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By Shem O. Wandiga Department of Chemistry College of Biological and Physical Sciences University of Nairobi P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi Kenya E-mail: sowandiga@iconnect.co.ke.
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ByShem O. Wandiga Department of ChemistryCollege of Biological and Physical SciencesUniversity of NairobiP. O. Box 30197, NairobiKenyaE-mail: sowandiga@iconnect.co.ke The African Great Lakes: An Example of Where Application of Knowledge on Environmental Issues for Development is Ripe
L. Victoria • L. Tanganyika • L. Malawi/Nyasa • L. Nakuru • L. Naivasha • L. Chad • L. Kariba • L. Baringo
1. Splendid and Curative Beauty Lake Victoria (Photo: M. Nakashima)
3. Critical Issues & Threats • Rapid expansion of riparian population: • flourishing urban centres • volume of trade and commercial activities in their vicinities • easy transport and communication through them. • Introduction of alien species. • Extinction of indigenous species in some lakes and alteration of ecology.
High industrial and commercial activities. • High loads of untreated industrial waste • Sewage • Solid waste • Poor farming practices: • Firewood and charcoal burning activities have resulted in deforestation of the catchments.
Global climate change • High demand for irrigation waters • Unpredictable weather condition extremes have potential risks for • Fresh water shortage • Lake temperature change • Silted lake shores and beds • Altered ecology
Socio-economic issues: • Wide spread poverty • Diseases; malaria, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. • Conflicts: • Between man and wild animals. • Between communities over the use of water • Between farming, urban and indigenous communities have arisen. • Catchments management • Financing strategies • Lack of infrastructure, development and resources hamper sustainable management.
4.Reasons for Deterioration • Rapid urban and population growth. • Large export markets demands for fisheries. • Lack of compliance to and enforcement of legislations governing fisheries industry and environmental pollution. • Weak regional integration of legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms. • Low level of community participation in ecosystems management. • Pervasive prevalence of endemic diseases.
Each lake exhibit distinct physiographic characteristics • Steady decline over years of: • Transparency • Dissolved Oxygen • Siltation • Depth
Sediment Impact on the lakes as a result of deforestation and agriculture
People Impact on the Lakes • Destruction of littoral zone habitat. • High nutrient loads have led to anoxic conditions. • Introduction of alien species, pesticides and fertilizers have led to indigenous fish species die-offs and eutrophication. • Global change has resulted in: • Temperature change • Fresh water shortage • Shoreline destruction • Catchments destruction
5. Socio-economic Significance • Increased fishery exploitation • Fishing: Major income earner • Farming and Industry: Second income earner • Tourism and recreation • Small artisanal activities
6. Major Threats to Basin • Ecological degradation e.g. pollution, land/forest degradation, biodiversity degradation, introduction of exotic species. • High population pressure. • Wide spread poverty. • High incidence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, bilharzia, tuberculosis, typhoid and pneumonia. • Policies, laws and regulations-scattered legislations, insufficient enforcement and un-harmonised policies and laws governing natural resources management.
7. Management Issues • Stabilization of riparian community population. • Provision of infrastructures. • Enforcement of existing legislation and regulations on environment. • Planning and management of catchments basins. • Proper management and use of water • Pollution control • Sustainable community participation
8. Capacity Building • Build and retain local capacity. • Sustainably engage in ecological systems management. • Institute public education and awareness campaign as a lifelong process. • Share, transfer and disseminate information of lakes management.
9. Policy Options • Development of environmental management policy. • Special environmental management strategies. • Taking measures to control trans-boundary pollution. • Integrating environmental management and conservation measures in all development activities. • Strategies for poverty reduction. • Improvement of health care facilities. • Construction and/or improvement of infrastructures. • Provision of educational facilities.
Long-term benefits of Harmonised Policies and Strategies • Population livelihood prosperity from sustainable ecosystem and resources management. • Improved production and increased income generation. • Improved quality of life, well educated society, developed infrastructure and freedom from poverty. • Stabilisation of population growth and demographic changes. • Better governance, improved institutions and policies and a sensitive population to its rights.
Financing • Existing Sources • Government • Urban centres • Development facility agencies • Establish new financing framework that involve parties in a long-term sustaibale way.
Recommendation for Future Action • Manage over-fishing • Ban destructive fishing practices • Control pollution
Recommendations for Future Studies • Water quality assessment. • Improvement of use. • Study of socio-cultural issues. • Resource inventory, mapping and use (including mapping of critical resources). • Study of the biology of the exotic species. • Assessment and harmonisation of legal and institutional status of National Acts, regional and international Treaties and Conventions.
