Disappeared Streams: Causes, Implications and Mitigations: A case study of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Streams are vital components of ecosystems, supporting the survival of plants, animals, and humans. This study utilized an extensive review of literature from both online and offline sources to understand the causes and consequences of stream shrinkage and disappearance. Findings from international and local contexts, including Akwa Ibom State, revealed that both natural and human-induced factors contribute to this decline. Natural causes include climate change, erosion-induced siltation, changes in rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts. Human activities such as urbanization, industrial expansion, poor waste disposal, pollution, over-irrigation, and dam construction further exacerbate stream depletion. The disappearance of streams has broad implications. Ecologically, it results in biodiversity loss, riparian zone degradation, and destruction of aquatic habitats. Economically, it raises production costs for agriculture and fisheries. Socially, it leads to community displacement, increased resource conflicts, reduced water supply, and loss of cultural and recreational benefits, along with heightened flood risk. To combat these issues, the review highlights the importance of mitigation strategies including reforestation, establishment of riparian buffer zones, effective pollution control, sustainable legal frameworks, and community participation. Successful global and local initiatives such as the Ganga Action Plan (India), Elwha River dam removal (USA), and sustainable water policies in the Hadjie Naguru Wetlands (Nigeria) underscore the effectiveness of integrated water management. The study emphasizes the urgent need for collaborative efforts from governments, NGOs, researchers, and communities. It recommends integrating these strategies with stakeholder involvement and encourages geographers to map vanished and existing streams using GIS for future reference.