ByByShem O. Wandiga Shem O. Wandiga

Department of ChemistryDepartment of ChemistryCollege of Biological and Physical SciencesCollege of Biological and Physical Sciences

University of NairobiUniversity of NairobiP. O. Box 30197, NairobiP. O. Box 30197, Nairobi

KenyaKenyaE-mail: E-mail: sowandiga@iconnect.co.kesowandiga@iconnect.co.ke

The African Great Lakes: An Example of The African Great Lakes: An Example of Where Application of Knowledge on Where Application of Knowledge on

Environmental Issues for Development is RipeEnvironmental Issues for Development is Ripe

SUDAN

ARABIA

ETHIOPIA

SOMALIA

ZAIRE

UGANDA

KENYA

RWANDABURUNDI

TANZANIA

MOZAMBIQUE

ZAMBIA L. Malawi

L. Chiuta

L. Chilwa

L. Rukwa

L. Tanganyika

L. Mweru

L. EyasiL. Manyara

L. Kivu

L. NatronL. Magadi

L. NaivashaL. NakuruL. Bogoria

L. Baringo

L. Edward

L. Albert L. Kyoga

L. Turkana

Chew Bahir

L. ShamoL. Abaya

Galla Lakes

L. TanaR.Nile

BlueNile

R.Awash

R.Omo

R. Baro

RedSea

Gulf of Aden

R. Zambezi

R.Luangwa

R.Shile

MALAWI

10

5

0

5

10

15

20 S

0 800400

30 E 35 40 45

15 N

Indian Ocean

Km

L. Victoria

• L. VictoriaL. Victoria

• L. TanganyikaL. Tanganyika

• L. Malawi/NyasaL. Malawi/Nyasa

• L. NakuruL. Nakuru

• L. NaivashaL. Naivasha

• L. ChadL. Chad

• L. KaribaL. Kariba

• L. BaringoL. Baringo

1.1. Splendid and Curative BeautySplendid and Curative Beauty

Lake Victoria (Lake Victoria (Photo: M. NakashimaPhoto: M. Nakashima))

Lake Tanganyika (Lake Tanganyika (Photo: S.YamagishiPhoto: S.Yamagishi))

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

Lake Nakuru (Photo: Adams)Lake Nakuru (Photo: Adams)

Lake Kariba (Photo: N. Hata)Lake Kariba (Photo: N. Hata)

Lake Chad (Hutchinson and Kolawole (1987)Lake Chad (Hutchinson and Kolawole (1987)

2.2. Unique CharacteristicsUnique CharacteristicsL. 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

Unique Characteristics. Cont …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

Unique Characteristics. Cont …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

Unique Characteristics. Cont …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

3.3. Critical Issues & ThreatsCritical Issues & Threats

• Rapid expansion of riparian population:Rapid expansion of riparian population:– flourishing urban centresflourishing urban centres– volume of trade and commercial activities volume of trade and commercial activities

in their vicinitiesin their vicinities– easy transport and communication easy transport and communication

through them.through them.• Introduction of alien species.Introduction of alien species.• Extinction of indigenous species in some Extinction of indigenous species in some

lakes and alteration of ecology.lakes and alteration of ecology.

• High industrial and commercial activities. High industrial and commercial activities. –High loads of untreated industrial High loads of untreated industrial

wastewaste–SewageSewage–Solid wasteSolid waste

• Poor farming practices:Poor farming practices:–Firewood and charcoal burning Firewood and charcoal burning

activities have resulted in activities have resulted in deforestation of the catchments. deforestation of the catchments.

• Global climate changeGlobal climate change– High demand for irrigation watersHigh demand for irrigation waters– Unpredictable weather condition extremes Unpredictable weather condition extremes

have potential risks forhave potential risks for– Fresh water shortageFresh water shortage– Lake temperature changeLake temperature change– Silted lake shores and bedsSilted lake shores and beds– Altered ecologyAltered ecology

• Socio-economic issues:Socio-economic issues:– Wide spread povertyWide spread poverty– Diseases; malaria, cholera, typhoid, Diseases; malaria, cholera, typhoid,

tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.– Conflicts:Conflicts:• Between man and wild animals.Between man and wild animals.• Between communities over the use of waterBetween communities over the use of water• Between farming, urban and indigenous Between farming, urban and indigenous

communities have arisen.communities have arisen.• Catchments managementCatchments management• Financing strategiesFinancing strategies

– Lack of infrastructure, development and Lack of infrastructure, development and resources hamper sustainable management.resources hamper sustainable management.

4.4. Reasons for DeteriorationReasons 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 Lack of compliance to and enforcement of

legislations governing fisheries industry and legislations governing fisheries industry and environmental pollution.environmental pollution.• Weak regional integration of legal frameworks Weak regional integration of legal frameworks

and institutional mechanisms.and institutional mechanisms.• Low level of community participation in Low level of community participation in

ecosystems management. ecosystems management. • Pervasive prevalence of endemic diseases.Pervasive prevalence of endemic diseases.

• Each lake exhibit distinct physiographic Each lake exhibit distinct physiographic characteristicscharacteristics

• Steady decline over years of:Steady decline over years of:

– TransparencyTransparency

– Dissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen

– SiltationSiltation

– DepthDepth

Rapid Ecological ChangesRapid Ecological Changes

Sediment Impact on the lakes as a result Sediment Impact on the lakes as a result of deforestation and agricultureof deforestation and agriculture

L. TanganyikaL. Tanganyika 1,500 mm/1000yr S. Basin1,500 mm/1000yr S. Basin

500 mm/1000yr C. Basin500 mm/1000yr C. Basin

4,700 mm/100 yr N. Basin4,700 mm/100 yr N. Basin

L. TurkanaL. Turkana Omo River ImpactOmo River Impact

(1600 t/km(1600 t/km22/a)/a)

L. VictoriaL. Victoria 0.032 – 0.001 g/cm0.032 – 0.001 g/cm22/a/a

2.3 mm/yr2.3 mm/yr

L. MalawiL. Malawi ??

People Impact on the LakesPeople 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 Introduction of alien species, pesticides and

fertilizers have led to indigenous fish species die-fertilizers have led to indigenous fish species die-offs and eutrophication.offs and eutrophication.• Global change has resulted in:Global change has resulted in:

– Temperature changeTemperature change– Fresh water shortageFresh water shortage– Shoreline destructionShoreline destruction

• Catchments destructionCatchments destruction

5.5. Socio-economic SignificanceSocio-economic Significance

• Increased fishery exploitationIncreased fishery exploitation

• Fishing:Fishing: Major income earnerMajor income earner

• Farming and Industry: Second income Farming and Industry: Second income earnerearner

• Tourism and recreationTourism and recreation

• Small artisanal activitiesSmall artisanal activities

6.6. Major Threats to BasinMajor Threats to Basin• Ecological degradation e.g. pollution, land/forest Ecological degradation e.g. pollution, land/forest

degradation, biodiversity degradation, introduction degradation, biodiversity degradation, introduction of exotic species.of exotic species.• High population pressure.High population pressure.• Wide spread poverty.Wide spread poverty.• High incidence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, High incidence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS,

malaria, bilharzia, tuberculosis, typhoid and malaria, bilharzia, tuberculosis, typhoid and pneumonia.pneumonia.• Policies, laws and regulations-scattered legislations, Policies, laws and regulations-scattered legislations,

insufficient enforcement and un-harmonised policies insufficient enforcement and un-harmonised policies and laws governing natural resources management.and laws governing natural resources management.

7.7. Management IssuesManagement Issues• Stabilization of riparian community population.Stabilization of riparian community population.

• Provision of infrastructures.Provision of infrastructures.

• Enforcement of existing legislation and Enforcement of existing legislation and regulations on environment.regulations on environment.

• Planning and management of catchments basins.Planning and management of catchments basins.

• Proper management and use of waterProper management and use of water

• Pollution controlPollution control

• Sustainable community participationSustainable community participation

8.8. Capacity BuildingCapacity Building

• Build and retain local capacity.Build and retain local capacity.

• Sustainably engage in ecological systems Sustainably engage in ecological systems management.management.

• Institute public education and awareness Institute public education and awareness campaign as a lifelong process.campaign as a lifelong process.

• Share, transfer and disseminate information Share, transfer and disseminate information of lakes management.of lakes management.

9.9. Policy OptionsPolicy 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 Taking measures to control trans-boundary

pollution.pollution.• Integrating environmental management and Integrating environmental management and

conservation measures in all development activities.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.

Long-term benefits of Harmonised Long-term benefits of Harmonised Policies and StrategiesPolicies and Strategies

• Population livelihood prosperity from sustainable Population livelihood prosperity from sustainable ecosystem and resources management.ecosystem and resources management.• Improved production and increased income Improved production and increased income

generation.generation.• Improved quality of life, well educated society, Improved quality of life, well educated society,

developed infrastructure and freedom from developed infrastructure and freedom from poverty. poverty. • Stabilisation of population growth and Stabilisation of population growth and

demographic changes.demographic changes.• Better governance, improved institutions and Better governance, improved institutions and

policies and a sensitive population to its rights.policies and a sensitive population to its rights.

FinancingFinancing

• Existing SourcesExisting Sources

– GovernmentGovernment

– Urban centresUrban centres

– Development facility agenciesDevelopment facility agencies

• Establish new financing framework that Establish new financing framework that involve parties in a long-term sustaibale involve parties in a long-term sustaibale way.way.

Recommendation for Future ActionRecommendation for Future Action

• Manage over-fishingManage over-fishing

• Ban destructive fishing practicesBan destructive fishing practices

• Control pollutionControl pollution

Recommendations for Future StudiesRecommendations 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 Resource inventory, mapping and use

(including mapping of critical resources).(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 Assessment and harmonisation of legal and

institutional status of National Acts, regional institutional status of National Acts, regional and international Treaties and Conventions.and international Treaties and Conventions.

Thank YouThank You