Workshop on Dam Management and Restoration of River Connectivity
19 November 2024
BARRIER TRACKER AFRICA: Using Citizen Science to Reconnect African Rivers
In March 2024, the World Fish Migration Foundation launched the Dam Removal Africa initiative to restore and reconnect river ecosystems across the continent. Supported by the Mulago Foundation, one of the key goals of this initiative was to promote the use of the AMBER Barrier Tracker app across Africa. To address gaps in river connectivity knowledge, this report presents a comprehensive dataset of barriers across the continent.
Unlike traditional datasets focused mainly on large dams, this project highlights a full range of barriers, including smaller, often overlooked obstacles like weirs, culverts, and fords. These barriers significantly impact river continuity, fish migration, sediment flow, and aquatic systems. Through contributions from the AMBER Barrier Tracker app and citizen scientists 388 new barriers were identified across 12 African countries.
The report also integrates data from major sources like the Hydropower Dam Database by International Rivers and the Global Dams Watch Database. These datasets focus on dams categorized by energy production, height, or storage capacity. Combining these resources underscores the need to consider both large and small barriers to fully restore river connectivity.
U1H006 Department of Water and Sanitation Weir ©Institute of Natural Resources
The report also identified numerous obsolete barriers that could be prioritized for removal in the coming years. By removing these outdated structures and improving sediment management, the project seeks to restore river ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and support sustainable water management. These efforts contribute to creating resilient ecosystems, reducing flood risks, and improving livelihoods for local communities.
This citizen-driven approach uncovers barriers often overlooked in existing datasets and provides critical insights for researchers, decision-makers, and communities working to reconnect Africa's rivers.
