1. 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 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.kesowandiga@iconnect.co.ke The African Great Lakes: An Example of Where Application of Knowledge on Environmental Issues for Development is Ripe

2. L. Victoria L. Victoria L. Tanganyika L. Tanganyika L. Malawi/Nyasa L. Malawi/Nyasa L. Nakuru L. Nakuru L. Naivasha L. Naivasha L. Chad L. Chad L. Kariba L. Kariba L. Baringo L. Baringo

3. 1.Splendid and Curative Beauty Lake Victoria ( Photo: M. Nakashima )

4. Lake Tanganyika (Photo: S.Yamagishi)

5. Lake Malawi/Nyasa. (Photo: Bootsma)

6. Lake Nakuru (Photo: Adams)

7. Lake Kariba (Photo: N. Hata)

8. Lake Chad (Hutchinson and Kolawole (1987)

9. 2.Unique Characteristics L. Victoria  The second largest fresh water lake in the world  Hosts 500+ cichlids species  Supports about 30million people  Source of River Nile  Fastest cichlid fish evolution recorded L. Tanganyika  Approximately 12 million years old  The oldest of African lakes and second to lake Baikal in age and depth  Hosts 250+ cichlids species  Hosts about 600 non cichlid species  Hosts about 2,000 species of plants and animals  Supports about 10 million people

10. Unique Characteristics. Cont … L. Malawi/Nyasa Approximately 2 million years old Hosts 700+ species of cichlids Supports about 11 million people L. Naivasha Only fresh water lake in the Kenya’s Rift Valley floor Hosts over 400 species of birds Habitat to several animal species Supports about 250,000 people Only lake with community management

11. Unique Characteristics. Cont … L. Nakuru  Home to flocks of flamingo birds, greater and lesser cormorants, 1.5 million birds and wildlife species  Tourist attraction site  Supports 400,000 people L. Baringo  300 species of birds identified  Home to fish and animal species  Aesthetic beauty

12. Unique Characteristics. Cont … L. Chad  Supports 20 million people  Once second largest wetland in Africa  Fastest dying lake in Africa  Hosts 93 species of fish L. Kariba  One of the largest man made lakes in the world  Source of water, electricity, fisheries, recreation and bird watching  Home to birds and animal species

13. 3.Critical Issues & Threats Rapid expansion of riparian population: 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. Introduction of alien species. Extinction of indigenous species in some lakes and alteration of ecology. Extinction of indigenous species in some lakes and alteration of ecology.

14. High industrial and commercial activities. High industrial and commercial activities. – High loads of untreated industrial waste – Sewage – Solid waste Poor farming practices: Poor farming practices: – Firewood and charcoal burning activities have resulted in deforestation of the catchments.

15. Global climate change 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

16. Socio-economic issues: Socio-economic issues: – Wide spread poverty – Diseases; malaria, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. – Conflicts: Between man and wild animals. Between man and wild animals. Between communities over the use of water Between communities over the use of water Between farming, urban and indigenous communities have arisen. Between farming, urban and indigenous communities have arisen. Catchments management Catchments management Financing strategies Financing strategies – Lack of infrastructure, development and resources hamper sustainable management.

17. 4. Reasons for Deterioration Rapid urban and population growth. Rapid urban and population growth. Large export markets demands for fisheries. Large export markets demands for fisheries. Lack of compliance to and enforcement of legislations governing fisheries industry and environmental pollution. Lack of compliance to and enforcement of legislations governing fisheries industry and environmental pollution. Weak regional integration of legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms. Weak regional integration of legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms. Low level of community participation in ecosystems management. Low level of community participation in ecosystems management. Pervasive prevalence of endemic diseases. Pervasive prevalence of endemic diseases.

18. Each lake exhibit distinct physiographic characteristics Each lake exhibit distinct physiographic characteristics Steady decline over years of: Steady decline over years of: – Transparency – Dissolved Oxygen – Siltation – Depth

19. Rapid Ecological Changes

23. Sediment Impact on the lakes as a result of deforestation and agriculture L. Tanganyika 1,500 mm/1000yr S. Basin 500 mm/1000yr C. Basin 4,700 mm/100 yr N. Basin L. Turkana Omo River Impact (1600 t/km 2 /a) L. Victoria 0.032 – 0.001 g/cm 2 /a 2.3 mm/yr L. Malawi ?

24. People Impact on the Lakes Destruction of littoral zone habitat. Destruction of littoral zone habitat. High nutrient loads have led to anoxic conditions. 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. Introduction of alien species, pesticides and fertilizers have led to indigenous fish species die-offs and eutrophication. Global change has resulted in: Global change has resulted in: – Temperature change – Fresh water shortage – Shoreline destruction Catchments destruction Catchments destruction

25. 5.Socio-economic Significance Increased fishery exploitation Increased fishery exploitation Fishing:Major income earner Fishing:Major income earner Farming and Industry: Second income earner Farming and Industry: Second income earner Tourism and recreation Tourism and recreation Small artisanal activities Small artisanal activities

26. 6.Major Threats to Basin Ecological degradation e.g. pollution, land/forest degradation, biodiversity degradation, introduction of exotic species. Ecological degradation e.g. pollution, land/forest degradation, biodiversity degradation, introduction of exotic species. High population pressure. High population pressure. Wide spread poverty. Wide spread poverty. High incidence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, bilharzia, tuberculosis, typhoid and pneumonia. 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. Policies, laws and regulations-scattered legislations, insufficient enforcement and un- harmonised policies and laws governing natural resources management.

27. 7.Management Issues Stabilization of riparian community population. Stabilization of riparian community population. Provision of infrastructures. Provision of infrastructures. Enforcement of existing legislation and regulations on environment. Enforcement of existing legislation and regulations on environment. Planning and management of catchments basins. Planning and management of catchments basins. Proper management and use of water Proper management and use of water Pollution control Pollution control Sustainable community participation Sustainable community participation

28. 8.Capacity Building Build and retain local capacity. Build and retain local capacity. Sustainably engage in ecological systems management. Sustainably engage in ecological systems management. Institute public education and awareness campaign as a lifelong process. Institute public education and awareness campaign as a lifelong process. Share, transfer and disseminate information of lakes management. Share, transfer and disseminate information of lakes management.

29. 9.Policy Options Development of environmental management policy. Development of environmental management policy. Special environmental management strategies. Special environmental management strategies. Taking measures to control trans-boundary pollution. Taking measures to control trans-boundary pollution. Integrating environmental management and conservation measures in all development activities. Integrating environmental management and conservation measures in all development activities. Strategies for poverty reduction. Strategies for poverty reduction. Improvement of health care facilities. Improvement of health care facilities. Construction and/or improvement of infrastructures. Construction and/or improvement of infrastructures. Provision of educational facilities. Provision of educational facilities.

30. Long-term benefits of Harmonised Policies and Strategies Population livelihood prosperity from sustainable ecosystem and resources management. Population livelihood prosperity from sustainable ecosystem and resources management. Improved production and increased income generation. Improved production and increased income generation. Improved quality of life, well educated society, developed infrastructure and freedom from poverty. Improved quality of life, well educated society, developed infrastructure and freedom from poverty. Stabilisation of population growth and demographic changes. Stabilisation of population growth and demographic changes. Better governance, improved institutions and policies and a sensitive population to its rights. Better governance, improved institutions and policies and a sensitive population to its rights.

31. Financing Existing Sources Existing Sources – Government – Urban centres – Development facility agencies Establish new financing framework that involve parties in a long-term sustaibale way. Establish new financing framework that involve parties in a long-term sustaibale way.

32. Recommendation for Future Action Manage over-fishing Manage over-fishing Ban destructive fishing practices Ban destructive fishing practices Control pollution Control pollution

33. Recommendations for Future Studies Water quality assessment. Water quality assessment. Improvement of use. Improvement of use. Study of socio-cultural issues. Study of socio-cultural issues. Resource inventory, mapping and use (including mapping of critical resources). Resource inventory, mapping and use (including mapping of critical resources). Study of the biology of the exotic species. 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. Assessment and harmonisation of legal and institutional status of National Acts, regional and international Treaties and Conventions.

34. Thank You