD wholesale
USD retail
Eel (Anguilla)
39.36
62
6.56
10.3
African Catfish (Clarias spp.)
6.78
7.25
1.13
1.2
Labeo spp.
6.4
7.25
1.1
1.2
15.65
32
2.6
5.3
15.15
18
2.25
3
8.30
11
1.43
1.83
Alestes spp.
3
3.5
0.5
0.6
Barbus spp.
5.6
7
0.93
1.16
6.07–9.99
7.5–12
1–1.7
1.25–2
Nile Perch (Lates niloticus)
Bayad (Bagrus bajad and B. docmak)
2
Synodontis spp. (mainly S. schall )
1
Tilapias (Oreochromis spp.,
Sarotherodon spp. and Tilapia spp.)
Extracted from the table of fish prices at Cairo (El Abour) wholesale market, as shown in the Arabic edition of the GAFRD
statistical year book for 2009 (published July 2010). Exchange rate: Egyptian Pound (EGP) 1 = USD 0.166.
1
Price varies with size (three size classes: 1–5 fish/kg, 6–10 fish/kg and 11–15 fish/kg).
2
As listed in GAFRD 2010.
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THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Table 3.2 shows market prices for some freshwater
fish in Egypt. Several species listed as regionally
threatened are found and sold in local markets.
The most highly priced species is the European Eel
Anguilla anguilla (CR and ENRG), which is also
economically important in other NAR countries. In
a recent study of the trade in European Eels,
carried out by TRAFFIC, Norway, Tunisia, Morocco
and Algeria were identified as the top non-EU
exporters of live Eels (Crook, 2010). The socioeconomic importance of the European Eel in the
NAR is presented in more detail in Case study 3.1.
Lates niloticus, Tilapia species and Synodontis
clarias (a catfish known as Shilane in northern
Africa) are also among the most valued fishes. The
last is listed as VURG due to pollution and river flow
alteration caused by dam construction in the lower
Nile. Alestes dentex has been globally assessed in
continental Africa as Least Concern; however, it is
at risk of extinction in northern Africa (VURG) due to
its restricted range in the area following the
construction of the Aswan Dam, which has also
been identified as the one of the reasons for the
regional extinction of a number of other fish
species that used to be found downstream of the
dam (see Table 3.7).
3.2.2. Ornamental fish
Globally, more than 4,000 species of ornamental
freshwater fish are traded internationally each year
(Whittington & Chong, 2007). There are around
882 ornamental freshwater fish species native to
Africa, 21.5% of which are threatened with
extinction (Gricar and UNEP–WCMC, 2011). Half
of these species belong to the family Cichlidae and
19% to the family Nothobranchiidae (Killifishes).
Capture and sale of ornamental fish is not a welldeveloped activity in Africa, at least not at the scale
seen in other parts of the world such as Asia, which
is the major exporter of ornamental freshwater fish.
However, some of the most valuable traded fish
species are African, with an average wholesale
value of up to USD 2.42 per fish (Brummet,
2005a). According to FAO (2011), exports of
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
ornamental fish from Africa amounted to 242
tonnes in 2008, with a value of USD 3,368,000.
FAO data records document the trade in freshwater
ornamental fish for some countries in northern
Africa. For example, in 2008, five tonnes of
ornamental fish were exported from Egypt and half
a tonne from Tunisia—there are no recorded
exports from other NAR countries (FAO, 2011).
These data should be taken with caution as it has
not been possible to test the accuracy of the
quantities or whether these are all indeed
freshwater fishes, and whether they are taken from
the wild or are bred in captivity. As Figure 3.2
shows, most ornamental fish recorded are thought
to be collected from the wild, although a small
proportion might be captive bred. In contrast,
globally, only 9–10% of freshwater ornamental fish
are taken from the wild (Brummet, 2005b).
Thirty-two species were identified as being used as
ornamental species, accounting for one third of all
utilized species. Of these, three species are used for
display in large public aquaria and are not known to
be traded internationally as ornamentals. In this
study only eight species were confirmed to be bred
in captivity and an unknown origin was recorded for
three species. Hemichromis bimaculatus, known as
the Jewelfish, is a common aquarium species of
high economic value. It is considered rare in
northern Africa, where it is assessed as Endangered
due to habitat loss and degradation caused by water
pollution, the construction of dams and water overabstraction. It is, however, regarded as Least
Concern in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is more
widespread. Aphanius saourensis is a Critically
Endangered species endemic to Algeria that is also
used for aquaria. It has been confirmed that both
species (Hemichromis bimaculatus and Aphanius
saourensis) are captive bred. In contrast,
Auchenoglanis biscutatus, the Yellow Giraffe
Catfish, is a threatened species that is collected
from the wild. It is listed as Vulnerable in northern
Africa, where it is affected by the same threats as
the other two species, but no threats from overharvesting for the aquarium trade have been
reported.
23
24
ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Eight of the 32 ornamental species in northern
aquaculture producer in Africa and the 11th in the
Africa have been assessed as regionally
world, and produces 99% of the freshwater fish
threatened. None of these has been identified as
from aquaculture in the NAR (Table 3.3). The
threatened or potentially threatened by the
Egyptian General Authority for Fisheries Resources
ornamental fish trade in the region, as explained
Development (GAFRD) reported 693,815 tonnes of
above. The picture is very different for sub-Saharan
total aquaculture production in 2008 and 705,490
Africa, however, where 23.7% of the threatened
tonnes in 2009. Freshwater fishes comprised
and Near Threatened species are affected by the
69.5% and 68.5% of all aquaculture production in
aquarium trade and nearly 30% are threatened by
Egypt in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Although
fishing activities such as subsistence and large-
freshwater fish farming is not considered to be a
scale fishing (Gricar and UNEP–WCMC, 2011).
major activity in other countries of northern Africa,
The ornamental fish trade in northern Africa needs
FAO data from 2009 reveal that it had increased in
further study in order to quantify its scale and to
the previous five years in Morocco, Algeria and
identify the source of all species traded
Tunisia, with a slight decrease in 2009 (Table 3.3).
internationally for use in aquaria. Ornamental fish
FAO data, however, include introduced species
can be an excellent option within livelihood
that are also used for aquaculture production; an
strategies in Africa if based on principles of
important example is the Common Carp (Cyprinus
sustainable harvesting. Brummet (2005b)
carpio).
describes a successful example of a locally
The most important aquaculture species in
managed ornamental fishery in the Brazilian state
northern Africa, and probably one of the most
of Amazonas. Here, during the years 2000 and
important in the world, is Oreochromis niloticus
2001, 30–50 million ornamental fishes were traded
(LC), the Nile Tilapia. Its socio-economic
and local communities earned up to USD 250,000
significance in Egypt is discussed in some detail in
per year, 60% of the total income for the region
Case study 3.2.
(Chao & Prang, 2002).
Of the 11 species native to northern Africa known
to be used for aquaculture six are Cichlids (Table
3.2.3. Aquaculture
3.4). One species (Heterotis niloticus) has been
Aquaculture production of freshwater species
listed as RE in northern Africa. It is important to
accounts for 59.9% of world aquaculture by
stress that this means this species is extinct in the
quantity and 56.0% by value (FAO, 2010). In
wild throughout its original range within the project
northern Africa aquaculture is a key economic
area, i.e. downstream from Lake Nasser. Grey
activity in Egypt. Indeed, Egypt is the largest
Mullet (Mugil cephalus LC) and Thin-lipped Grey
Table 3.3 Aquaculture production (tonnes) of freshwater fish in the NAR from 2005 to 2009
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
% of total
production
in 2009
Egypt
370,983
362,177
380,835
473,348
482,310
99,17%
Algeria
353
263
354
2,718
2,091
0.43%
Morocco
737
820
1,145
1,085
1,105
0.23%
Tunisia
710
725
705
752
816
0.17%
Libya
10
10
10
10
10
<0.1%
Total
372,793
363,995
383,049
477,913
486,332
100%
Country
Source: FAO, 2009
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Mullet (Liza ramada LC) are also important native
aquaculture species, but they were not included in
this study as they have not yet had their extinction
risk assessed at the regional level.
Table 3.4 Farmed freshwater fishes in northern
Africa and their Regional Red List Categories
Red List
Regional
Category
Family
Species
ARAPAIMIDAE
Heterotis niloticus
RE
CICHLIDAE
Hemichromis fasciatus
DD
CICHLIDAE
Oreochromis aureus
LC
CICHLIDAE
Oreochromis niloticus
LC
CICHLIDAE
Sarotherodon melanotheron
melanotheron
LC
CICHLIDAE
Tilapia guineensis
DD
CICHLIDAE
Tilapia zillii
LC
CLARIIDAE
Clarias gariepinus
LC
CLARIIDAE
Heterobranchus longifilis
CLAROTEIDAE Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus
LATIDAE
Lates niloticus
VU
DD
DD
3.3. THE IMPORTANCE OF FRESHWATER
FISHES TO LIVELIHOODS IN NORTHERN
AFRICA
The diverse uses of freshwater fishes, the extent of
trade and the economic importance of these uses
have been presented above. This part of the study
aims to answer the following questions: i) how
important are these freshwater fishes in the
livelihoods of local communities, and ii) what is the
level of reliance on these resources?
Across the developing world inland fisheries deliver
nutritional security and income to hundreds of
millions of people. Over 60 million people in
developing countries are known to work in smallscale inland fisheries, an activity than can generate
high monetary value for national economies
(UNEP, 2010). For example, annual production in
the Mekong river basin can amount to 2.1 million
tonnes of freshwater fish, worth USD 2.1–3.8
billion, and it is the main source of income for 22
million people in Cambodia and Lao PDR (UNEP,
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Fishing for Tilapia in the Northern Delta Lakes of Egypt. Photo
© Magdy Saleh.
2010). In Africa the picture is similar. There are
several African countries, such as Ghana, Sierra
Leone, Gambia and Equatorial Guinea, where fish
protein accounts for at least 50% of all animal
protein consumed (FAO, 2008). In Sierra Leone for
example, fish can contribute up to 75.7% of total
animal protein consumption; in the Democratic
Republic of Congo the figure is 42% and in Uganda
34% (Kawarazuka, 2010). In the Great Lakes of
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, inland fisheries
employ 226,000 people full time, 19,000 of whom
are women (FAO & WFC, 2008). It is a diversified
activity that can take complex forms within the
livelihoods of rural communities, especially in the
case of small-scale fisheries. Much of the catch
from inland fisheries is unrecorded and in some
countries information is lacking partly because of
the diffuse nature of individual fisheries, but also
because a proportion of the catch goes directly to
domestic consumption and is never reported
(Welcomme, et al., 2010). Subsistence food
production is therefore likely to be more significant
than official statistics suggest (IBRD, 2010). In
25
26
ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Nigeria, 19–33% of fish caught by household
members was used for household consumption
and 67–81% was sold for cash to purchase other
food or for investment in farming activities (Neiland,
et al., 2000).
In northern Africa inland fisheries also represent an
important economic activity. However, the scale
and the structure of the sector are radically
different between Egypt and the Maghreb countries
(Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia).
3.3.1. Egypt
Egypt has a well developed fisheries sector upon
which hundreds of thousands of people rely, either
through working as fishers, processors or fish
sellers, or through direct consumption of part of the
catch. Many others work in aquaculture production.
Aquaculture is an extremely important economic
activity in Egypt, which is the top producer in Africa
and the 11th in the world. It produced 694,000
tonnes of fish in 2008 (FAO, 2010; GAFRD, 2010),
69.5% of which consisted of freshwater species. As
Case study 3.2 reveals, more than 300,000 people
depend on aquaculture production as their single
Auchenoglanis occidentalis is listed as Vulnerable in northern
Africa. Photo © L. de Vos.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
source of income in Egypt. As the majority of fish
farming is of Nile Tilapia (as a basic product)
associated with mullet and/or carp, almost all of
these people can be said to depend on the
production of a single species. If Nile Tilapia
farming ceased, the livelihoods of many people
would be seriously impacted. Moreover, this activity
is highly reliant upon the conservation of wild
stocks of Nile Tilapia as an essential source of
genetic variability and therefore a requirement for
the long-term functioning of the industry.
Inland fisheries are also a key source of income
and food for local livelihoods. Egypt is one of the
largest inland fisheries producers in the world,
occupying 11th place with 237,000 tonnes produced
in 2008 (FAO, 2010). At least 78,000 fishers and
25,000 boats are known to be involved in inland
fisheries in Egypt, including those in Lake Nasser
(GAFRD, 2010). There are 49 fishery associations
and six aquaculture associations registered
representing a capital of USD 145,100 and 26,520,
respectively (GAFRD, 2010). Cichlids are the most
frequently targeted species, representing 47% of
overall catches. There are, however, many species
from other families that are harvested in Egyptian
fresh waters to provide an income or food; these
account for 117,000 tonnes annually (Table 3.5).
Most fish listed in Table 3.5 are caught by
traditional fishers and sold for cash, only a small
proportion (not more than 10%, especially in very
small-scale fisheries) is consumed directly by the
fishers and their families (M. Saleh, unpublished
data, 2011). As mentioned above, the sources of
FAO data are known to be inaccurate in terms of
recording small-scale and artisanal fisheries, so
these figures are likely to be underestimates.
Overall, including inland fisheries and
aquaculture, at least 378,000 people in Egypt
depend directly on activities related to the
harvesting and farming of freshwater fishes.
Based on the prices listed in Table 3.2 and the
quantities harvested in Table 3.5 it can be
estimated that inland fisheries in Egypt accounted
for a total of USD 355.7 million in the year 2009.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
This is just the direct market value of the fisheries
resource and does not account for associated
industries and jobs such as processing, transport
or aquaculture. The species that created the
greatest revenue were the Tilapias (Oreochromis
and Tilapia species), representing 47% of the
overall value, Nile Perch (Lates niloticus: 23%),
African catfishes from the genus Clarias (9.8%)
and the European Eel (3.5%) (Table 3.6).
Algerian Barb (Barbus callensis). Barbus species have been
recorded as the second most fished species in inland waters in
Morocco. Photo © A. Azeroual.
Table 3.5 Catch of freshwater species (tonnes) in Egypt in 2009
Fish speciesgroup
Estimated species composition
and regional Red List Category
Nile
Lake
Nasser
Inland
lakes
Northern
lakes
TOTAL
%
Tilapias
Oreochromis niloticus (LCRG),
O. aureus (LCRG), Sarotherodon
galilaeus (LCRG) and Tilapia zillii (LCRG)
26,101
1
22,854
5,787
48,972
103,714
46.98
African Catfishes
Clarias anguillaris (DDRG) and
Clarias gariepinus (LCRG)
15,345
NR1
NR
22,461
37,806
17.12
Grass Carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella
19,235
5
NR
528
6,292
26,055
11.80
Nile Perch
Lates niloticus (DDRG)
4,658
10,744
333
NR
15,735
7.13
Mullets
Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata,
L. ramada, L. salinus, Mugil
cephalus and Valamugil seheli
49
NR
869
12,491
13,409
6.07
Bayad
Bagrus baiad (LCRG) and
B. docmak (LCRG)
7,202
NR
143
4,31
11,655
5.28
Atherina boyeri
Atherina boyeri
4,176
NR
NR
1,124
5,300
2.40
Other Catfishes
Synodontis schall (LCRG), S. clarias
(VURG), S. frontosus (DDRG), Shilbe
mystus (LCRG), S. uranoscopus
(VURG), Auchenoglanis biscutatus
(VURG) and A. occidentalis (VURG)
2,297
NR
NR
NR
2,297
1.04
Labeo spp.
Labeo coubie (ENRG) and
L. niloticus (LCRG)
2,161
NR
NR
NR
2,161
0.98
European Eel
Anguilla anguilla (ENRG)
442
NR
NR
786
1,228
0.56
Barbus spp.
Barbus bynni (LCRG), B. anema
(RERG), B. neglectus (RERG),
B. perince (VURG),
B. stigmatopygus (DDRG) and
B. yeiensis (DDRG)
719
NR
NR
NR
719
0.33
Alestes spp.
Alestes baremoze (RERG),
A. dentex (VURG) and Hydrocynus
vittatus (DDRG)
NR
698
NR
NR
698
0.32
82,385
34,296
7,660
96,436
220,777
100.00
Total:
Source: General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD), 2010 statistics yearbook. Species composition estimated by
M.A. Saleh. Note that species listed as Regionally Extinct (RE) in the NAR may still be fished for in Egypt but outside the project
area (i.e. upstream of the Aswan Dam).
1
NR: not reported.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
27
28
ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Table 3.6 Estimated value of freshwater fishes in Egypt in 2009
Captures1
(t)
Average
wholesale price2
(USD/kg)
Average
retail price2
(USD/kg)
Total price 2009
(wholesale) USD
Total price 2009
(retail) USD
103,714
1.35
1.625
140,013,900
168,535,250
African Catfish (Clarias spp.)
40,103
1.13
1.2
45,316,390
48,123,600
Nile Perch (Lates niloticus)
15,735
2.6
5.3
40,911,000
83,395,500
Bayad (Bagrus bajad and B. docmak)
11,655
2.25
3
26,223,750
34,965,000
Other Catfishes (mainly Synodontis schall)
2,297
1.43
1.83
3,284,710
4,203,510
Labeo spp.
2,161
1.1
1.2
2,377,100
2,593,200
European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)
1,228
6.56
10.3
8,055,680
12,648,400
Barbus spp.
719
0.93
1.16
668,670
834,040
Alestes spp.
698
0.5
0.6
349,000
418,800
178,310
1
1.99
267,200,200
355,717,300
Species group1
Tilapias (Oreochromis spp.,
Sarotherodon spp. and Tilapia spp.)
Total
1
From Table 3.5.
From Table 3.2.
Introduced or brackish-water fishes have been excluded.
2
Many important species caught in inland fisheries
the northern Africa region. This means that 28%
are already threatened or Data Deficient. For
of species composing the fisheries of Egypt are
example, the Catfishes (Mochokidae) in Egypt
at risk of extinction. It is also important to note
include species in the genera Bagrus and Clarias.
that three species important to these fisheries have
These generated an income of at least USD 56
been listed as Regionally Extinct (García, et al.,
million in 2009 (Table 3.6). Species such as
2010).
Synodontis uranoscopus (VURG), Auchenoglanis
biscutatus (VURG), Auchenoglanis occidentalis
(VURG) and Synodontis clarias (VURG) are also
threatened. The main threats to these species in
northern Africa are very similar, as they are all
affected by dams, water pollution (agricultural,
domestic, and industrial), groundwater extraction
and drought. The European Eel alone generated at
least USD 12.6 million in Egypt in 2009. The main
threats to this species in northern Africa are
overfishing, estuary pollution and the construction
of dams which block migration routes. This species
is also economically important in the Maghreb
countries (see Case study 3.1).
3.3.2. Maghreb countries
Inland fisheries and farming of freshwater species
occur on a much smaller scale in the Maghreb
countries than in Egypt. The exact number of
people involved in these activities and their
economic importance, in terms of value and scale,
are not well documented. Most fishery studies
focus on the marine and offshore fisheries, which
are of greater economic importance. There is
precise information on the European Eel, however,
mainly because of its global (CR) and regional
(ENRG) threatened status and its listing in CITES,
Of the 86 species of freshwater fishes known to
requiring its international trade to be regulated
occur in Egypt, 28 are of socio-economic
(Crook, 2010). A few studies of the socio-economic
importance and form the main components of
importance of wetlands are also available
Egypt’s fisheries. Eight of these are threatened in
(Benessaiah, 1998; Khattabi, 1997; Khattabi, 2006)
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
and, although they mainly focus on coastal
wetlands and coastal lagoon systems, they provide
useful insights into the importance of some
freshwater fish species in the region for the lives of
local communities.
In Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia thousands of
people rely on income provided by the catching
and farming of the European Eel (Anguilla
anguilla). This is an important species in terms of
quantity and value in the NAR. The socio-economic
importance of this species in the northern African
countries is assessed in detail in Case study 3.1.
Inland fisheries in Morocco have their place in local
economies, and are sometimes the only source of
income for local people. Fisheries can be of three
types: small-scale, industrial large-scale and
recreational or sport fishing, and take place in
coastal lagoons (where some species included in
this study are found), inland lakes, dam reservoirs,
and rivers (Khattabi, 2006). For example, a study
of the socio-economic value of the Atlantic coastal
lagoon Merja Zerga revealed that around 15% of
households practised fishing as a principal or
secondary activity and that wetland products
contributed 30% of overall household revenue,
38% of which came from fishes (Khattabi, 1997).
The European Eel has been reported to compose
20% of the fisheries in Merja Zerga (Kraiem, et al.,
2009). Fishing is common in reservoir dams and
rivers. In 2003, 200 licences were issued for fishing
in Morocco, 52% of which for reservoirs and 48%
for rivers. It has, however, been recognized that the
number of licences does not necessarily reflect the
actual number of people involved in this activity,
which remains unknown (Khattabi, 2006). In the
Moulouya river basin in Morocco, several
freshwater fishes have been identified as being
important for the local economy (Melhaoui, 2011),
although the specific value of these species and
the number of people involved have not been
quantified. They include some NAR endemic
species such as Barbus callensis (LCRG), Barbus
molouyensis (LCRG) and Salmo trutta macrostigma
(DD), and the Critically Endangered European Eel,
all of which are reported to be threatened by
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
habitat loss and degradation through human
activities.
In Tunisia, freshwater fishes represent 47% of total
fish consumption (MEDD, 2010). Inland fishing
takes place mainly in the many artificial reservoirs
across the country, but the overall scale of fishing
has not been systematically quantified. Aquaculture
is also carried out in reservoirs, where species are
introduced artificially. Figure 3.4 shows the
freshwater fishes that are harvested and their
relative importance in total catch (MEDD, 2010).
Most of these species, such as Mullets, Zanders,
Carps and Common Rudd, have been introduced
in reservoirs and are not native to the NAR. The
total production of freshwater fishes was 1,600
tonnes in 2009.
There is very little fishery activity recorded from
Algeria and Libya. Aquaculture production from
Libya has been recorded by FAO (see Table 3.3)
but there is no detail available on number of people
involved in this activity and any estimate would be
very imprecise. In Algeria, the European Eel is
exploited at a small scale but there is no detailed
information on the number of people involved on
inland fisheries or the importance of this activity in
local livelihoods. The only reliable data of people
involved in fisheries for Algeria and Tunisia are
provided by eel fisheries which are dealt with detail
in Case study 3.1.
Figure 3.4. Proportion of freshwater fish catches in Tunisia in
2009 (source: MEDD, 2010).
29
30
ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
region. At least 50% (21 species) are known to be
of socio-economic value. Three of these species
are already Regionally Extinct, although they used
to be fished before disappearing (see Table 3.7).
Another four of these utilized species (19%) are
known to be threatened (Anguilla anguilla ENRG,
Women washing their clothes in a river in the Atlas mountains
in Morocco. Photo © Alan Bachellier.
The Maghreb region is also home to an interesting
species diversity of barbels (Barbus spp.), the most
common genus in the region. Barbus species
represent more than 20% of the total number of
freshwater fish species, as well as 59% of the total
endemics. Eleven of the 26 barbels assessed
(42.3%) are known to be harvested in small
quantities. Most of these species thrive in distant
mountainous areas but are also common in small
water bodies and reservoirs across the region.
Although the exact scale of this activity is not
known, Barbus species have been recorded as the
second most fished species in inland waters in
Morocco, accounting for 27% of total catches
(Khattabi, 2006). The most heavily fished species
(38%) is the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio),
which is not native to northern Africa. Among the
barbels there are several threatened species, such
as Barbus harterti (VU) (restricted to the Oum erRbia basin in central Morocco) and Barbus
issenensis (VU) in the Souss and Massa basins in
Morocco. These species are not known to be
targeted for fishing, although similar species such
as Barbus callensis (LC), Barbus moulouyensis
(LC) and Barbus nasus (NT) are, and it is likely
they are included in catches where they occur.
Barbus nasus is restricted to Morocco; it has
disappeared from the lower reaches of Wadi Tinsift
and Oum er-Rbia, and is now very restricted in the
upper catchments in the Atlas Mountains. The main
threats to these species are intensive groundwater
extraction and pollution from agricultural, industrial
and domestic sources. Of the freshwater fishes
included in this study, 42 occur in the Maghreb
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Aphanius saourensis CR, Hemichromis
bimaculatus ENRG and Salmo akairos VU). The
major threats to these species are varied: they are
mainly affected by habitat loss and degradation
caused by water pollution (agricultural, domestic
and industrial), groundwater extraction and
droughts.
3.3.3. Conclusion
The daily livelihoods of many thousands of people
in northern Africa depend on freshwater fishes,
either through involvement in the economic
activities associated with their use (such as smalland large-scale inland fisheries, aquaculture, the
ornamental fish trade, game fishing and tourism),
or through use of part or all of the catch for
household consumption. At least 380,000 people
rely on freshwater species in the region, 99% of
whom live in Egypt. These figures are likely to
underestimate the actual scale of the activity
especially for the Maghreb countries, where the
number of people involved in inland fisheries is
difficult to determine. It should also be noted that
marine fisheries play a central role in the culture
and livelihoods of people in the Maghreb countries
and therefore most studies focus on this sector.
Production of the European Eel is an important
economic activity in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia
and it generates income and thousands of jobs in
the region, as Case study 3.1 demonstrates. In
northern Africa, and particularly in the Maghreb
countries, the main livelihood of people in remote
rural communities is based on crop and livestock
farming, with occasionally reliance on freshwater
fish from rivers and reservoirs as a secondary
source of food. People in these areas may also
benefit from the economic activity generated by
recreational fishing in the Nile and in the principal
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Figure 3.5. Distribution of freshwater fishes of socio-economic value in northern Africa.
Maghreb mountain ranges. Nevertheless, in
The proportion of species of socio-economic value
contrast to sub-Saharan Africa, there seems to be
in each catchment (Figure 3.6) reveals high levels
a lack of studies that focus on the role of
of use in the Nile basin, but other interesting areas
freshwater fish in the livelihoods of northern African
where the proportion of utilized species is high are
people.
now highlighted. Tunisia and Libya, for example,
are countries where there are few freshwater
3.4. PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION
species but almost all are used. This is an
important finding as these countries will have
In order to identify areas where the largest
potentially fewer harvest options should the
numbers of utilized species are found the spatial
few species that are used be lost. Species that
distribution patterns of species were mapped.
are used in these areas include the European Eel
Figure 3.5 reveals that species of socio-economic
and the Algerian Barb (Barbus callensis). The
value are concentrated in the Nile basin. This is
Moulouya River basin in eastern Morocco also
consistent with species richness patterns in
stands out as a place where a high proportion of
northern Africa, where the most diverse system is
species is used. The area of central-western
also the Nile basin. It is notable, however, that
Algeria towards the Moroccan border is highlighted
freshwater fish used by people are also found
because the single species present, Barbus
throughout the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal
figuiguensis, is known to be used occasionally
although it is of low economic importance.
areas of northern Africa.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 3.6. Proportion of utilized freshwater fish species in northern Africa. The use ratio was calculated by dividing the number of
species used by the total number of species present, a maximum value of one indicating that all species in the catchment are used.
The spatial relationship between utilized and
Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser. The lower Nile
threatened species was mapped in order to
stands out as an area where many utilized species
identify potential priority areas for conservation
are threatened, but it is also the most diverse area
(Figure 3.7). Conservation action is needed in the
in terms of overall species richness. Here there are
areas where utilized species are under threat in
up to 20 species that are both threatened and of
order to: i) save species from exctinction, and ii)
socio-economic importance including key species
protect a resource that is valued and used by
in the Cichlidae family. Further south, outside the
local people. Management strategies that include
study region, up to 19 threatened and exploited
habitat protection and sustainable harvesting
species are found in Lake Nasser. Construction of
programmes are esssential to protect the
the Aswan dam in 1970, which created lake
resource while still benefiting people’s
Nasser, may be the main cause of decline of many
livelihoods.
of these species.
The Critically Endangered European Eel (Anguilla
anguilla) is confirmed as a priority species for
conservation across most of the North African
coastal region, where it is the only threatened
utilized species in coastal Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria
and Libya. The number of threatened utilized
species increases southwards up the Nile to the
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
3.5. THREATS TO SPECIES
OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE
More than a third (35.59%) of utilized fish in
northern Africa are regionally threatened.
Overharvesting has been identified as a major
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Figure 3.7. Distribution of threatened fishes that are of socio-economic value in northern Africa.
threat for Anguilla anguilla (ENRG), Alestes dentex
(VURG), Barbus bynni bynni (LCRG), Hydrocynus
forskahlii (LCRG) and Lates niloticus (DDRE),
representing 4.8% of all the fish species in the
region. The European Eel is a good example of the
complexity of the impact as it suffers from a
number of interrelated threats (see Case study
3.1).
Major threats to freshwater fish in northern Africa
are habitat loss and degradation due to human
activities, affecting more than 60% of freshwater
fish species (García, et al., 2010). These
activities include groundwater extraction, water
pollution and dam construction. Drought and
temperature extremes are also an important
threat to fishes in northern Africa and affect
almost two-thirds of freshwater fish species.
Indications are that the main threat to freshwater
fish is human activities that degrade and destroy
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
their habitats rather than consumption of the
resource itself. Although harvest management
needs to be planned and controlled to allow for
sustainable exploitation, this measure needs to
be part of an integrated management strategy
addressing the many other threats at the
catchment scale.
As mentioned above, 23 freshwater fish species
have already been listed as Regionally Extinct
(RE). Almost all of them (22) are still caught in subSaharan Africa and at least 16 are known to have
been fished for along the Nile before becoming
locally extirpated (Table 3.7). Although Lake
Nasser now provides several species that are
caught, traded in markets and consumed by local
people, the creation of the lake may have
decreased species richness and fishery options for
people living downstream if the 23 RE species are
taken into account.
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Table 3.7 Regionally extinct freshwater fish species that used to be harvested in northern Africa
Family
Species
Family
Species
ALESTIIDAE
Alestes baremoze 1
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus anema 2
ALESTIIDAE
Brycinus macrolepidotus 2
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus neglectus 1
ALESTIIDAE
Hydrocynus brevis 1
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis batensoda 2
ALESTIIDAE
Micralestes acutidens 1
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis membranaceus
MORMYRIDAE
Hyperopisus bebe bebe 1
1
ARAPAIMIDAE
Heterotis niloticus
CLAROTEIDAE
Clarotes laticeps 1
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus hasselquistii 2
CITHARINIDAE
Distichodus engycephalus 1
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus niloticus 2
CITHARINIDAE
Distichodus rostratus 1
MORMYRIDAE
Petrocephalus bovei bovei 2
CITHARINIDAE
Ichthyborus besse besse 1
POECILIIDAE
Micropanchax loati 1
CLUPEIDAE
Alosa alosa 3
POLYPTERIDAE
Polypterus bichir bichir 2
CLUPEIDAE
Alosa fallax 4
SCHILBEIDAE
Siluranodon auritus 1
1
Formerly caught in Egypt—currently fished for south of the Aswan dam.
Formerly found in the Nile Delta—currently fished for south of the Aswan dam.
3
Formerly caught in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.
4
Formerly caught in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
2
3.6. TEN CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
Of the 128 freshwater fishes included in this
4.
Inland fisheries and freshwater fish farming
are of paramount importance to Egypt’s
economic value and are utilized in northern
economy, employing around 378,000 people.
Africa, and 99 (77.34%) are utilized elsewhere
Twenty-eight per cent of the species caught in
in continental Africa. Twenty-three species of
Egypt’s inland fisheries are already at risk of
fish previously valued within fisheries are now
extinction.
5.
In the Maghreb countries, inland fisheries and
Freshwater fish in Africa are mainly used for
aquaculture operate at a smaller scale than in
food, either directly or bought in markets,
Egypt but still provide an important input to the
whether sourced from the wild or from fish
livelihoods of many thousands of people.
farms. The ornamental fish trade is the second
Here, there are few freshwater fish species so
most common use of species, although it is
there will be limited alternative options should
not clear whether this trade is sourced from
any of these species be lost.
the wild or through captive breeding.
3.
are threatened by overharvesting for food.
study at least 59 (46.09%) are of socio-
Regionally Extinct.
2.
of dams. Five per cent of all freshwater fish
6.
European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) are the most
One third (35.59%) of utilized fish in northern
economically valuable species in northern
Africa are threatened. The main threats are
Africa.
habitat loss and degradation due to human
activities, such as over-abstraction of
groundwater, water pollution and construction
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and
7.
Nile Tilapia is a very important species in
Egypt’s economy, comprising most of the
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
catch of inland fisheries and the main
aquaculture species.
8.
The European Eel is at serious risk of
extinction due to a complex and interrelated
number of threats. Limiting harvesting to
minimum or even zero levels has been
recommended as an important step in helping
to stop this decline. This may however impact
the livelihoods of thousands of people in the
Maghreb countries.
9.
10. Conservation initiatives should be focused at
the catchment and/or sub-catchment scale in
order to address the high levels of connectivity
and the consequent rapid and widespread
impact of threats throughout catchments.
Oued Za à Ain Beni Mathar, in Morocco. Photo © Jean-Pierre Boudot.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Potential priority areas for conservation
identified by this project are those that hold a
high proportion of threatened species of socioeconomic value. They include the Lower Nile
and Nile Delta.
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Case study 3.1 The European Eel:
a northern African perspective
by Juffe-Bignoli1, D.
The European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) has a
complex life cycle that includes marine,
brackish and freshwater environments. It is
also a species of significant socio-economic
value, directly linked to the livelihoods of
thousands of people across Europe and the
Mediterranean (Bevacqua, et al., 2007; Table
1). For example, European Eel artisanal
fisheries accounted for 70% of total revenues
of professional fishers along the Mediterranean
coast of France in 2007 (Bevacqua, et al.,
2007), although the eel fishing fleet has been
diminishing annually in recent years. Global
exports of all Anguilla species commodities
generated an income of USD 11 billion
between 1997 and 2007, with smoked eels
(60% of the trade) and live eels being the most
important (Crook, 2010). However, the species
faces a number of threats and its recruitment
levels have declined at an alarming rate over
the past 30 years, leaving the eel facing an
extremely high risk of extinction (Dekker,
2003a; FAO/ICES 2010; Freyhof & Kottelat,
2010; Bevacqua, et al., 2007).
The European Eel is considered to be currently
outside safe biological limits and its recovery
could take several decades (Astrom & Dekker,
2007; FAO/ICES, 2010). IUCN have listed the
species as Critically Endangered on the IUCN
Red List based on a steep decline (up to 95 to
99% in some catchments in Europe) in the
recruitment of glass eels since 1980 (Freyhof &
Kottelat, 2010). Although the causes of this
steep decline are not well understood, many
threats to this species have been identified
(Dekker, 2003b; Dekker, 2007). These include
climatic changes potentially affecting the
currents that bring eel larvae to European
waters from the breeding grounds in the
1
Sargasso Sea (Miller, et al., 2009), a parasitic
nematode (Anguillicoloides crassus) that was
introduced to Europe when Japanese Eels
(Anguilla japonica) were imported for
aquaculture, dams blocking migratory routes,
and overharvesting (Azeroual, 2010; Farrugio,
2010; Freyhof & Kottelat, 2010). As a result of
its critical situation, the species was listed in
Appendix II of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES) in June 2007, and this
listing came into force in March 2009. In
December 2010, EU imports and exports of
European Eel from all other countries were
banned as the trade was considered to be
having a harmful effect on the species’
conservation status (see Crook, 2011, for
details of this ban), although internal trade
within the EU is still allowed. A European
Council Regulation establishing measures for
the recovery of the stock of European Eels was
published in September 2007 (Council of the
European Union, 2007). The key objective is to
achieve a 40% escapement to the sea of adult
silver eel biomass from each river basin of the
European Union (EU), based on historic levels.
In northern Africa, where eel recruitment has
declined by an estimated 50% in the past 10
years, and catches have declined by between
10 and 25% since 1980 (Azeroual, 2010), the
species faces many additional threats
including pollution of estuaries and rivers,
water abstraction from surface and ground
waters, drought and extraction of gravel
(Azeroual, 2010). Harvesting of glass eels
(juveniles usually found in coastal areas),
yellow eels (yellow pigmentation, mainly
found in rivers and lakes) and silver eels (the
mature form that leaves freshwater systems
for the sea) takes place across northern
Africa in coastal areas, lagoons and inland
waters. There is also farming of eels in the
region (juveniles are harvested from the wild
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
and grown out in aquaculture facilities),
though the precise amount that is produced
is hard to determine. Fisheries and
aquaculture are regulated by law in all
northern African countries, restricting
quantities to be captured and defining an eel
fishing season.
Data from FAO on aquaculture production
and capture fisheries of this species exist for
some northern African countries (Table 2),
although these figures are known to be
unreliable as they usually do not account for
small-scale artisanal fisheries (Béné, et al.,
2010; Welcomme, et al., 2010). For example,
according to FAO there are no capture
fishery data and just 14.2 tonnes of
aquaculture production reported from Algeria
in 2009. However, the average annual
production in the past 10 years in the
northern region of El Kala (north-eastern
Algeria) was estimated to be 80 tonnes, all
exported to Italy (GFCM, 2010). In Morocco,
at least 200 boats catching around 40 tonnes
of silver eels per year were known to operate
in the Nador lagoon in 2010 (GFCM, 2010).
Although there is little information about the
scale of this activity in other areas, this is not
the only place where the species is
harvested in Morocco. The main sites of
production and marketing of eels in Morocco
are on the Atlantic (Oued Sebou, Oued Oum
er-Rbia and Oued Loulous) and
Mediterranean coasts (Moulouya river and
Nador lagoon). According to FAO data, Egypt
was the largest producer with 940 tonnes in
2009 (all from capture fisheries), three times
more than the total production from the
Maghreb countries (Table 2). However,
Egypt’s General Authority for Fish Resources
Development (GAFRD) reports a higher
figure: 1,238 tonnes of European Eel
harvested in 2009, which was made up of
765 tonnes from Lake Burullus, 21 from
Table 1 Number of people involved in European Eel fisheries in northern Africa
COUNTRY
LOCATIONS
BOATS/FISHERS
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Algeria
Tonga and Oubeira
lakes, the Mafragh
estuary and the
El Mellah lagoon
Four aquaculture farms
and 13 boats are known to
be operating in these
areas.
From MPRH, 2010.
Egypt
Nile Delta
1,587 fishers
Lake Manzala
9,723 fishers
Lake Burullus
6,619 fishers
Total number of eel fishers is unknown as eels are not the
main target of fishers in either the Nile Delta or the lakes.
Estimates are based on the number of licences plus the
number of boats in Egypt in 2009 (GAFRD, 2010), taking
each boat to hold a minimum of 3 fishers.
Nador lagoon
200 boats, each with a
minimum of 2 fishers
(GFCM, 2010)
Small-scale eel fishing occurs in inland waters as well as
on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts (GFCM, 2010).
Merja Zerga
Around 2,500 households
obtain part of their income
from the resources of is
tidal lagoon (Benessaiah,
1998).
The European Eel represents 21% of the catch in Merja
Zerga (Kraiem, et al., 2009).
225 inland boats
registered, with only 2
fishers per boat allowed.
Plus 113 authorized fishers
in coastal lagoons (MEDD,
2010).
The coastal marine fleet consists of 10,000 boats.
Although eels are not the main target of fishers, an
average of 100 tonnes is captured from this source every
year (MEDD, 2010).
448 fixed fishing units are reported. These include using
gill nets, trammel nets, bottom longlines, traps and
Charfias (MEDD, 2010).
Morocco
Tunisia
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Table 2 Main production figures for the European Eel in northern Africa in 2009
COUNTRY
CAPTURES
(USD)
AqUACULTURE
(t)2
AqUACULTURE
(USD)
TOTAL
(t)
TOTAL
(USD)
No data
No data
14
26,000
14
26,000
Egypt
940
6,138,2003
No data
No data
940
6,138,200
Morocco
40
129,2004
60
746,000
100
875,400
Tunisia
108
348,8404
67
67,000
175
415,540
1,088
6,616,240
141
839,000
1,229
7,455,140
Algeria
Total
CAPTURES
(t)1
1
Captures of European Eel in marine, brackish and freshwater systems, from FAO Fishstat database (FAO, 2011).
From FAO Fishstat database (FAO 2011).
3
Average price per kg at Cairo Wholesale Market (El Abour), EGP 39.36 = USD 6.53 (GAFRD, 2010).
4
Average price per kg at the Bir El Kassaa wholesale market in Tunisia, TND 4.8 = USD 3.2 (MEDD, 2010). This
value was used for Morocco due to lack of reliable data for 2009.
2
Manzalla, 10 from Lake Qaroun and 442
tonnes from the Nile (GAFRD, 2010).
In northern Africa the exploitation of eels has
long been considered a profitable activity due
to the fish’s economic value. The number of
people involved in eel fisheries in the region
is not known (see Table 1), but is likely to be
in the thousands. For example, in Egypt the
eel is often not the target species for fishers,
so the number of people harvesting eels is
unknown. However, in 2009 there were 1,587
licensed fishers in the Nile Delta, which is
one of the major eel harvesting areas. In
Merja Zerga on the Atlantic coast of Morocco
the European Eel represents 21% of the fish
harvest (Kraiem, et al., 2009), and a
minimum of 2,500 households derive at least
part of their income from this tidal lagoon
(Benessaiah, 1998). Based on Table 2,
capture fisheries and aquaculture production
of European Eels generated a total income of
at least USD 7.4 million in 2009 in northern
Africa (Table 2). Before the current trade ban
came into force, Morocco, Algeria and
Tunisia were the largest exporters of
European Eel to the EU, after Norway
(Crook, 2010). In Algeria and Tunisia 80–90%
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
of eel production is exported, as there is little
tradition of eel consumption in these
countries (MEDD, 2010; MPRH, 2010).
Given the critical situation of the European
Eel, it is vital to address all threats that are
contributing to the steep decline in
recruitment that has been observed (Astrom
& Dekker, 2007; Bevacqua, et al., 2007;
FAO/ICES, 2010). These include reducing
harvesting to minimum levels and/or
imposing more sustainable fishing practices,
but also preventing habitat loss and
degradation caused by anthropogenic
activities. Saving the European Eel is
important, not only to safeguard biodiversity
but also because, as this case study shows,
it plays an important role in the livelihoods of
thousands of people across northern Africa.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER FISH
Case study 3.2 The Nile Tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus in Egypt
by Saleh2, M.A.
Tilapias, a name that refers to species of the
Cichlidae family belonging to the genus
Oreochromis, Sarotherodon and Tilapia, are a
very important group of fish in Egypt. The total
production of these fish in 2009 was 495,300
tonnes, representing 45.3% of the total fish
production of Egypt (GAFRD, 2010). This
figure is the sum of both captures (inland
fisheries) and farm production (aquaculture) of
tilapia. The total market value of this
production was USD 752.2 million in 2009.
Most wild-caught tilapia comes from the
Northern Delta lakes (78,900 tonnes),
followed by the Nile river and the extensive
irrigation canal system (26,100 tonnes).
The Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus,
listed regionally as Least Concern in
continental Africa, makes up most of the
tilapia caught in the Nile system and, to
some extent, in the Egyptian lakes (60–
70%, according to unpublished GAFRD
catch records for different landing sites).
This mainly diurnal, herbivorous fish occurs
in a wide variety of freshwater habitats
such as rivers, lakes, canals and irrigation
channels. Although IUCN regional
assessments have not identified any major
widespread threats to this species, native
populations may be affected locally by
overfishing, habitat loss and hybridization,
as are other Oreochromis species. The Red
Belly Tilapia (Tilapia zillii LCRG) comes next
in importance (15–20% of captures),
especially in the lakes, while the
percentage of Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis
aureus LCRG) and Mango Tilapia
(Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus LCRG) in
the catch varies as one goes north. The
Nile Tilapia is therefore of paramount
importance for inland fisheries in Egypt,
where thousands of people depend on the
industry (see Section 3.2.1).
Stocking fingerlings of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in earth pond in the Wilaya of Ouargla, Algeria. Photo ©
FAO Aquaculture photo library / V. Crespi.
2
Fisheries and Aquaculture Independent Consultant, Cairo, Egypt.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Tilapias, like this fish of the Oreochromis genus, are a very important group of fish in Egypt. Photo © Drriss.
The Nile Tilapia also constitutes the bulk of the
farmed tilapia produced in Egypt, where
390,400 tonnes were harvested in 2009. Most
cultured Nile Tilapia are produced semiintensively in earthen ponds in the Northern
Delta Region and in floating cages in the Nile.
Most of the aquaculture facilities in the country
get their seed requirements from fish
hatcheries, where mono-sex Nile Tilapia is the
only tilapia species produced (Saleh, 2007). It
is estimated that more than 90% of cultured
tilapia is Oreochromis niloticus, the rest being
Blue Tilapia (5–7%) and a mixture of Red Belly
Tilapia and Mango Tilapia. Brood stocks in all
hatcheries are sourced originally from the wild
(the Nile and lakes) and no interbreeding of
species or hybridization is applied. A line of
selected fish is usually kept back in the
hatcheries to serve as future brood stock
(brood stock from hatchery-bred tilapia is much
easier to handle than wild fish). Additionally,
most hatcheries from time to time introduce
new blood into their system to improve the
genetic pool by adding wild fish. Introduction of
exotic tilapia (of whatever species) is strictly
forbidden in order to preserve the local strains
from the probable negative effects of genetic
distortions.
According to the figures given above, the
production of Nile Tilapia alone in Egypt may
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
be in the region of 414,600–425,200 tonnes,
representing about 38.6% of the total fish
production of Egypt.
The development of Nile Tilapia farming has
facilitated the growth of important supportive
industries, which may employ 20,000–30,000
people (M. Saleh, unpublished data, 2011).
The number of feed mills specializing in
producing tilapia feed has increased greatly to
meet demand. More than 14 large feed mills
and a large number of small processing units
are presently operating in the country,
producing about one million tonnes of feed
each year. The activity also supports the large
handling, processing, packing and marketing
chain in the country.
The Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus can
accordingly be considered of very important
economic value to the country. Production of
this species creates a large number of jobs, as
more than 300,000 persons depend on the
production of Nile Tilapia in aquaculture as their
main source of income. This figure is estimated
from the total number of people working in
aquaculture, as reported in the 2009 GAFRD
Year Book of Fishery Statistics, considering that
most fish farming in Egypt produces Nile Tilapia
(as its basic product) together with mullet and/or
carp. If Nile Tilapia is not cultured, the activity
will become inviable and disappear.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
4
41
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE
OF AQUATIC PLANTS
Diego Juffe-Bignoli1, Laila Rhazi2 and Patrick Grillas3
4.1. Conservation status of aquatic plant species
4.2. Socio-economic value
4.2.1. Medicinal use
4.2.2. Food
4.2.3. Other uses
4.3. The importance of aquatic plants to livelihoods in northern Africa
4.3.1. Morocco
4.3.2. Other northern African countries
4.4. Crop Wild Relatives—value for the future
4.5. Patterns of distribution
4.6. Threats to species of socio-economic value
4.7. Ten conclusions and recommendations
Case study 4.1 Uses and socio-economic value of Mentha species in northern Africa, by L. Rhazi,
P. Grillas and D. Juffe-Bignoli
Case study 4.2 Socio-economic importance of Phragmites australis in northern Africa, by L. Rhazi,
P. Grillas, B. Poulin and R. Mathevet
Collection of reed in the River Nile. Photo © Jon Savage.
1
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Environment, Hassan II Aïn Chock University, Faculty of Sciences, BP 5366,
Maarif, Casablanca, Morocco.
3
Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200, Arles, France.
2
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Loukkos marshes, Larache, Morocco. Photo © S.D. Muller.
Ouzoud Waterfalls are located 150 km north-east of Marrakech,
in Morocco. Photo © Jean-Pierre Boudot.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Aquatic plants were commonly used in Ancient Egypt and were
also culturally important. This picture shows men pulling tight
knotted Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and Egyptian Lotus
(Nympha spp.) around a windpipe. This symbolized the unified
kingdom of ancient Egypt: the papyrus represents Lower Egypt
and the lotus represents Upper Egypt. Photo © K.Green.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
This chapter presents information on the socioeconomic value of aquatic plants in the northern
African region. In Section 4.1, the conservation
status of aquatic plants is described and, in Section
4.2, their socio-economic value is evaluated to
determine which species are utilized, how are they
being used, which part of the plants are used and
where they are collected. Those taxa identified as
being of high importance are described in more
detail in Section 4.3. The role of crop wild relatives
in the plant conservation agenda and the socioeconomic significance of this group in the NAR are
discussed in Section 4.4. Patterns of distribution of
utilized and threatened species are presented in
Section 4.5 and the nature of the threats is
addressed in Section 4.6. Finally, some
conclusions and recommendations are presented.
4.1. CONSERVATION STATUS OF AQUATIC
PLANT SPECIES
A total of 496 species and 22 subspecies of plants
occurring in freshwater ecosystems are included in
this study. All the species are native to northern
Africa and have previously been assessed for their
risk of extinction in the NAR (García, et al., 2010)
or the Mediterranean basin (IUCN, 2010). Only
species found in NAR countries were selected from
the Mediterranean assessment. The 22 subspecies
included in the dataset are unique to the region.
Of the 518 species and subspecies included in this
study, 24.5% are threatened with extinction in
northern Africa (Table 4.1). Eighty-six of these
aquatic plants are endemic to the region, 38 of
which (44%) are threatened, and therefore globally
threatened too. This level of threat is much higher
than in other regional assessments carried out,
such as the western African assessment, where
the regional level of threat was 1.5% (Smith, et al.,
2009) but it is closer to the 23% of threatened
aquatic plants listed in the Central African
assessment (Brooks, et al., 2011). At a continental
level it is also higher than the average. Twenty per
cent of aquatic plants in continental Africa are at
risk of extinction and 25% of endemic plants are
listed as threatened (Juffe-Bignoli, 2011).
Levels of threat are therefore high in this region,
which is regarded as a global conservation priority
as it lies within the Mediterranean Basin
Biodiversity Hotspot, which is well known for the
high diversity and level of endemism of its flora
(Mittermeier, et al., 2004). This highlights the need
for action in the area from a species conservation
perspective but, as this chapter will demonstrate,
action will be positive not only for species but also
for people who benefit directly from these
resources.
Table 4.1 Number of aquatic plants in each regional Red List Category in the northern African region
IUCN Red List Category
All Plants
%
Endemic Plants
%
Regionally Extinct (RE)
1
0.2%
0
0%
Critically Endangered (CR)
30
5.8%
13
15%
Endangered (EN)
27
5.2%
7
8%
Vulnerable (VU)
70
13.5%
18
21%
Near Threatened (NT)
73
14.1%
26
30%
Least Concern (LC)
265
51.2%
17
20%
Data Deficient (DD)
52
10.0%
5
6%
Total number assessed
518
100%
86
100%
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Threatened
categories
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
4.2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE
Results of this study reveal that at least a quarter
of all the aquatic plants in the NAR are known to be
used (Table 4.2). However, if uses reported from
around the world are taken into account, 42.7% of
the species in northern Africa should be considered
to be of economic value. The reason for this
discrepancy is that in many cases it has been
possible to confirm that a plant is used in a specific
northern African country, whereas for other species
it has only been possible to verify use in subSaharan Africa or non-African countries. Recorded
uses per NAR country are shown in Table 4.2. Of
the 86 species endemic to northern Africa that are
included in this study, 11 (12.8%) are known to be
used.
The use of plants is diverse and complex as
Figures 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 reveal. Almost all parts of
plants at different life stages are known to be
utilized. Plants have a wide range of uses and for
almost half of the plants more than one use has
been recorded, as Figure 4.2 shows. For example,
six different uses for Typha domingensis have
been recorded. This species is used in Algeria,
Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia and also in subSaharan Africa. Its flowers, stems, roots and pollen
are edible and it has also been used as a medicinal
plant, for handicrafts, fuel, fibre and animal feed,
and as construction material. For example, ash
made from its rhizomes is applied to wounds in
Morocco. Its leaves are used for weaving and
making string, chair seats, mats, etc., across
Africa. Like other Typha species, the plant
produces considerable biomass and can be used
as fuel in cold winters. None of the species in this
family (Typhaceae) are threatened, although one
species, Sparganium erectum, has been listed as
NTRG. This species, like aquatic plants in general in
northern Africa, is suffering habitat decline due to
wetland drainage for agricultural use, water
pollution and development.
The five main uses of aquatic plants are for
medicines, food for humans, animal feed,
ornamental or horticultural use, and as a source of
non-medicinal chemicals (Figure 4.1). A significant
number of plants have also been recorded as
being used for making handicrafts and household
goods, and as construction and structural
materials. Although a third of these plants are
cultivated, 70% of the species are collected from
the wild, according to this study. Ornamental
species are an exception as they are generally
cultivated for sale in the aquarium trade or for use
in gardens and ponds. Eleven species are known
to be used in aquaria and most of them are
cultivated.
In many cases the harvesting of plants is nonlethal. The collection of leaves, young shoots, bark,
flowers, pollen, fruits or seeds is common and
generally does not harm the species or population
if done seasonally and sustainably. Figure 4.3
reveals that, although for almost half of the species
the whole plant is used, for the remainder only
parts of the plant are used. In many cases several
different parts of one single species are used. The
Table 4.2 Number of aquatic plant species known to be of economic importance in the northern African region
CouNTry oF uSE
SPECIES uSED
% ToTAL SPECIES
Morocco
84
16,22%
Egypt
46
8,88%
Algeria
43
8,30%
Libya
23
4,44%
Tunisia
18
3,47%
143
27,61%
Total NAr
Note that the same species may be used in several different countries
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THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
Figure 4.1. Recorded uses for aquatic plants and where are they sourced from (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit). Note that
a single species may be both collected from the wild and cultivated for different uses.
fully aquatic water Lily Nymphaea alba (VURG),
which is utilized in Morocco, Algeria and Libya (and
also in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, where
it is listed as LCRG), has several parts of its plant
used for different purposes: whole plant
(ornamental), rhizome (black dye for wool,
medicine and food), flowers (medicine and
Figure 4.2. Proportions of aquatic plant species according to
number of different uses (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity
Unit).
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
ornamental), seeds and fruits (food). In northern
Africa, it is threatened by habitat loss due to
agriculture, which has destroyed most of its wild
range.
A breakdown of utilized plants by families
reveals that 47 of the 66 families included in this
study contain at least one species of socio-
Figure 4.3. Parts of plants used and percentage of plant species
recorded to be used for each part (source: IUCN Freshwater
Biodiversity Unit). Note that these figures do not refer to the parts
of the plant harvested but to the parts actually used.
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 4.4. Number of species used in each plant family (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit). Families with only one species
used have been excluded. Other commonly accepted names for some families are given in parentheses.
*Only species of the genera Lemna, Landoltia, Wolffia and Wolfiella (in Lemnaceae in García, et al., 2010).
** Including Trapa natans (in Trapaceae in García, et al., 2010).
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
economic importance (Figure 4.4). In terms of
proportion of use (number of species used per
number of species assessed), 30 families have at
least 50% of their assessed species used. For 17
families, only one species is known to be used, and
in eight families only one species was assessed.
Nevertheless, whether the number of species or
the proportion of species is analysed, these figures
show the richness of uses of the region’s aquatic
flora, with most families contributing to some kind
of use across the region.
needs such as food, medicine, structural materials
The families with the largest number of species
known to be utilized are Cyperaceae (Sedges) and
Poaceae (Grasses), with 19 species (23% of the
species in the family) and 26 species (44%)
identified as being of socio-economic value,
respectively. Compositae (Daisy family),
Lamiacaeae (Mints), Polygonaceae (Knotweed
family), Nymphaceae (Water Lilies) and
Caryophyllaceae (Carnation family) have a
significant number of species used. The Grasses
and Sedges are extremely important groups with
very varied uses (Figure 4.5), providing for all basic
and at least 90 of these are used in northern Africa.
and household goods, as well as goods from which
people can obtain an income, such as handicrafts,
essential oils, and ornamental and horticultural
plants.
4.2.1. Medicinal use
The most frequently recorded use for plants is
medicinal. A total of 180 medicinal plants have
been identified in this study (34% of the species)
The disproportionate number of species of
medicinal use among used plants (more than the
species known to be used in northern Africa) has
two reasons. Extensive research has been
conducted on the medicinal properties of plants for
centuries and, even today, plants are still being
studied for their potential applications in medicine.
Moreover, medicinal plant use is very common in
developing countries, where in many cases there is
no easy access to modern medical facilities.
Medicinal plants are normally used to deal with
Figure 4.5. Uses recorded for Grasses (Poaceae) and Sedges (Cyperaceae) in northern Africa (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity
Unit). Note that more than one use may be recorded for the same species.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
symptoms of colds and minor diseases, and also
for pain relief (for headaches, wounds or stomach
cramps); as diuretics (most Mentha spp.),
astringents, purgatives, tonics or sedatives; to
soothe wounds; or to cure bronchitis, fevers, etc.
Lythrum borysthenicum (LCRG) has been recorded
to be used in Morocco to heal wounds, as has
Persicaria senegalensis (LCRG) in Egypt. Apium
graveolens (Wild Celery, LCRG) is a common
medicinal plant used throughout the NAR for the
treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and gout. This
plant is also used as food and is widely cultivated.
In the wild the species grows in coastal salt
marshes and salt springs and on lake shores. The
whole plant of Rumex crispus (LCRG) is used as a
tonic, purgative and astringent in Libya. The range
of medicinal uses and of plants used for medicine
is wide and, although they do not focus on aquatic
plants, there are books and publications that list
and describe medicinal plants within countries
and/or regions (i.e.: Boulos, 1983; Kotb, 1985;
Mimoudi, 1988; Bellakhdar, 1997; Batanouny,
2005; IUCN, 2005; Batanouny, 2006).
4.2.2. Food
Plants that are used as food, or eaten or drunk for
other non-medicinal purposes form the second
largest group of utilized plants. Several species are
regularly used as food in northern Africa.
Nasturtium officinale (Water Cress, DDRG but LCRG
in the Mediterranean) is a species in the Cabbage
family (Brassicaceae) which is often used in salads
in Morocco, Libya and Egypt; it is also cultivated.
Cyperus esculentus (LCRG), whose fruit is known
as Tiger Nut in Africa, is consumed in Egypt and
Libya and is also used as a milk substitute,
sweetener, and for infusions. Its tubers are used as
a stimulant and aphrodisiac, and are also used to
make flour of high caloric value; roasted tubers are
used as a substitute for coffee and cacao. Minced
rhizomes of a common aquatic plant, the Yellow Iris
(Iris pseudacorus, LCRG), are mixed with
couscous in a popular dish in northern Africa.
Trapa natans (ENRG) is threatened by habitat loss
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Use of Juncus articulatus and Juncus maritimus in Saidia, a touristic
resort in north-eastern Morocco. Photo © M. Melhaoui.
and currently has a restricted range in NAR, but it
produces a sweet and edible fruit that is taken
from the wild in Africa and also planted in private
gardens across Asia. Species in the genus
Mentha (Lamiaceae) are very popular in northern
Africa. They are used for seasoning, for making
traditional mint tea and as medicinal plants; most
species in the genus, including threatened and
endemic species, are known to be of economic
value in the area. This family is dealt with in detail
in Case study 4.1.
Species used as animal feed are also numerous
and are economically important as pasture for
feeding livestock, especially in rural areas close to
rivers and wetlands. These are species belonging
mainly to the Grasses (Poaceae) but also to other
families such as Cyperaceae (Sedges), Rumex
species (Docks and Sorrels), and Typhaceae
(Bulrushes). Four species of the genus of aquatic
grasses Glyceria are used to feed cattle in northern
Africa. These include Glyceria fluitans (ENRG) and
Glyceria declinata (VURG), both regionally
threatened by drainage, small-scale agriculture and
urbanization. Panicum coloratum (LCRG) is used in
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
acutus LCRG, Juncus maritimus LCRG), among
many other uses. Arundo donax (Giant Reed) is a
widely used and economically important
hydrophyte grass. It is considered naturalized in
the Mediterranean basin as it was introduced
before 1500 BC, and it is also cultivated in America
and Asia. The plant grows long, hard canes that
are used for many purposes in Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia and Libya. It is used for making handicrafts,
thatching, windbreaks in beach resorts and
houses, and parasols. It is also valued as an
ornamental species, can be planted in wet soils to
reduce erosion, and its tubers are used for cases
of chronic rheumatism. The aerial part of this
species can also be used as fodder, although only
young leaves are palatable. In the wetlands of
north-western Morocco (Tangier and Tétouan),
simple or braided panels of Arundo donax for use
as ceilings or window curtains are sold at an
average price of MAD 15.6 ± 9.9 /m² (USD 1.9 ±
1.2) (Ennabili, et al., 1996).
Egypt to feed cattle. This species can be grazed by
animals but also cut to make good-quality hay and
silage (Cook, et al., 2005). Typha latifolia (LCRG) is
a common species in northern Africa and has also
been used to feed cattle in Egypt. Cyperus
esculentus (LCRG), mentioned already in this
chapter, is also used to feed cattle due to the high
nutritional value of its tubers.
4.2.3. Other uses
Other uses such as for construction materials,
handicrafts and household goods are equally
important to local livelihoods. Many species of the
Cyperaceae (Sedges), Juncaceae (Rushes) and
Typhaceae families are commonly used for
thatching (Typha domingensis DDRG, Arundo donax
LCRG, Juncus acutus LCRG); weaving (Typha spp.,
Juncus effusus LCRG, Cyperus longus LCRG);
making mats (Cyperus articulatus LCRG,
Schoenoplectus corymbosus LCRG, Sparganium
erectum NTRG); forming windbreaks or parasols
(Arundo donax LCRG, Phragmites australis LCRG,
Juncus acutus LCRG); and making baskets (Juncus
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
4.3. THE IMPORTANCE OF AQUATIC
PLANTS TO LIVELIHOODS IN NORTHERN
AFRICA
One of the aims of this study was to collect data
related to rural livelihoods in northern Africa in
order to reveal what role aquatic plants play in local
economies.
Trade in wild plants is an important economic
activity across the world. In terms of medicinal
plants alone, global sales of herbal products
totalled an estimated USD 60,000 million in 2002,
with 80% of the population in developing countries
relying largely on plant-based drugs for their health
care needs. Bulk trading in these species still
depends on wild harvesting. For example, in
Bangladesh at least 90% of medicinal plants are
taken from the wild (FAO, 2005). The same
proportion (90%) of medicinal plants in Morocco is
collected from the wild (Chemonics International,
2008; IUCN, 2011). Morocco was the eighth largest
exporter of medicinal plants to the EU in terms of
value, accounting for USD 13.5 million in 2002. In
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
the same year Egypt was the ninth main exporter
to the EU at USD 9.8 million, and Tunisia was 32nd
at USD 1.9 million (FAO, 2005). These exports
were plants, parts of plants, seeds and fruit, used
in perfumery or for medicines, insecticides,
fungicides or similar purposes, fresh or dried, and
whole or processed. The proportion of aquatic
plants involved in this trade is, however, not known.
4.3.1. Morocco
In northern Africa, wetland vegetation can provide
local people with a source of income through the
production of household items and various utensils
and craft products for sale to customers including
tourists (Batanouny, 2006). Wild aquatic plants are
also valued locally as medicines, foodstuffs (such
as tea, salads and spices) or construction materials
for thatching and hedging. They are not always
traded in local markets and usually never leave the
household, as plants are used directly by local
communities and are therefore an important
resource to improve people’s daily lives. For
example, a study of the socio-economic value of
the Merja Zerga wetland in coastal Morocco
examined the livelihoods of at least 2,500
households that lived on the resources provided by
this wetland. The household income thus obtained
was estimated at USD 803/year, 14% of which was
obtained from the harvest of rushes (Juncus spp.)
(Khattabi, 2006). The making of Juncus mats is a
profitable business, especially for the poorest
households. Mats measuring 3.5 x 1.75 m were
sold for MAD 40 (USD 4.8) and provided a net
annual income of MAD 1,014 (USD 121) per
household in 1997 (Khattabi, 1997). Ennabili et al.
(1996) carried out a socio-economic assessment of
several wetlands in north-western Morocco,
covering the provinces or prefectures of Tangier,
Tétouan, Larache, Chefchaouen and parts of
Kénitra and Al Hoceima. The authors carried out
469 surveys at 58 stations scattered over this area.
Relevant results of this study are presented in
Table 4.3. Employment rates directly linked to
wetlands varied widely from one station to another,
representing 19.8% ± 11.5% of seasonal workers
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
and 6.0% ± 4.0% of those with permanent jobs.
Similarly, the authors mentioned that artisans have
only a summer season of three to four months with
a potential daily net income in the range of MAD
46.7 ± 32.2/day/person (USD 5.24 ± 3.86).
Table 4.3 shows the importance of certain species
to the local economy in terms of income generated
for households and/or individuals in Morocco.
These species are also used across the rest of the
NAR, where they are expected to play a similar
role in rural economies. Sparganium erectum
(NTRG), Typha angustifolia (LCRG) and Arundo
donax (LCRG) are aquatic plants harvested to make
handicrafts and household goods and to feed
livestock. Typha angustifolia, for example, can
produce up to 217 tonnes of fresh biomass per
hectare in the wetlands of north-western Morocco,
which results in an annual gross income of around
USD 9,000 per hectare. Portulaca oleracea (LCRG)
is cultivated in rural areas near Rabat, where the
annual harvest can bring in MAD 500 (USD 60) for
an average household (Rhazi, unpublished data,
2011). Phragmites australis is a widely used and
economically important species across the world
(see Case study 4.2). Although these species are
not at risk of extinction, they are known to be
affected by habitat loss and degradation caused by
agriculture, water abstraction, land reclamation and
water pollution, all of which are anthropogenically
derived threats.
The significance of some of these species is patent
when revenues are compared to the per capita
agricultural GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in
Morocco, which was USD 726 in 2004 (IFAD,
2007). Indeed, some of these plants can provide
an annual income that is even higher than the per
capita agricultural GDP in Morocco (see Table 4.3).
Figure 4.6 summarizes information on who carries
out harvesting, how plants are harvested, when
they are harvested and whether they are traded.
This information was extracted from the database
created for this project by choosing the plants in
Morocco for which the answer to the four questions
was available. While this information should not be
generalized to the whole region, it provides an
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
Table 4.3. Monetary value of selected aquatic plant species in some wetland areas in Morocco
SPECIES
Arundo donax
AREA oF STUDy
VALUE
Wetlands of north-western
Morocco
USD 3.97/person/day
DESCRIPTIoN
Potential revenue from harvest.
Annual gross financial product of
harvesting is estimated at USD
8,929/ha.
Harvested for use as construction
and craft material.
Potential revenue from harvest.
Wetlands of north-western
Morocco
USD 10.8/person/day
Iris pseudacorus
Morocco
USD 7.95/person/day
Net potential revenue from harvest.
Harvested to be sold as an
ornamental plant, and for medicinal
use.
Juncus spp.
Merja Zerga
USD 121.68/household/year
Average net annual income from
harvest.
Cladium mariscus
Harvested for basketry and
thatching. Also used as a dye.
Harvested for making handicrafts
and thatching.
Mentha pulegium
Benslimane
USD 120/household/year
Household revenue in rural
temporary wetland areas.
Harvested for food, medicinal use,
for its aromatic properties and
extraction of essential oils.
Phragmites australis
Wetlands of north-western
Morocco
USD 6/person/day
Net potential revenue from harvest.
Harvested for making handicrafts
and thatching.
Portulaca oleracea
Rural areas near Rabat
USD 60/household/year
Estimated revenue from harvest in
rural areas near Rabat.
Harvested for food.
Sparganium erectum
Typha angustifolia
Wetlands of north-western
Morocco
Wetlands of north-western
Morocco
USD 7,674/ha/year
Estimated annual gross financial
product of local harvest is USD
7,674 /ha.
USD 5.52/person/day
Harvested for making handicrafts
(mats, baskets) and to be used as
fodder.
USD 10.66/person/day
Potential revenue from harvest.
Estimated annual gross financial
product of harvesting is USD
9,641/ha.
Harvested for making handicrafts.
Values in Moroccan dirham were converted to US dollars at the rate MAD 1 = USD 0.12
interesting livelihoods snapshot as these 58
reach local markets. All species are harvested
species represent 40% of the aquatic plants known
seasonally, mostly in spring and summer.
to be utilized in northern Africa. Aquatic plants are
mainly collected by women, either alone or
In addition to their economic value derived from
accompanied by men or children. This harvest is
direct use, some wetland plants provide water
carried out manually or with the aid of simple tools
treatment, which is of great economic importance
such as sickles and mattocks. Most species are
in northern Africa. For example, according to the
used for subsistence, although 33% of the species
National Office of Drinking Water in Morocco
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Who harvests?
How plants are harvested?
When plants are harvested?
Are plants traded?
Figure 4.6. The harvest of 58 aquatic plants in Morocco (source: IUCN Freshwater Biodiversity Unit).
(ONEP), the volume of wastewater discharged into
the Restinga Smir wetland in north-western
Morocco is estimated at 215,570 m3/year. The cost
of cleaning the water by industrial processes is in
the order of MAD 316,890/year (USD 38,027).
Water purification provided by hygrophytes
contributes up to 12% to the annual partial usage
value of Restinga Smir, which amounts to MAD 2.6
million (USD 312,000) (Khattabi & Sefriti, 2005).
4.3.2. Other northern African countries
In Tunisia, freshwater plants are also an important
resource for poor rural communities. The Garâa
Sejenane is a vast, complex plain with a system of
temporary ponds in the Mogods region in northern
Tunisia, which covers 2,500 hectares and is known
for its high botanical value (Ferchichi-Ben Jamaa,
et al., 2010). The inhabitants of this region live in
relatively isolated small villages known as douars.
Their livelihoods are based on subsistence
agriculture, including crop rotation and livestock
farming. According to an ethnobotanical survey
conducted in the area in 2010 (Ben Haj Jilani, et
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
al., unpublished), all 518 households spread over
eight douars used Juncus acutus (LCRG),
Phragmites australis (LCRG) and Typha
domingensis (DDRG) to thatch the roofs of their
houses. Mentha pulegium (LCRG) was used as a
medicinal plant to treat fevers and colds, or yielded
pigments for painting. Threats to these species
include habitat loss and degradation due to
agriculture-related activities, water abstraction and
pollution, and urbanization. Besides grasses,
aquatic plants in the genera Isoetes (Quillworts)
and Rumex (Docks) were recorded as being eaten
by livestock. Rumex tunetanus (CR) is very rare
and endemic to the Garâa Sejenane area in
Tunisia; it was recorded as being grazed by cattle,
along with other species of the same genus.
Threats to this species are drainage, agricultural
expansion, grazing and the development of road
infrastructure.
The data presented in this section provide
evidence that aquatic plants play a significant role
in rural economies and are used and traded by
people across northern Africa. The number of
people involved in these activities is not known,
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
although some examples presented here
demonstrate that aquatic plants contribute to
annual household incomes and provide other
products and services, such as structural materials
for building homes, feed for livestock and
medicines used by thousands of rural settlers
across northern Africa. However, more detailed
information, including specifically livelihoodtargeted field research, will be required in order to
obtain firmer and more conclusive results. Such
research was beyond the objectives of this current
desktop study.
4.4. CROP WILD RELATIVES—VALUE FOR
THE FUTURE
Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) are wild species with a
close genetic similarity to cultivated crops. The
definition of CWR and the determination of different
grades of CWR depending on the genetic proximity
of the species are dealt with in detail by Maxted et
al. (2006). Brehm et al. (2010) provide an example
of CWR selection for a specific region. Interest in
CWR has increased in recent years, as their value
and growing use have been widely recognized by
the global conservation community. CWR are now
considered a critical component in the conservation
of plant resources for food and agriculture (Maxted,
et al., 2010). CWR provide genetic resources for
the future, as they are a source of genes for crop
improvement via both traditional breeding and
biotechnology, which will allow agriculture to adapt
to a changing world. There are many global
initiatives and regional policy instruments that aim
to conserve CWR. CWR are recognized in the
CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture, the European Plant
Conservation Strategy, etc. (see Maxted, et al.,
2010, for more information). From an economic
perspective, global trade in CWR is worth an
estimated USD 115 billion.
Some studies aiming to identify how many CWR
there are have come up with significant numbers of
species. For example, Kell et al. (2008) reported
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
that 85% of the European Flora consists of crops
and CWR species. Clearly, these numbers should
lead to prioritization strategies in order to direct
conservation efforts at the CWR that are most at
risk of being lost and to identify the most relevant
areas in terms of species richness and economic
importance. CWR prioritization methods are being
developed (Brehm, et al., 2010) and the
identification of CWR around the world is under
way.
In this study it was decided whether a species is a
CWR or not without entering into detail about its
genetic proximity to the crop. The aim of this
approach was to highlight another important socioeconomic value of wild plants: they are a genetic
resource that enables future generations to ensure
their food supply while providing the means to
address agricultural issues that may arise (through
resistance to disease, drought or climate change,
for instance). In this respect, 342 species in this
study were identified as CWR by the IUCN/SCC
Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group (Lala &
Maxted, 2011). If the number of aquatic plants of
socio-economic value in northern Africa is
recalculated once CWR have been included in the
equation, the proportion is striking: 66% of aquatic
plants in the region should be considered of socioeconomic value. While the global importance of
CWR is irrefutable, these results are presented
separately in order to differentiate between
potential and actual uses of aquatic plants.
However, it should be stressed that 44.1% (151
species) of CWR identified are already being used
in northern Africa or sub-Saharan Africa.
Given the difficulty of collecting and conserving all
CWR, the preservation of CWR genetic reserves in
situ is necessary and imperative. In this regard,
Figure 4.7 maps the distribution of all wild relatives
identified. This map reveals, not surprisingly, that
the areas where CWR are most abundant coincide
with patterns of species richness (Figure 4.8), i.e.
the coastal plains and Rif mountain range of
Morocco, the coastal mountain ranges of Algeria
and Tunisia, and the Nile Delta and lower Nile in
Egypt, all of which are important areas for CWR.
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 4.7. Distribution of Crop Wild Relatives in the northern African region.
4.5. PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION
Three regional biodiversity hotspots for aquatic
plants (Figure 4.8) have been identified in northern
Africa. These are the Betico-Rifan arc stretching
across Morocco and western Algeria (1), the Middle
Atlas and High Atlas mountains in Morocco (2), and
the Kabylias–Numidia–Kroumiria complex (3)
running from north-eastern Algeria to the Kroumiria
region in Tunisia. These areas were obtained by
combining catchments where at least 104 species
occur or where at least 10 species endemic to
northern Africa occur (for further information see
Rhazi & Grillas, 2010). Species richness patterns for
all plants also reveal other important areas, such as
the lower Nile basin, including the Nile Delta, and
the Atlantic plains of Morocco (Figure 4.9). The
pattern of richness for plants of socio-economic
value is shown in Figure 4.10. At first glance, areas
where there are larger numbers of utilized species
cover the three biodiversity hotspots described
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above, as well as the Nile Delta region. A closer look
shows that the Rif and Middle Atlas mountain
ranges are the main areas where a large number of
species are utilized. Some of these plants are
endemic to the region, such as Mentha suaveolens
ssp. timija and Mentha gattefossei, which are strictly
endemic to Morocco and globally listed as Near
Threatened. In addition, the Atlantic plains of
Morocco are not only significant areas in terms of
species richness and endemism (Figures 4.8 and
4.9), but they also have a large number of species
of socio-economic importance (Figure 4.10).
Other important areas are northern Tunisia and
eastern Algeria, between the eastern Tell Atlas and
the coastal area north of the Aurès Mountains.
These also hold important conservation sites,
including El Kala National Park, which is a Ramsar
site in Algeria, and the Garâa Sejenane in the
Mogods area in Tunisia, both identified as
Important Plant Areas (IPAs).
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
3
1
AP
2
Figure 4.8. Map of the three regional biodiversity hotspots for endemic aquatic plants in northern Africa: (1) the Betico-Rifan
arc; (2) the Middle and High Atlas; (3) Kabylias–Numidia–Kroumiria (source: Rhazi and Grillas, 2010).
AP: Atlantic Plains of northern Morocco.
Figure 4.9. Distribution of species richness for aquatic plants in the northern African region.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 4.10. Distribution of species of socio-economic value in northern Africa. Note that CWR are not included in this map unless they
are currently being used.
Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in the south and
species and diversity (Radford, et al., 2011).
east Mediterranean were recently identified in a
Areas identified in this study as important and
project involving PlantLife International, IUCN
which also include IPAs are the Middle and High
and WWF (Radford, et al., 2011). This project
Atlas in Morocco, and the Nile Delta and lower
identified 207 IPAs in the south and east
Nile basin in Egypt.
Mediterranean region. In northern Africa, 78 IPAs
Figure 4.11 reveals the distribution of species that
were identified overall in Morocco (19), Algeria
are both threatened and of economic importance.
(21), Tunisia (13), Libya (5) and Egypt (20). While
These are places where conservation action is
IPAs do not focus on aquatic plants, they do
needed to: i) save species from exctinction, and ii)
include some important freshwater systems and
protect a resource that is valued and used by local
provide an insight into where some of the most
people. Two important areas emerge from this
ecologically important sites are located from a
study: the Rif mountain range and Mediterranean
plant conservation perspective and, as discussed
coast of Morocco, and the Kabylias–Numidia–
above, they overlap with important areas for
Kroumiria–Mogods complex, from north-eastern
freshwater plant conservation. IPAs are also
Algeria to the Mogods region in Tunisia, including
considered critically important for the
the Sejenane region, which has been mentioned
Mediterranean region because they support the
before as an area that includes several RAMSAR
livelihoods of many people, provide ecosystem
sites and IPAs. There is also a significant number
services such as water and flood control, prevent
of threatened species of socio-economic value in
desertification and are a reservoir of genetic
the Nile Delta area.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
Figure 4.11. Distribution of threatened species that are of socio-economic value in northern Africa.
4.6. THREATS TO SPECIES OF SOCIOECONOMIC VALUE
At least one in five (20.28%) utilized freshwater
plants in northern Africa is threatened with extinction
in the region. The main threats to such species in
northern Africa are the same as those that affect all
other aquatic plants in the region. Habitat loss and
degradation are affecting 95% of the aquatic plants
species in ancient Egypt and remains of this species
were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb (Carvalho &
Fernandes, 2003). Mentha cervina, which is found in
Algeria, Morocco and other Mediterranean
countries, is listed as CRRG in northern Africa. It is a
species in the mint family that may be specifically or
accidentally targeted for use but it has not been
recorded as being as severely affected by
in northern Africa (Rhazi & Grillas, 2010). The main
harvesting as other Mentha species (see Table 4.4).
causes of habitat loss are over-abstraction of
Its main threats are the destruction of the habitat by
ground water, agricultural development and
anthropogenic activities such as hydrological
intensification, infrastructure development and
changes due to drainage or permanent flooding,
pumping of polluted surface water into wetlands. For
agriculture, land reclamation, and dams. The small
example, the Blue Egyptian Water Lily (Nymphaea
number of populations and their remoteness put
nouchali caerulea, formerly known as Nymphaea
caerulea) is an emblematic species in Egypt that is
now listed as Critically Endangered (CRRG). The
rhizome and fruit of this species are edible and have
also been used since ancient times as a medicine
and perfume. It was a very common and valued
them at risk of extinction in the Maghreb countries.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
Cyperus papyrus (VURG) is another example of a
threatened species that is utilized in Africa and was
very common in Egypt. It is now very restricted in
the region, where it is found in the wild at just a few
sites, but it used to be a very valuable species
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Figure 4.12. Recorded uses for threatened aquatic plant species of socio-economic value in northern Africa (source: IUCN Freshwater
Biodiversity Unit). Note that a single species may be used for several purposes.
extensively utilized as a paper-like material in
ancient Egypt for centuries until it was outcompeted
by more effective materials. Other recorded uses of
the species in Africa include medicinal, food
(rhizomes), materials for construction and
handicrafts, and ornamental. In Egypt papyrus reeds
are cultivated on a small scale for making papyrus
scrolls, which are painted with scenes and figures
copied from original paintings on tomb walls and are
very popular among tourists. This is a profitable
business for some companies established on the
banks of the Nile in Giza, near Cairo, where this
activity is currently carried out (Zahran & Willis,
2003).
Seventeen threatened species are used as
medicinal plants (Figure 4.12). Some of them, such
as Butomus umbellatus (VURG) and Menyanthes
trifoliata (VURG), have northern Africa as the southern
limit of their range; they are rare in the region and
are affected by agriculture, which has caused
deterioration of the soils and ecosystems along
freshwater systems. They are used in Egypt, Algeria
and Morocco. Menyanthes trifoliata has been used to
treat poor digestion, lack of appetite, anaemia and
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
intestinal parasites in Egypt and Morocco. Butomus
umbellatus seeds and underground stems have
been reported to be used in Algeria as an emollient
with healing properties. Mentha cervina is listed as
CRRG in northern Africa and NTRG in the
Mediterranean. Like most species in this genus it has
medicinal properties and is reported to be
occasionally used at a local scale with other Mentha
species. It is threatened by habitat degradation due
to anthropogenic activities such as hydrological
changes caused by drainage or permanent flooding,
agriculture, land reclamation and dams.
As mentioned throughout this chapter, utilization has
not been identified as a major threat to aquatic plants
in general. Harvesting of wild plants has been
identified as a major threat to eight species (Table
4.4) or 5% of the utilized species in northern Africa.
These include two regionally threatened species and
three Near Threatened species. However, overall
32.3% (41 species) of all threatened plants are
known to be used. This contrasts with the results of
the IPA study mentioned above, which found that
unsustainable plant exploitation affected 33% of the
IPAs included in that study. These results should not
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
be extrapolated to freshwater ecosystems, however,
2.
At least a quarter of the freshwater plants
as the IPA study did not focus on wetland plant use
native to northern Africa are utilized directly by
and its geographical scope was much larger,
people in the region; 70% of these species are
covering the south and east Mediterranean region.
collected from the wild.
Of the 49 sites affected by over-collecting, 12 lie
within the northern African project area.
3.
most predominant are as medicines and food.
Nevertheless, the study emphasized that ‘The threat
Other significant uses include use as
of over collection may provide a conservation
ornamentals, animal feed, production of
opportunity in terms of using plant conservation to
handicrafts and construction materials.
secure livelihoods and assist development’ (Radford,
et al., 2011). Indeed, although a complex issue in
Uses of aquatic plants are diverse but the
4.
One in five (20.28%) of the 143 utilized
some groups, the sustainable collection and/or
aquatic plant species in northern Africa are
cultivation of valuable plants for trade can both help
threatened with extinction. The Rif mountain
to protect the species (since local communities will
range and Mediterranean coast of Morocco,
be interested in preserving their resources) and
the Kabylias–Numidia–Kroumiria–Mogods
provide new sources of income in rural areas.
complex, from north-eastern Algeria to the
Mogods region in Tunisia, and the Nile Delta
area hold large numbers of threatened plants
4.7. TEN CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
of socio-economic value.
5.
Main threats to freshwater species are
The northern African flora includes a great
habitat loss and degradation, which affects
wealth of aquatic plants of socio-economic
up to 95% of the species. This is caused by
value. These play an important role in local
underground water extraction, water
economies where they are traded in markets
pollution, and agricultural and industrial
as medicinal plants, harvested for making
development. At least 5% of utilized aquatic
handicrafts and as construction materials, or
plants are known to be threatened by
cultivated for food.
harvesting.
Table 4.4. Aquatic plant species of socio-economic value threatened by harvesting in northern Africa
SPECIES
REgIoNAL RED LIST CATEgoRy
ADDITIoNAL INFoRMATIoN
Cyperus papyrus
VU
Listed globally as Least Concern
genista ancistrocarpa
EN
Endemic to Morocco and the Iberian peninsula. Listed as
EN in the Mediterranean basin.
Limonium cymuliferum
NT
Endemic to Morocco and Algeria
Mentha gattefossei
NT
Endemic to Morocco
Mentha suaveolens ssp. timija
NT
Endemic to Morocco
Menyanthes trifoliata
EN
Only found in Morocco in Africa. Listed as Least
Concern in the Mediterranean basin
Salix pedicellata
LC
Endemic to the Mediterranean
Typha elephantina
LC
Listed globally as Least Concern
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
6.
The plant families with the largest numbers of
policymakers to take action for the conservation
of freshwater ecosystems.
utilized species are the Sedges (Cyperaceae)
and Grasses (Poaceae), and those providing
the highest socio-economic value in terms of
the numbers of people involved and income
generated are the Grasses (Poaceae), Rushes
(Juncaceae), Mints (Lamiaceae) and Bulrushes
(Typhaceae).
7.
Of the plants included in this study, 66% are
Crop Wild Relatives, with a clear value to
people through providing the genetic base upon
which many commercial crops depend.
8.
The socio-economic value of aquatic plants
should serve as a basis to encourage
9.
Although there is qualitative evidence of the
socio-economic value of aquatic plants in
northern Africa, further studies are necessary to
carry out an overall economic assessment.
10. It is recommended that the cultivation of
medicinal and aromatic plants be developed in
order to reduce pressure on wild plants—almost
all the aromatic and medicinal plants (90%)
harvested and marketed in Morocco are taken
from the wild. The collecting of aquatic plants
(helophytes) should be rationalized locally to
ensure the sustainability of the operation and
thereby boost an artisanal-scale economy.
Woman explaining the ancient art of making papyrus to tourists in Egypt. Photo © golisoda.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
Case study 4.1 Uses and socioeconomic value of Mentha species
in northern Africa
by Rhazi1, L., Grillas2, P. and Juffe-Bignoli3, D.
In north Africa, the genus Mentha
comprises about 11 species (with several
subspecies, forms, varieties and sub
varieties): two are cultivated (M. spicata L.
= M. viridis L., and M. piperita (L.) Huds.),
and nine are wild (Mentha aquatica L.; M.
cervina L.; M. gattefossei Maire; M.
longifolia (L.) Huds. = M. sylvestris L.; M.
niliaca Jacq.; M. pulegium L.; M. rotundifolia
L.; M. suaveolens Ehrh. and Mentha villosa
Hudson). The possibilities of hybridization
between species are numerous, making
them particularly difficult to identify and/or
individualize. They are all herbaceous
perennials of the family Lamiaceae and two
are strict Moroccan endemics (M.
gattefossei Maire and M. suaveolens Ehrh.
ssp. timija (Briq.) Harley). The various
species of mint are found in moist habitats
in plains and mountains (e.g. marshes,
temporary ponds, edges of streams, wet
meadows, bogs and irrigated land).
In the northern Africa Freshwater
Biodiversity Assessment (García, et al.,
2010) seven species and one subspecies of
Mentha were assessed. Only M. cervina
was listed as threatened (CRRG), although
two Moroccan endemics (M. gattefossei and
M. suaveolens ssp. timija) were assessed
as Near Threatened. Main threats to these
species are habitat destruction due to
anthropogenic activities that cause
hydrological changes and temporary
flooding, such as dam construction, water
abstraction or land reclamation for
agriculture. Livestock overgrazing and wild
61
harvesting have also been identified as
threats to these endemics.
Mentha species have been used since
ancient times. Dried leaves dating from the
first millennium BC have been discovered
by archaeologists in the Egyptian pyramids.
Hippocrates and Aristotle used mint as a
sedative and anaesthetic. The various
species of mint are widely used as food,
medicinal and aromatic plants (for
refreshing, antiseptic, tonic, anaesthetic,
analgesic, anti-spasmodic, febrifuge,
diuretic, and antibacterial uses). Similarly,
they are applied externally to relieve insect
bites and also planted around crops as a
natural repellent of crop pests such as
aphids.
Figure 1. Mentha pulegium. Photo © Patrick Grillas, Tour
du Valat.
1
Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Environment, Hassan II Aïn Chock University, Faculty of Sciences, BP 5366, Maarif,
Casablanca, Morocco.
2
Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200, Arles, France.
3
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Mint is grown in Europe, Asia, North America
and northern Africa. It is used in similar ways
across the northern African region. For
example, Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is
mainly used to flavour tea in Morocco,
Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Pennyroyal
(Mentha pulegium) is widely used in all
northern African countries for its medicinal
properties against influenza, colds, coughs
and lung diseases (Boukef, 1986; Chaieb, et
al., 1999; Ould El Hadj, et al., 2003;
Ouelmouhoub, 2005; Hseini & Kahouadji,
2007; Salhi, et al., 2010). It is regarded as a
general treatment for winter diseases. Fresh
or dried leaves of Pennyroyal are also used
as a decoction against abdominal diseases
(ulcers, gastritis and pain). The plant is also
kneaded and then applied externally to the
head to treat acute headaches
(Ouelmouhoub, 2005).
toothpastes, mouthwashes, chewing gum
and soft drinks. In 1992, for example, about
16.5 tonnes of essential oil of Pennyroyal
were exported from Morocco (MATEE, 2004).
An environmentally friendly way of producing
mint in Morocco was developed in 2006–
2007 in the region of El Borouj (Province of
Settat). The organic Spearmint thus
produced is used to flavour tea. Its selling
price was MAD 12/kg (USD 1.4) in 2008,
generating a gross income of USD
113,369/ha/year. Additionally, 3.70 tonnes of
organic mint were exported in 2009–2010,
worth MAD 85,120 (USD 10,096) (El Fadl &
Chtaina, 2010). This is only the beginning
(14 ha of organic crops were certified in
2009); combining local trade with exports of
organic mint is a very promising business
which is likely to contribute significantly to
the national economy in the medium term.
In Morocco, mint is collected mainly by
women and children in the spring or early
summer. A small part is kept for household
use and the rest is sold in weekly markets
(souks) or in the nearest urban centres. The
selling price is MAD 1–2 per bale (USD
0.12–0.24) depending on the size of the
bale. The sale of mint (wild or cultivated)
generates income for local people living near
wetlands or in rural suburban areas. For
example, in the province of Benslimane, the
sale of Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) taken
from temporary pools generates about MAD
1,000/household/year (USD 120). A small
part of the mint produced in Morocco is
exported. Exports in 2009–2010 were around
5,200 tonnes (6.2% of the national mint
harvest), worth USD 12.34 million (El Fadl &
Chtaina, 2010). In addition to local sales and
exports of fresh and dried mint, the
production of essential oils from the mint is
well established in various regions of
Morocco. These oils are used in the
pharmaceutical industry and in the
manufacture of confectionery and liqueurs.
They are used for flavouring creams,
A typical mint tea as served in Casablanca, Morocco.
Photo © David Darricau.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
Case study 4.2 Socio-economic
importance of Phragmites australis
in northern Africa
by Rhazi 1, L., Grillas 2, P., Poulin 2, B. and
Mathevet 3, R.
Phragmites australis (common names: Reed,
Common Reed; Roseau commun in French;
Carrizo in Spanish; Canetto in Italian; Kassab
in Arabic) is a perennial (rhizomatous
geophyte) clonal grass in the family Poaceae.
Present on all continents except Antarctica, it
is probably the most widely distributed
flowering plant on earth. The Common Reed
is found in a wide variety of permanent, semipermanent and temporary wetlands: deltas,
marshes, lake shores, river and channel
edges, roadsides and ditches. It is typically
found in stagnant to slow-moving, fresh or
brackish (0–22 g/l salt content), shallow (0–
1.5 m deep) waters. The main factors limiting
the occurrence and spread of Common
Reeds are water depth, currents or waves,
and hypertrophic and hypersaline conditions.
The species is globally listed as Least
Concern and tends to form monospecific,
productive stands under optimal conditions.
Such sheltered, nutrient-rich reed stands are
important refuges for invertebrates, fish and
birds, with several vulnerable bird species
depending on this habitat for breeding
(Barbraud, et al., 2002; Poulin, et al., 2002;
Poulin, et al., 2009) or migration (Poulin, et
al., 2010).
Phragmites australis has significant socioeconomic value for local people living near
wetlands in northern Africa and in the
Mediterranean basin. Many reedbeds have
been preserved because of the products and
services they provide, which include fibre,
thatching material, food (waterfowl and fish)
Figure 2. Phragmites australis is a widely used and economically important species across the world.
Photo © M.Menand.
1
Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Environment, Hassan II Aïn Chock University, Faculty of Sciences, BP
5366, Maarif, Casablanca, Morocco.
2
Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200, Arles, France.
3
CNRS UMR 5175 CEFE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
and grazing, as well as water purification,
shoreline stabilization, water retention and
flood control. For centuries, reeds have been
cut, dried and used locally for roofing houses,
for windbreaks, hedging, fencing, shading and
also for the manufacture of household items
(such as tables, chairs and cupboards) or
musical instruments (flutes). The sale of reed
stems, either raw (in bundles) or processed
(as handicrafts), generates significant income
and contributes to improving the living
standards of local people. Reed cutting
generates seasonal jobs for the local
workforce.
There is, however, a difference in the way
people exploit Reed in northern and southern
Mediterranean countries. In northern Africa, in
a wetland complex in Smir in northern
Morocco for instance, the biomass produced
by the reed is estimated at 22.95 tonnes/ha
(Ennabili & Ater, 2005). It is harvested by men
from rural settlements close to the reedbeds
by traditional methods using sickles,
generating an income of MAD 50/person/day
(USD 5.9). This entire production is destined
for the domestic market. However, in the
Camargue (Mathevet & Sandoz, 1999) in
southern France, 2,000 ha of reed are
harvested mechanically, yielding 1 to 1.5
million bundles. The turnover of the sector was
EUR 2 million in 1997 for four companies,
mostly family business, generating about 26
Bundle of Phragmites australis being cut in the Camargue, France. Photo © Emilien Duborper, Tour du Valat.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF AQUATIC PLANTS
full-time jobs and 40 seasonal jobs.
Camargue reed is mainly sold in France,
England and the Netherlands.
In addition to the long-standing traditional use
of dry reed, green reed was an important
forage crop for cattle before the agricultural
revolution. Summer harvesting has become
rare, but extensive grazing is still a common
practice in Mediterranean wetlands, with
Phragmites australis being one of the most
appetizing plants due to its high protein
content (Mesléard & Perennou, 1996).
Waterfowl hunting, commercial or sport
fishing, and ecotourism are other economic
activities not specific to, but frequently
associated with reedbeds, especially those
enclosing large open-water areas.
The plastic morphology of reed stems and
the ability of rhizomes to store reserves
increase the plant’s resistance to stress and
pollution. Bacterial activity around the
rhizomes, through aerobic and anaerobic
processes, give the plant good waterpurification properties (Chu, et al., 2006;
Stamati, et al., 2010). This biological process
occurs within natural ecosystems (deltas,
lakes, and canals) and can be transferred to
semi-natural or constructed beds (Figure 2)
for the treatment of waste water from villages
and hamlets. This phytopurification process is
increasingly being used in southern France,
but is only in its early stages in northern
Africa (e.g. Smir in the M’diq region in
northern Morocco and Ouargla wilayah in
Algeria).
Figure 3. Water treatment plant using Phragmites australis in southern France. Photo © Brigitte Poulin,
Tour du Valat.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
5
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Diego Juffe-Bignoli1 and William R. Darwall1
An herbalist and healer in Morocco. Usually acting as doctors and pharmacists in rural Morocco, they often use aquatic species for their
treatments. Photo © M. Melhaoui.
1
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Global Species Programme, Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ONE IN THREE FRESHWATER SPECIES
IN NORTHERN AFRICA IS OF SOCIOECONOMIC VALUE
the only option available for local communities. For
example, small-scale inland fisheries have been
recognized to play a role as a ‘safety net’, in that
This is the first time that a study has been
conducted at the species level to collate and
integrate information on the socio-economic value
of freshwater species and the threats to those
species. The findings are most revealing. The high
socio-economic value of freshwater species is
clearly demonstrated, with 46.06% of fish and
27.61% of plants utilized in some way by people
(Table 5.1). These figures include only the direct
uses of species; the total numbers are undoubtedly
much greater once the many indirect benefits—not
accounted for in this study— are included, such as
the provision of drinking water, nutrient cycling,
flood prevention or genetic materials (see Section
1.1). For example, if Crop Wild Relatives (CWR)
were regarded as an indicator of value (see section
4.4), 66% of aquatic plants would be considered to
be of socio-economic value. Of these CWR
species, 24.92% are already threatened, largely
through human exploitation of wetland ecosystems
most often with little, if any, regard for the
conservation or sustainable use of these
ecosystems and their associated species. We
therefore conclude that a valuable resource—the
freshwater species making up wetland
ecosystems—is rapidly being lost through human
actions, since 24.75% of all utilized species are
threatened (Table 5.1.), and that many people who
rely directly on these species are likely to suffer as
a consequence.
This loss can be particularly critical when access to
the resources that healthy ecosystems provide is
fishing can provide an alternative or additional
source of income or food to livelihoods that have
been hit by periods of civil unrest or economic
crisis (Welcomme, et al., 2010).
INVOLVING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND
ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE
EXPLOITATION
Local communities whose livelihoods depend on
natural resources should be considered and
consulted in conservation planning activities as
they are the first to be affected by habitat
modification. Local stakeholders need to be
encouraged to develop and/or participate in
sustainable harvesting and/or farming programmes
and in ecotourism initiatives that can help to protect
these resources. It is also recommended that
revenue-generating projects be developed for local
people to reduce pressure on natural environments
and to boost local economies.
INTEGRATING SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE
IN THE PLANNING PROCESS
The value of freshwater species still fails to be
appreciated and is rarely adequately considered in
decision-making processes relating to the
exploitation and development of wetlands. The
total value of wetland ecosystems, supported by
the many freshwater species studied here, must be
factored into decision making. Ultimately this
Table 5.1 Socio-economic value and level of threat for freshwater fishes and aquatic plants in the
northern African region
group
All species
Species utilized in
northern Africa
Threatened
(all species)
Threatened
(utilized species)
Freshwater fishes
128
59 (46.06%)
35 (27.34%)
21 (35.59%)
Aquatic plants
518
143 (27.61%)
127 (24.51%)
29 (20.28%)
All species
646
202 (31.26%)
162 (25.07%)
50 (24.75%)
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
information could be linked to other geographical
information associated with human development,
such as rural poverty, agricultural intensification or
water security.
We recommend that Environmental Impact
Assessments be conducted before any actions that
impact on wetlands are approved and that they
include a fully balanced cost/benefit analysis based
on the inclusion of a total economic valuation of the
wetland in question. Subsequent actions should, in
appreciation of these values, ensure the adequate
conservation and/or sustainable use of these
wetland resources. If we continue to destroy and
degrade inland wetlands and their associated
species at the rate at which we are doing so today
we will, often unwittingly, cause the loss of many
species to the great detriment of the large numbers
of people who depend upon them for many aspects
of their daily lives. The conservation value of
species has long been recognized by organizations
such as IUCN but this study now also confirms the
great socio-economic value these species bring to
our society. Given the high level of threat to these
species, as recorded by the IUCN Red List, the
time has come to rethink our approach to the
development and exploitation of wetlands.
FURTHER RESEARCH
Information on the socio-economic value of species
is not easily accessible, as it is often scattered,
kept in people’s heads, or published in the grey
literature. The information presented here was
collated through a combination of literature survey
and email correspondence alone. It was outside
the scope of the project to draw directly upon the
wealth of knowledge of individuals, such as would
be possible through workshops. It is therefore
highly recommended that regional workshops be
held to better access the wealth of additional
information that could not be accessed through this
study.
This study of the socio-economic value of
freshwater ecosystems in northern Africa raises
important questions, such as what results would be
obtained if the same kind of analyses were
performed on the vast and renowned freshwater
ecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa (i.e. the Congo
basin, Zambezi basin and eastern Great Lakes).
We therefore encourage scientists and
organizations to carry out similar studies
investigating socio-economic value at a species
level, in order to reveal the true importance of
species to local communities.
Osmunda regalis in a small peat swamp in la Garâa Sejenane, Mogods, Tunisia. This fern is used across northern Africa as an
ornamental plant. The roots are diuretic, astringent and tonic. Listed regionally as LC. Photo © Amina Daoud-Bouattour.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
APPENDICES
6
APPENDICES
Appendix 1—List of freshwater fish species of socio-economic value
Appendix 2—List of aquatic plant species of socio-economic value
Use of rushes (Juncus spp.) for traditional basketry in a market in Marrakech, Morocco. Photo © M. Sheppard.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Appendix 1 — List of freshwater fish species of socio-economic value
FAMILy
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
ALESTIIDAE
Alestes baremoze
Meloha
RE
END USES
Food
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
Western Africa,
Eastern Africa,
Nile Basin
ALESTIIDAE
Alestes dentex
Kawwara Baladi
VU
Food
Nile Basin
ALESTIIDAE
Brycinus macrolepidotus
True Big-scale Tetra
RE
Food
Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa
ALESTIIDAE
Brycinus nurse
Nurse Tetra
DD
Food, Aquarium
ALESTIIDAE
Hydrocynus brevis
Kalb El Bahr Brevis
RE
Food
Africa
ALESTIIDAE
Hydrocynus forskahlii
Elongate Tiger Fish
LC
Food, Gamefish
Africa
ALESTIIDAE
Hydrocynus vittatus
Tiger Fish
DD
Food, Gamefish
Nile Basin, Africa
ALESTIIDAE
Micralestes acutidens
Sharptooth Tetra
RE
Food, Aquarium, Bait
Sub-Saharan Africa
ANABANTIDAE
Ctenopoma kingsleyae
Tailspot Ctenopoma
DD
Food, Aquarium
Sub-Saharan Africa
ANGUILLIDAE
Anguilla anguilla
European Eel
EN
Food
Europe, Mediterranean,
Northern Africa
ARAPAIMIDAE
Heterotis niloticus
Heterotis
RE
Food, Aquarium,
Aquaculture
Sub-Saharan Africa
BAGRIDAE
Bagrus bajad
Bayad
LC
Food, Gamefish
Nile Basin, Northern Africa,
Western Africa,
Eastern Africa
BAGRIDAE
Bagrus docmak
Semutundu
LC
Food, Gamefish
Nile Basin, Northern Africa,
Western Africa,
Eastern Africa
BLENNIIDAE
Salaria fluviatilis
Freshwater Blenny
LC
Aquarium
Europe, Mediterranean
CICHLIDAE
Astatotilapia bloyeti
Bloyet's Haplo
VU
Food, Aquarium
Western Africa,
Eastern Africa
CICHLIDAE
Hemichromis bimaculatus
Jewelfish
EN
Food, Aquarium
Africa
CICHLIDAE
Hemichromis fasciatus
Banded Jewelfish
DD
Food, Aquarium,
Aquaculture
Nile Basin, Western Africa,
Eastern Africa
CICHLIDAE
Oreochromis aureus
Blue Tilapia
LC
Food, Aquarium, Aquaculture
Africa, Egypt
CICHLIDAE
Oreochromis niloticus
Nile Tilapia
LC (Global)
Food, Aquaculture
Africa, Egypt
CICHLIDAE
Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor
multicolor
Egyptian Mouthbrooder
DD
Aquarium
Unknown
CICHLIDAE
Sarotherodon galilaeus galilaeus
Mango Tilapia
LC
Food
Africa, Egypt
CICHLIDAE
Sarotherodon melanotheron heudelotii
Mango Fish
DD
Food
Western Africa
CICHLIDAE
Sarotherodon melanotheron
notheron
Blackchin Tilapia
DD
Food, Aquarium, Aquaculture
Western Africamela
CICHLIDAE
Thoracochromis wingatii
DD
Food
Egypt, Sudan
CICHLIDAE
Tilapia guineensis
Guinean Tilapia
DD
Food, Aquarium, Aquaculture
Western Africa,
Central Africa
CICHLIDAE
Tilapia rendalli
Redbreast Tilapia
DD
Food
Western Africa,
Southern Africa
CICHLIDAE
Tilapia zillii
Redbelly Tilapia
LC
Food, Aquarium, Aquaculture
Northern Africa,
Eastern Africa
CITHARINIDAE
Citharinus citharus citharus
Moon Fish
VU
Food, Aquarium
Egypt, Western Africa,
Central Africa
CITHARINIDAE
Citharinus latus
VU
Food
Lake Nasser, Eastern Africa,
Western Africa,
Central Africa
CITHARINIDAE
Distichodus engycephalus
RE
Food
Central Africa,
Western Africa
CITHARINIDAE
Distichodus rostratus
RE
Food
Eastern Africa,
Western Africa
CITHARINIDAE
Ichthyborus besse besse
RE
Food
North-eastern Africa,
Western Africa
DD
Food
Egypt, Western Africa,
North-eastern Africa
CLARIIDAE
Clarias anguillaris
Mudfish
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 — List of freshwater fish species of socio-economic value
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
CLARIIDAE
Clarias gariepinus
North African Catfish
LC
Food, Gamefish, Aquaculture
Nile Basin,
Sub-Saharan Africa
CLARIIDAE
Heterobranchus bidorsalis
Garmout
VU
Food
Egypt, Chad, Sudan,
Western Africa
CLARIIDAE
Heterobranchus longifilis
Sampa, Vundu
VU
Food, Aquaculture,
Gamefish
Egypt, Chad, Sudan,
Western Africa
CLAROTEIDAE
Auchenoglanis biscutatus
Dokman
VU
Food, Aquarium
Sub-Saharan Africa,
Nile Basin
CLAROTEIDAE
Auchenoglanis occidentalis
Bubu
VU
Food
Nile Basin,
Sub-Saharan Africa
CLAROTEIDAE
Chrysichthys auratus
Abu Rial
DD
Food
Northern Africa,
Western Africa
CLAROTEIDAE
Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus
Bagrid Catfish
DD
Food, Gamefish,
Aquaculture
Sub-Saharan Africa
CLAROTEIDAE
FAMILy
END USES
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
Clarotes laticeps
Widehead Catfish
RE
Food
Sub-Saharan Africa
CLUPEIDAE
Alosa alosa
Allis Shad
RE
Food
Europe, Morocco
CLUPEIDAE
Alosa fallax
Twait Shad
RE
Food
Europe, Morocco
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus anema
Benni Anema
RE
Food, Aquarium
Nile Basin, Western Africa,
Central Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus bynni bynni
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus callensis
Algerian Barb
LC
Food
Nile Basin
LC
Food, Aquarium
Northern Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus figuiguensis
LC
Food
Morocco
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus moulouyensis
LC
Food
Morocco
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus nasus
NT
Food
Morocco
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus neglectus
Benni Neglectis
RE
Food
Ethiopia, Sudan,
Lake Nasser
Fahdah
Nile Basin, Western Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus perince
VU
Food
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus pobeguini
DD
Food
Western Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus stigmatopygus
DD
Food
Eastern Africa, Western Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Barbus yeiensis
DD
Food
Nile Basin, Chad, Sudan
CYPRINIDAE
Chelaethiops bibie
EN
Food
Eastern Africa, Western Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Labeo coubie
African Carp
EN
Food, Public Aquaria
Sub-Saharan Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Labeo niloticus
Nile Labeo
LC
Food
Nile Basin
CYPRINIDAE
Leptocypris niloticus
Nile Minnow
EN
Food
Eastern Africa, Western Africa
CYPRINIDAE
Raiamas senegalensis
Silver Fish
EN
Food
Nile Basin,
Sub-Saharan Africa
DD
Aquarium
Unknown
LC
Aquarium
Persian Gulf, Red Sea,
Indian Ocean
Mediterranean
CYPRINODONTIDAE
Aphanius apodus
CYPRINODONTIDAE Aphanius dispar dispar
CYPRINODONTIDAE
Aphanius fasciatus
LC
Aquarium
CYPRINODONTIDAE
Aphanius saourensis
Sahara Aphanius
CR
Aquarium
Unknown
GYMNARCHIDAE
Gymnarchus niloticus
Aba, Gefar
DD
Food
Egypt, Western Africa,
Central Africa
Lates niloticus
Nile Perch
DD
Food, Aquaculture
Nile Basin, Western Africa,
Central Africa, Eastern Africa
Malapterurus electricus
Electric Catfish
VU
Food, Public Aquaria,
Gamefish
Nile Basin, Western Africa,
Eastern Africa, Zambia
Mokawkas Nili
Eastern Africa, Western Africa
LATIDAE
MALAPTERURIDAE
MOCHOKIDAE
Mochokus niloticus
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis batensoda
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis clarias
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis filamentosus
VU
Food
RE
Food, Aquarium
Western Africa
Mandi, Shilane
VU
Food
Nile Basin, Northern Africa,
Western Africa
Mbakorobo
DD
Food
Nile Basin,
Central African Republic,
Western Africa
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Appendix 1 — List of freshwater fish species of socio-economic value
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis frontosus
Sudan Squeaker
DD
Food
Nile Basin, Eastern Africa,
Western Africa
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis membranaceus
Galabaya
RE
Food
North-eastern Africa
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis nigrita
Kerkar Kabir
DD
Food
Western Africa
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis schall
Wahrindi
LC
Food, Gamefish
Nile Basin, Western Africa
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis serratus
Shaal
VU
Food
Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan
MOCHOKIDAE
Synodontis sorex
Egungigi
DD
Food
Egypt, Western Africa
Silver Moony
DD
Food, Aquarium
Red Sea, Egypt,
Eastern Africa,
Japan, Australia,
Mekong Delta
RE
Food
Western Africa
Anoma
VU
Food
Nile Basin, Nigeria, Chad
FAMILy
MONODACTYLIDAE Monodactylus argenteus
MORMYRIDAE
Hyperopisus bebe bebe
MORMYRIDAE
Marcusenius cyprinoides
END USES
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus caschive
Elephant Snout
VU
Food
Egypt
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus hasselquistii
Anomah Hasselquist
RE
Food
Western Africa
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus kannume
Bottlenose
VU
Food, Aquarium
Nile Basin, Eastern Africa
MORMYRIDAE
Mormyrus niloticus
Anomah Nilieh
RE
Food
Eastern Africa
Ros El Hagar
Western Africa, Nile Basin
MORMYRIDAE
Petrocephalus bane bane
MORMYRIDAE
Petrocephalus bovei bovei
MORMYRIDAE
Pollimyrus isidori isidori
OPHICHTHIDAE
Elephant Fish
Dalophis boulengeri
VU
Food, Aquarium
RE
Food
Sub-Saharan Africa
VU
Food, Aquarium
Nile Basin, Gambia Basin,
Niger Basin, Volta Basin,
Chad Basin
DD
Food
Eastern Africa,
Western Africa, Central Africa
Egypt, Western Africa
Micropanchax pfaffi
Pfaff's Lampeye
DD
Aquarium
Polypterus bichir bichir
Emsir
RE
Food, Public Aquaria
Africa
Gray Bichir
DD
Food
Egypt, Western Africa,
Eastern Africa, Central Africa
Protopterus aethiopicus
aethiopicus
Dabib Elhoot, Marbled Lungfish
DD
Food
Eastern Africa,
Zambia, Egypt
SALMONIDAE
Salmo akairos
Truite Naine Du Lac Ifni
VU
Food
Morocco
POECILIIDAE
POLYPTERIDAE
POLYPTERIDAE Polypterus senegalus senegalus
PROTOPTERIDAE
SALMONIDAE
Salmo macrostigma
DD
Gamefish
Algeria, Morocco
SCHILBEIDAE
Parailia pellucida
DD
Food, Aquarium
Central Africa, Western Africa
SCHILBEIDAE
Schilbe mystus
LC
Food, Aquarium, Gamefish
Nile Basin, Northern Africa,
Western Africa, Central Africa
SCHILBEIDAE
Schilbe uranoscopus
VU
Food
Nile Basin, Western Africa
SCHILBEIDAE
Siluranodon auritus
RE
Food
Western Africa
TETRAODONTIDAE
Tetraodon lineatus
DD
Aquarium
Nile Basin, Western Africa,
Eastern Africa
Fahaka Assielah
Catch of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Egypt. Photo © Sherif Sadek.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
APPENDICES
Appendix 2 — List of aquatic plant species1 of socio-economic value.
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Maidenhair Fern
LC
FAMILy
ADIANTACEAE
ALISMATACEAE
Alisma gramineum
ALISMATACEAE
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Medicinal, Ornamental
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
Morocco, Algeria, Egypt,
Libya, China, Europe
NT
Medicinal
Egypt
Great Water Plantain
LC
Medicinal, Food, Ornamental
Egypt, Morocco, Algeria
ALISMATACEAE
Baldellia ranunculoides
NT
Aquarium
Unknown
ALISMATACEAE
Damasonium bourgaei
Starfruit
NT
Food
Mediterranean
AMARANTHACEAE
Alternanthera sessilis
Sessile Joyweed, Sanchi
LC
Food, Animal feed, Medicinal,
Aquarium
India, Sub-Saharan Africa,
Asia
APIACEAE
Apium graveolens
LC
Food, Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Libya, Egypt
APIACEAE
Apium nodiflorum
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
APIACEAE
Berula erecta
Cutleaf Waterparsnip
LC
Medicinal
Mediterranean
APIACEAE
Hydrocotyle vulgaris
Marsh Pennywort
LC
Ornamental
Europe, Mediterranean
Hemlock Water Dropwort
LC
Medicinal
Europe
LC
Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria
APIACEAE
Oenanthe crocata
APIACEAE
Oenanthe fistulosa
ARACEAE
Lemna aequinoctialis
LC
Food, Medicinal
Namibia
ARACEAE
Lemna gibba
Gibbous Duckweed
LC
Food
Mediterranean, Africa
ARACEAE
Lemna minor
Duckweed
LC
Medicinal, Food
Mediterranean, Africa,
South-East Asia
Chain Fern
Algeria, China
BLECHNACEAE
Woodwardia radicans
VU
Medicinal, Ornamental, Handicrafts
BRASSICACEAE
Cardamine pratensis atlantica
VU
Food, Medicinal
Morocco
BRASSICACEAE
Nasturtium officinale
DD
Medicinal
Morocco, Egypt
Rorippa indica
BRASSICACEAE
Butomus umbellatus
BUTOMACEAE
Flowering Rush
LC
Food, Medicinal
Unknown
EN
Food, Medicinal, Handicrafts
Europe, Mediterranean,
Egypt, Algeria
Sphenoclea zeylanica
DD
Food
Java
CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Spergularia
media intermedia
DD
Medicinal
Morocco
CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Spergularia
media occidentalis
NT
Medicinal
Morocco
CERATOPHYLLACEAE
Ceratophyllum
demersum
LC
Aquarium
Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Egypt
CERATOPHYLLACEAE
Ceratophyllum
muricatum
LC
Aquarium
Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Egypt
China, Morocco
CAMPANULACEAE
CHARACEAE
Chara vulgaris
Common Stonewort
LC
Other chemicals
COMPOSITAE
Ambrosia maritima
Sea Ambrosia
LC
Medicinal
Egypt
COMPOSITAE
Ceruana pratensis
Garawan
LC
Household
Egypt
COMPOSITAE
Ethulia conyzoides
Hashish El-Faras
DD
Medicinal, Food
Sudan, Southern Africa
COMPOSITAE
Grangea maderaspatana
DD
Medicinal, Food
Africa
COMPOSITAE
Lactuca virosa cornigera
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
COMPOSITAE
Pluchea dioscoridis
LC
Medicinal
Egypt
COMPOSITAE
Pluchea ovalis
NT
Medicinal, Animal feed
Africa
COMPOSITAE
Pseudoconyza viscosa
DD
Medicinal
South Africa, Angola
COMPOSITAE
Sonchus maritimus
LC
Animal feed
Unknown
Southern Africa
CONVOLVULACEAE
Cressa cretica
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
CONVOLVULACEAE
Ipomoea carnea
DD
Medicinal, Ornamental
South America, India
Ipomoea sagittata
EN
Medicinal
Algeria
Bolboschoenus maritimus
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
CYPERACEAE
Carex divisa
LC
Handicrafts
Morocco
CYPERACEAE
Cladium mariscus
LC
Structural material, Household
Morocco, Libya, Egypt
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus alopecuroides
LC
Animal feed, Handicrafts
Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus articulatus
LC
Handicrafts, Medicinal,
Chemicals
Egypt, Central Africa,
Mozambique, Eastern Africa
CONVOLVULACEAE
CYPERACEAE
1
END USES
Foxtail Flatsedge
For a definition of aquatic plants see Chapter 1 of this report.
73
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Appendix 2 — List of aquatic plant species1 of socio-economic value.
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus bulbosus
Bush Onion
LC
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus compressus
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus difformis
FAMILy
Animal feed, Food
Australia, Kenya, Sudan,
Tanzania, Burkina Faso,
Somalia, Sri Lanka
DD
Animal feed, Food
Kenya
LC
Animal feed, Medicinal
Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus digitatus
LC
Food, Medicinal, Fibre
Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus esculentus
LC
Food, Animal feed, Medicinal
Egypt, Libya, Morocco,
Sub-Saharan Africa,
Malaysia,
Southern Europe, China
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus imbricatus
LC
Animal feed, Food
Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus laevigatus
Smooth Flatsedge
LC
Food, Medicinal
Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus longus
Galingale, Sweet Cyperus
LC
Food, Handicrafts, Ornamental,
Medicinal
Morocco, India,
Pan Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus maculatus
LC
Food
Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus papyrus
VU
Food, Medicinal, Structural Material,
Animal feed, Handicrafts, Paper,
Horticulture
Morocco, Egypt,
Sub Saharan Africa
CYPERACEAE
Cyperus rotundus
LC
Medicinal, Animal feed, Poison,
Other chemicals, Food
Algeria, Egypt,
Morocco, India, Vietnam,
Southern Africa
CYPERACEAE
Isolepis cernua
LC
Structural material, Ornamental
Unknown
CYPERACEAE
Pycreus mundtii
LC
Household
Africa
CYPERACEAE
Schoenoplectus corymbosus
LC
Household
Eastern Africa, South Africa
HALORAGACEAE
Myriophyllum spicatum
LC
Ornamental
Unknown
HALORAGACEAE
Myriophyllum
verticillatum
LC
Ornamental, Food,
Medicinal, Other
Africa
HYDROCHARITACEAE
Hydrocharis
morsus-ranae
EN
Ornamental
Morocco, Algeria
HYDROCHARITACEAE
Najas horrida
Shelbika
VU
Animal feed
Mediterranean
HYDROCHARITACEAE
Najas marina
Holly-leaved Naiad
LC
Aquarium, Food
Vietnam, Egypt
HYDROCHARITACEAE
Ottelia alismoides
Duck-Lettuce
LC
Medicinal, Aquarium
India
HYDROCHARITACEAE
Vallisneria spiralis
CR
Aquarium
Egypt
ILLECEBRACEAE
IRIDACEAE
1
Smallflower Umbrella Sedge
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
END USES
Illecebrum verticillatum
Iris pseudacorus
Yellow Iris
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
LC
Ornamental
Morocco, North Africa
ISOETACEAE
Isoetes histrix
LC
Animal feed
Tunisia
ISOETACEAE
Isoetes velata
LC
Animal feed
Tunisia, Europe, Asia
JUNCACEAE
Juncus acutus
Sharp Rush
LC
Handicrafts, Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Libya, Egypt
JUNCACEAE
Juncus articulatus
Jointed Rush
LC
Ornamental
Europe
JUNCACEAE
Juncus effusus
Soft Rush
LC
Food, Medicinal, Handicrafts,
Household
Europe, Africa
JUNCACEAE
Juncus inflexus
Hard Rush
LC
Household, Handicrafts
Africa
JUNCACEAE
Juncus maritimus
Sea Rush
LC
Medicinal, Animal feed,
Household
Morocco, Libya, Iraq, Africa
LAMIACEAE
Genista ancistrocarpa
EN
Ornamental
Mediterranean, Morocco
LAMIACEAE
Mentha aquatica
Water Mint
LC
Food, Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Mediterranean
LAMIACEAE
Mentha cervina
Hart's Pennyroyal,
Menthe des Cerfs
CR
Food, Medicinal, Aromatic
Morocco, Mediterranean,
Africa
LAMIACEAE
Mentha gattefossei
Menthe de Perse
NT
Food, Medicinal, Essential oils
Mediterranean
LAMIACEAE
Mentha longifolia
Horsemint
LC
Food, Medicinal,
Essential oils
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya, Mediterranean
LAMIACEAE
Mentha pulegium
Pennyroyal
LC
Food, Medicinal,
Essential oils
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya,
Mediterranean, Europe
For a definition of aquatic plants see Chapter 1 of this report.
APPENDICES
Appendix 2 — List of aquatic plant species1 of socio-economic value.
FAMILy
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
LAMIACEAE
Mentha spicata
Spearmint
LC
LAMIACEAE
Mentha suaveolens
Round-Leaved Mint
LC
Food, Medicinal, Essential oils
Morocco, Mediterranean
LAMIACEAE
Mentha suaveolens timija
Timija
NT
Food, Medicinal, Essential oils,
Ornamental
Morocco
Morocco
Food, Medicinal, Essential oils
Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Egypt, Libya,
Mediterranean, China
Teucrium scordium
LC
Medicinal
LENTIBULARIACEAE
Pinguicula lusitanica
EN
Medicinal
Algeria
LENTIBULARIACEAE
Utricularia gibba
NT
Aquarium
Europe, United States
LAMIACEAE
Utriculaire Bossue
LENTIBULARIACEAE
Utricularia inflexa
VU
Medicinal
Unknown
LENTIBULARIACEAE
Utricularia vulgaris
Greater Bladderwort
LC
Medicinal
Europe, Mediterranean
LYTHRACEAE
Ammannia baccifera
Blistering Ammannia
LC
Medicinal
Africa
LYTHRACEAE
Ammannia senegalensis
Red Ammannia
LC
Aquarium
Unknown
LYTHRACEAE
Lythrum borysthenicum
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
LYTHRACEAE
Lythrum hyssopifolia
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
LYTHRACEAE
Lythrum salicaria
Purple Loosestrife
LC
Food, Medicinal, Ornamental
Morocco, China, Europe
LYTHRACEAE
Trapa natans
Water Chestnut
EN
Food, Animal feed, Medicinal
Malaysia, India, China,
Africa
EN
Medicinal
Morocco, Egypt
MENYANTHACEAE
Menyanthes trifoliata
MOLLUGINACEAE
Glinus lotoides
Lotus Sweetjuice
LC
Medicinal
Africa, Asia
NYMPHAEACEAE
Nymphaea alba
European Waterlily
VU
Food, Ornamental, Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria,
Libya, Mediterranean, Europe
NYMPHAEACEAE
Nymphaea lotus
Egyptian Lotus
CR
Food, Ornamental, Medicinal
Egypt, Africa, China,
Indochina
Bashneen Azraq
CR
Food, Ornamental
Egypt, Africa
Willowherb
VU
Food
Mediterranean
LC
Food, Medicinal
Egypt, Morocco, Libya,
South Africa
LC
Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria,
Mediterranean
NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea nouchali caerulea
ONAGRACEAE
Epilobium angustifolium
ONAGRACEAE
Epilobium hirsutum
ONAGRACEAE
Epilobium parviflorum
Hoary Willowherb
Square-stalked Willowherb
ONAGRACEAE
Epilobium tetragonum
ONAGRACEAE
Ludwigia palustris
ORCHIDACEAE
Anacamptis laxiflora
ORCHIDACEAE
ORCHIDACEAE
OSMUNDACEAE
PLUMBAGINACEAE
1
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
END USES
LC
Medicinal, Ornamental
Mediterranean
NT
Aquarium
Europe, Asia
Loose-flowered Orchid
DD
Medicinal, Food, Animal feed,
Ornamental
Europe, Mediterranean
Anacamptis palustris
Orchis Des Marais
DD
Ornamental
Mediterranean
Dactylorhiza elata
Orchis Elevé
NT
Medicine, Food, Animal feed,
Ornamental
Europe, Mediterranean
Osmunda regalis
Royal Fern
Limonium cymuliferum
LC
Medicinal, Ornamental
Morocco, Europe
NT
Ornamental
Morocco
Global
POACEAE
Agrostis stolonifera
Creeping Bent Grass
LC
Animal feed, Horticulture
POACEAE
Alopecurus aequalis
Shortawn Foxtail
VU
Food, Medicinal
China
POACEAE
Arundo donax
Giant Reed
LC
Medicinal, Food, Structural
material, Fuel, Handicrafts
Morocco, Algeria, Libya
POACEAE
Brachiaria eruciformis
Giavone sottile
LC
Animal feed
India
POACEAE
Brachiaria mutica
Herbe de Para
LC
Animal feed
Mediterranean, Africa
POACEAE
Catabrosa aquatica
Water Whirl Grass
VU
Medicinal
United States
POACEAE
Echinochloa colona
Jungle Rice
LC
Food, Animal feed
India, China, Africa
POACEAE
Echinochloa pyramidalis
Antelope Grass
LC
Animal feed, Food
Africa, Mediterranean
VU
Animal feed
Morocco, Algeria
EN
Animal feed
Morocco, Algeria
POACEAE
Glyceria declinata
POACEAE
Glyceria fluitans
POACEAE
Glyceria notata
LC
Animal feed
Morocco, Algeria
POACEAE
Glyceria spicata
LC
Animal feed
Morocco, Algeria
POACEAE
Leersia hexandra
LC
Animal feed
Africa, South America
Floating Manna Grass
Swamp Cut Grass
For a definition of aquatic plants see Chapter 1 of this report.
75
76
ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
Appendix 2 — List of aquatic plant species1 of socio-economic value.
1
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
END USES
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
FAMILy
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
POACEAE
Leptochloa panicea
Mucronate Sprangletop
LC
Animal feed
India
POACEAE
Molinia caerulea
VU
Household
Morocco
POACEAE
Panicum coloratum
LC
Animal feed
Egypt
POACEAE
Panicum repens
LC
Animal feed, Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria,
Libya, Tunisia
POACEAE
Paspalidium geminatum
Nseila
LC
Animal feed
Mediterranean
POACEAE
Phalaris arundinacea
Reed Canary-grass
LC
Animal feed,
Structural material, Horticulture
Morocco, Algeria, Egypt,
Sub Saharan Africa
POACEAE
Phalaris paradoxa
Awned Canary-grass
LC
Animal feed
Mediterranean
POACEAE
Phragmites australis
Common Reed
LC
Food, Animal feed, Structural material,
Medicinal, Household
Global
POACEAE
Phragmites mauritianus
Reed Grass
LC
Handicrafts
Mediterranean,
Southern Africa,
Eastern Africa
North America
POACEAE
Polypogon monspeliensis
Annual Beard-grass
LC
Animal feed
POACEAE
Saccharum spontaneum
Canne Sauvage
LC
Handicrafts, Animal feed
India
POACEAE
Sorghum halepense
Aleppo Grass, Johnson Grass
LC
Animal feed
Egypt, Libya
POACEAE
Sphenopus divaricatus
Sphénope
LC
Animal feed
Mediterranean
Mediterranean
POLYGONACEAE
Persicaria bistorta bistorta
VU
Medicinal
POLYGONACEAE
Persicaria hydropiper
LC
Medicinal, Food
Morocco
POLYGONACEAE
Persicaria lapathifolia
LC
Medicinal
Unknown
Egypt, Eastern Africa
Curlytop Knotweed
POLYGONACEAE
Persicaria senegalensis
LC
Medicinal, Food
POLYGONACEAE
Polygonum amphibium
VU
Medicinal, Food
Morocco, Algeria
POLYGONACEAE
Rumex crispus
LC
Medicinal, Other chemicals
Morocco, Algeria,
Tunisia, Libya
POLYGONACEAE
Rumex dentatus
NT
Medicinal
Mediterranean
POLYGONACEAE
Rumex pulcher
LC
Medicinal, Other chemicals
Morocco, Algeria,
Egypt, Tunisia
Toothed Dock, Patience Dentée
POLYGONACEAE
Rumex tunetanus
CR
Animal feed
Tunisia
PORTULACACEAE
Montia fontana
LC
Food
Algeria, Morocco
PORTULACACEAE
Portulaca oleracea
LC
Food, Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria, Egypt,
Libya, Australia, Europe
Common Purslane, Green Purslane
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Groenlandia
densa
LC
Ornamental
Morocco
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Potamogeton
crispus
LC
Ornamental
Morocco
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Potamogeton
lucens
LC
Ornamental
Morocco
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Potamogeton
natans
LC
Food, Medicinal, Ornamental
China, Africa
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Potamogeton
nodosus
LC
Ornamental
Morocco, Egypt
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Potamogeton
trichoides
LC
Research
Morocco
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Ruppia
cirrhosa
NT
Medicinal
Egypt
POTAMOGETONACEAE
Ruppia
maritima
LC
Medicinal, Fertilizer
India
Broad-leaved Pondweed
Beaked Tasselweed
PRIMULACEAE
Lysimachia vulgaris
CR
Medicinal, Other chemicals
Algeria
PRIMULACEAE
Samolus valerandi
LC
Medicinal, Food
Morocco
PTERIDACEAE
Thelypteris interrupta
PTERIDACEAE
Thelypteris palustris
Marsh Fern
EN
Ornamental, Horticulture
Morocco
VU
Ornamental, Horticulture, Food
Morocco, Algeria
RANUNCULACEAE
Aquilegia
vulgaris ballii
LC
Medicinal
Algeria, Morocco
RANUNCULACEAE
Ranunculus ficaria
LC
Food
Morocco
For a definition of aquatic plants see Chapter 1 of this report.
APPENDICES
Appendix 2 — List of aquatic plant species1 of socio-economic value.
FAMILy
AREAS WHERE
HARVESTED
SPECIES NAME
CoMMoN NAME
Ranunculus sceleratus
Celery-Leaved Buttercup
LC
Medicinal
India, Europe
Frangula alnus
Frangola Commune
VU
Ornamental, Fuel, Medicinal
Algeria, Mediterranean,
Europe
ROSACEAE
Potentilla supina
Potentille Couchée
LC
Medicinal, Other Chemicals
India, China
SALICACEAE
Salix atrocinerea
LC
Medicinal, Fuel
Morocco
DD
Fuel
Egypt, Libya
LC
Fuel
Mediterranean
RANUNCULACEAE
RHAMNACEAE
SALICACEAE
Salix mucronata
SALICACEAE
Salix pedicellata
SALVINIACEAE
Saule Pédicellé
Salvinia natans
END USES
DD
Ornamental
Africa
EN
Medicinal, Aquarium
India, Mediterranean
VU
Medicinal, Ornamental
Mediterranean, Morocco
DD
Food
India
LC
Medicinal
Algeria, Morocco
Veronica
anagallis-aquatica
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
Selaginella
denticulata
LC
Medicinal
Morocco
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Bacopa monnieri
Water Hyssop
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Gratiola officinalis
Hedge Hyssop
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Peplidium
maritimum
SCROPHULARIACEAE
Scrophularia
auriculata
SCROPHULARIACEAE
SELAGINELLACEAE
1
REgIoNAL
RED LIST
CATEgoRy
TYPHACEAE
Sparganium erectum
Branched Bur-reed
NT
Food, Household
Europe, North America
TYPHACEAE
Typha angustifolia
Lesser Bulrush
LC
Food, Medicinal, Construction,
Household, Handicrafts
Egypt, North America,
China, Africa
TYPHACEAE
Typha domingensis
Massette Australe, Southern Cattail
DD
Food, Animal feed, Handicrafts,
Fibre, Medicinal, Construction
Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia,
Morocco, Africa, Asia
TYPHACEAE
Typha elephantina
LC
Structural Material, Medicinal
Africa, India
TYPHACEAE
Typha latifolia
Reedmace, Broadleaf Cattail
LC
Food, Medicinal, Handicrafts,
Ornamental, Horticulture
Egypt, Mediterranean,
China, Europe
VERBENACEAE
Phyla nodiflora
Frogfruit
LC
Medicinal
India
VERBENACEAE
Verbena officinalis
LC
Medicinal
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia,
Libya, Egypt
VERBENACEAE
Verbena supina
LC
Medicinal, Aromatic
Morocco
For a definition of aquatic plants see Chapter 1 of this report.
In northern Africa, Nymphaea alba, listed as Vulnerable, is mainly threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture. Photo © DerHexer.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation
77
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF FRESHWATER SPECIES FOR THE NORTHERN AFRICAN REGION
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