Effects of Development on Lake Victoria

1. Characteristics: • LANDLOCKED BY UGANDA, KENYA, and TANZANIA • APPROXIMATELY 209 MILES LONG, 160 MILES WIDE, 26,600 SQ. MILES • AVERAGE DEPTH 130 FEET, AS DEEP AS 270 FEET • THE SOURCE OF THE NILE RIVER • THE WORLD’S 2ND LARGEST FRESH WATER LAKE • Issues: • DECLINING BIODIVERSITY: 400 SPECIES OF CICHLIDS REDUCED TO 200 • POOR WATER QUALITY & INVASIVE SPECIES • THE HUMAN EFFECTS: AGRICULTURE, URBANIZATION, BUJAGALI DAM SYSTEM & UNSUSTAINABLE FISHERY • MALARIA • DECLINING BIODIVERSITY & LOCAL EFFECTS • 2 EXOGENOUS SPECIES INTRODUCED TO LAKE VICTORIA: • NILE PERCH & NILE TILAPIA • INTRODUCED FOR ECONOMIC STIMULATION – world market demand • PERCH & TILAPIA ARE PREDATORS TO CICHLIDS • 400 SPECIES TO 200 SPECIES • BIG FLEET FISHING DISRUPTIVE TO LOCAL LIVELIHOODS • SMALL FISHERMEN CANNOT COMPETE • WOMEN CULTURALLY GUT FISH, NOW INDUSTRIALIZED PROCESS DISPLACING WOMEN’S ROLE IN COMMUNITY Effects of Development on Lake Victoria • INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES & POOR WATER QUALITY • WATER HYACINTHS INTRODUCED BY BELGIANS TO BEAUTIFY THE LAKE REGION HAS PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE LEADING FACTORS SLOWLY KILLING LAKE VICTORIA. • THE WEED GROWS RAPIDLY – BLOCKS SUNLIGHT, DEPRIVES OXYGEN, FOSTERS ALGEA GROWTH • ALGEA GROWTH RESULTS IN POOR WATER QUALITY • DENSE GROWTH OF HYACINTHS OBSTRUCT BOAT TRANSPORTATION ON THE LAKE • ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN DECLINING BIODIVERSITY • THE HUMAN EFFECTS • AGRICULTURE • INCREASED POPULATION  INCREASED FOOD DEMAND  INTENSIFIED AGRICULTURE • Chemically intensive farming methods have runoffs into rivers/waterways into the lake • URBANIZATION: Increase in sewage close to water source • BUJAGALI DAM SYSTEM: Energy demands require water to run through its systems to generate hydropower – further reducing the already low water levels of Lake Victoria • UNSUSTAINABLE FISHERIES • INCREASED DEMAND OF JOBS IN FISHING  OVERFISHING • DECLINING QUALITY OF LAKE YIELDS LOWER FISH POPULATION. This leaves many fishermen without jobs and food. What was once a source to stimulate the economy is now creating poverty from the dependence generated. • POLICY • Eradication of the Hyacinths is high on the priority list as well as efforts to cure and prevent malaria. Since so many lives depend on Lake Victoria as a resource to sustain their livelihoods, any improvements made to the lake will improve poverty. • However, addressing issues facing Lake Victoria must be a community effort between Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The issues faced are • COMMONS ISSUES: • FISHERY MANAGEMENT – POLLUTION • These are issues that can be addressed in policy. However, all 3 nations must agree on the management of fisheries, a standard water quality, and methods and regulations to achieve the standards. • LAKE VICTORIA FISHING ORGANIZATION, 1994. However, member nations fail to enforce, therefore ineffective. • This may prove challenging. Though each nation have intentions and regulations in place regarding water quality, in order for the overall quality of the lake to improve, the nations must forge a coordinate effort in preserving Lake Victoria for their citizens’ livelihoods. • MALARIA • DUE TO POOR WATER QUALITY, LAKE VICTORIA IS THE CAPITAL OF MALARIA • INCREASING TEMPERATURES as part of CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS makes Lake Victoria prime breeding ground for waterborne diseases • 20% OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 DIE OF MALARIA IN THIS REGION • As part of desperate economy, many have used treated bed-nets to catch and dry fish, instead of using them for intended purposes. AMERICA MAY PINTABUTR ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT – SPRING 2009