Duvail Stéphanie auteur aut IRD Hamerlynck O. auteur aut IRD Paron P. auteur aut IRD Hervé Dominique auteur aut IRD Nyingi W. D. auteur aut IRD Leone M. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The rivers flowing into the Western Indian Ocean have steep headwater gradients and carry high sediment loads. In combination with strong tides and seasonal rainfall, these rivers create dynamic deltas with biodiversity-rich and productive ecosystems that, through flooding, have sustained indigenous use systems for centuries. However, river catchments are rapidly changing due to deforestation. Hydropower dams also increasingly alter flood characteristics, reduce sediment supply and contribute to coastal erosion. These impacts are compounded by climate change. Altogether, these changes affect the livelihoods of the delta users. Here, based on prior works that we and others have conducted in the region, we analyse the drivers of these hydro-ecological changes. We then provide recommendations for improved dam design and operations to sustain the underlying delta-building processes, the ecosystem values and the needs of the users. specialized Deltas Dams Flood Ecosystems Livelihoods AFRIQUE DE L'EST AFRIQUE DU SUD MADAGASCAR OCEAN INDIEN 062 098 021 Manighetti I ed. edt IRD De Witt R. ed. edt IRD Duvail Stéphanie ed. edt IRD Seyler Patrick ed. edt IRD 349 6-7 269-279 2017 1631-0713 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071891 10.1016/j.crte.2017.09.004 1631-0713 [F B010071891] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071891 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2018/01/010071891.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-02-05 2025-11-04 fdi:010071891 fre