Lake Victoria drying up, says UN report
Jul 08, 2008
LAKE Victoria is among the African water bodies drying up due to environmental degradation and climatic changes, according to a report released by the UN Environment Programme.
By Gerald Tenywa
LAKE Victoria is among the African water bodies drying up due to environmental degradation and climatic changes, according to a report released by the UN Environment Programme.
It noted that the loss of trees and wetlands, which form the Lake Victoria water catchment, was partly to blame for the receding shoreline.
“Over 75% of the wetlands have been significantly affected by human activities and 13% is severely degraded.â€
The report noted that the Lake Victoria water levels started dropping considerably in 2002.
As a result, the shoreline retreated by over 100 metres and there has been no improvement six years later.
Rapid population growth, leading to over exploitation of resources, poses a major threat to Africa’s lakes and most of the fresh water reservoirs, the report pointed out.
It added that in recent decades, the rate of population growth estimated at 7% within 100 kilometers around the Lake Victoria catchment area had outpaced the continental average, reflecting growing dependence and pressure on the lake’s resources.
“Population growth around the continent’s largest lake is significantly higher than the rest of Africa,†notes the report, adding that lakes are sources of livelihoods for many people.
“If they are not managed properly, the continent’s lakes face loss of sustainability for future generations.â€
Another water body that the report cited as endangered was Lake Chad, which it said had shrunk by 95% in the last 35 years due climatic effects and human activities.
On the way forward, the report recommended a joint effort in managing the lakes by countries and called for better monitoring of human activities.
LAKE Victoria is among the African water bodies drying up due to environmental degradation and climatic changes, according to a report released by the UN Environment Programme.
It noted that the loss of trees and wetlands, which form the Lake Victoria water catchment, was partly to blame for the receding shoreline.
“Over 75% of the wetlands have been significantly affected by human activities and 13% is severely degraded.â€
The report noted that the Lake Victoria water levels started dropping considerably in 2002.
As a result, the shoreline retreated by over 100 metres and there has been no improvement six years later.
Rapid population growth, leading to over exploitation of resources, poses a major threat to Africa’s lakes and most of the fresh water reservoirs, the report pointed out.
It added that in recent decades, the rate of population growth estimated at 7% within 100 kilometers around the Lake Victoria catchment area had outpaced the continental average, reflecting growing dependence and pressure on the lake’s resources.
“Population growth around the continent’s largest lake is significantly higher than the rest of Africa,†notes the report, adding that lakes are sources of livelihoods for many people.
“If they are not managed properly, the continent’s lakes face loss of sustainability for future generations.â€
Another water body that the report cited as endangered was Lake Chad, which it said had shrunk by 95% in the last 35 years due climatic effects and human activities.
On the way forward, the report recommended a joint effort in managing the lakes by countries and called for better monitoring of human activities.