South Sudan wetlands face a wide range of threats including settlements and upstream catchment degradation and oil exploration, United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP has revealed.
It says habitats and ecosystems are being destroyed through infrastructural development, road construction, oil exploration and emerging mechanized agriculture.
South Sudan’s wetlands are basically undeveloped although they contribute to livelihoods of the local population and wildlife, the agency points out.
The wetlands cover an area of about 40 thousand square kilometres which can expand to over 90 thousand square kilometres in the wet season, a research shows.
South Sudan wetlands have prospect of producing 150 thousand tons of fish per year, UNEP says.
It recommends the government of South Sudan to develop and implement an integrated management plan for Sudd wetlands to ensure conservation, reduction of invasive plant species and water pollution.