UN organises Lake Victoria clean-up
Dec 04, 2005
UNITED Nations Habitat is facilitating an annual Lake Victoria Clean Up Week, participants at the 11th World Lakes Conference have been told.
By Vision Reporter
UNITED Nations Habitat is facilitating an annual Lake Victoria Clean Up Week, participants at the 11th World Lakes Conference have been told.
This is a social responsibility exercise that seeks to mobilise local authorities and stakeholders to develop a programme for laying out city development strategies for improved urban environment and poverty reduction.
It is expected that when the appropriate physical, financial and policy-based infrastructure is in place, it will be easier for the lake to support the surrounding region’s populations through fishing, supply of domestic and industrial water, hydropower, navigation and tourism.
The East African Community (EAC) is a key stand in the exhibitions.
From Lake Victoria Development Programme to Lake Victoria Basin Commission, the community has put in place a protocol for Lake Victoria development.
This partnership agreement on sustainable development of the Lake Victoria Basin was signed by the EAC with the governments of France, Norway, Sweden, the World Bank and the East African Development Bank.
It may seem that so much activity surrounds Africa’s largest fresh water lake, but the conference has undisputable evidence of its predicament.
A newly-launched Atlas of African Lakes by UNEP presents sharp pictures of the effects of forest loss, invasive species, land degradation, pollution and inefficient irrigation taking their toll on Lake Victoria.
“I hope these images of Africa’s lakes will galvanise delegates to even greater action to conserve and restore these crucial water bodies. Of huge economic importance are these lakes,†said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s executive director.
The Atlas, to be published in 2006, will be of great significance to researchers, education institutions, media institutions, policy makers and governments in their efforts of formulating practical solutions to restore the African lakes’ productivity. Ends
UNITED Nations Habitat is facilitating an annual Lake Victoria Clean Up Week, participants at the 11th World Lakes Conference have been told.
This is a social responsibility exercise that seeks to mobilise local authorities and stakeholders to develop a programme for laying out city development strategies for improved urban environment and poverty reduction.
It is expected that when the appropriate physical, financial and policy-based infrastructure is in place, it will be easier for the lake to support the surrounding region’s populations through fishing, supply of domestic and industrial water, hydropower, navigation and tourism.
The East African Community (EAC) is a key stand in the exhibitions.
From Lake Victoria Development Programme to Lake Victoria Basin Commission, the community has put in place a protocol for Lake Victoria development.
This partnership agreement on sustainable development of the Lake Victoria Basin was signed by the EAC with the governments of France, Norway, Sweden, the World Bank and the East African Development Bank.
It may seem that so much activity surrounds Africa’s largest fresh water lake, but the conference has undisputable evidence of its predicament.
A newly-launched Atlas of African Lakes by UNEP presents sharp pictures of the effects of forest loss, invasive species, land degradation, pollution and inefficient irrigation taking their toll on Lake Victoria.
“I hope these images of Africa’s lakes will galvanise delegates to even greater action to conserve and restore these crucial water bodies. Of huge economic importance are these lakes,†said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s executive director.
The Atlas, to be published in 2006, will be of great significance to researchers, education institutions, media institutions, policy makers and governments in their efforts of formulating practical solutions to restore the African lakes’ productivity. Ends