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| UNESCO WATER PORTAL WEEKLY UPDATE No. 169: LAKE VICTORIA22 December 2006 |
2005-2015 is the International Decade For Action 'Water for Life'
EDITOR’S NOTE
Dear subscribers, As 2006 comes to an end, we would like to thank you for the interest and support you have given us during the past 2 years. We are counting on you to continue to work with us to care for the world’s water next year as well. We take advantage of this opportunity to inform you that you will receive the next issue of the Newsletter on Friday 5 January 2007.
We wish you all a very happy new year!
Sincerely, María Rosa Cárdenas Tomazic NEWS
 WWDR2 launched in Spanish
The 2nd United Nations World Water Development Report, 'Water, a shared responsibility' (WWDR2, 2006), provides an up-to-date global overview of the state and uses of freshwater, critical water-related problems and societies' coping mechanisms. WWDR2 was first launched officially in English on World Water Day, 22 March 2006. The report was translated and published in Spanish by Expo Zaragoza 2008, in close collaboration with the the World Water Assessment Programme WWAP), and launched on 12 December 2006 in Zaragoza, Spain.
Expo Zaragoza 2008 organized a 2 day event for the occasion, to present the report and discuss the water situation in the Latin America and the Caribbean region and Spain, with a focus on governance related issues, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the value of water. Experts from about 20 countries participated in the presentation and debate sessions, including the Under Secretary of the United Nations for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. José Antonio Ocampo; the Minister for the Environment of the Spanish Government, Mrs. Cristina Narbona; the Deputy Coordinator of the WWAP Programme, Mr. Carlos Fernández-Jáuregui; and the President of Expo Zaragoza 2008, Mr. Roque Gistau.
The Spanish version of WWDR2 will be available on line soon.  Just published: ‘Urban Water Conflicts: An analysis of the origins and nature of water-related unrest and conflicts in the urban context’
This collection of essays is a new and systematic effort to survey the controversial aspect of the management and, in many cases, mismanagement of freshwater resources in an urban setting. It addresses and characterizes the conflicts that arise within large human settlements, due to the economic and social implications of access to and the use of basic water services. It also presents in-depth case studies from cities of various continents.
These essays are particularly relevant in a time when the world is becoming increasingly urbanized. Current projections predict that, by 2007, half of humanity will live in cities, meaning that the planet will have an urban majority for the first time in history. There are other political, social and economic processes at work, not the least of which has been the trend towards privatizing water services, which is of particular relevance to the analysis of urban water conflicts.
This publication will prove useful to urban water policymakers, decision-makers, planners and managers throughout the world.
Full publication [PDF format - 1.66 MB]  New UNDP-UNEP report: ‘Making Progress on Environmental Sustainability: Lessons and recommendation from a review of over 150 MDG country experiences’
Today, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) serve as the framework for sustainable development by setting concrete goals and targets to tackle poverty and promote human development. Together, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have been working to support countries in sound environmental management and, in particular, on achieving MDG 7 on environmental sustainability. They have just launched a joint Report, ‘Making Progress on Environmental Sustainability: lessons and recommendations in over 150 country experiences’. It is clear from this analysis that most counties are not yet on track to reach MDG 7 by 2015 and that throughout the world, countries are facing similar challenges both in tailoring MDG 7 targets and indicators to their national context, and in strengthening monitoring capacities and systems.
The Report is part of a wider ‘toolbox’ of services designed by UNDP to help developing countries prepare national plans to reach the MDGs on time.
Access the full publication [PDF format – 3.88 MB] 
EVENTS Nutrient Removal 2007 Conference: The State of the Art
4-7 March 2007, Baltimore, Maryland, United States -Organizers: The Water Environment Federation (WEF), United States, in cooperation with the International Water Association (IWA) Nutrient Removal and Recovery Group; the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA); the Chesapeake Water Environment Federation, United States
8th IWA United Kingdom Young Water Professionals Conference
18-20 April 2007, Guildford, United Kingdom -Organizer: International Water Association (IWA) World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower
29-31 May 2007, Antalya, Turkey -Organizers: the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in collaboration with UNESCO; Ren-Alliance; the Turkish State Hydraulic Works (DSI); the Turkish Hydropower Association (TURSEB) NOVATECH 2007 - 6th International Conference on Sustainable Techniques and Strategies in Urban Water Management
25-28 June 2007, Lyon, France -Organizer: Rhône-Alpes Research Group on Water Infrastructure, France
IDA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse
21-26 October 2007, Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain -Organizer: International Desalination Association (IDA)
DID YOU KNOW...? FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT LAKE VICTORIA- The Lake Victoria Basin (1° S and 32° E) is located in the upper reaches of the Nile River Basin and occupies an area of about 251,000 Km²; the lake itself is 60,000 Km².
- Lake Victoria, the largest of all African lakes, is also the second widest freshwater body in the world.
- Its extensive surface belongs to 3 countries: the northern half belongs to Uganda, the southern half to Tanzania, and part of the northeastern sector to Kenya.
- The lake draws 20% of its water from the Kagera, Mara, Simiyu, Grumeti, Yala, Nyando, Migori and Sondu-Miru rivers, while the remaining 80% comes from rainfall. Mountains surround the catchment area on all sides except for the north.
- Lake Victoria is a relatively shallow lake, with a maximum depth of 80 to 90 m.
- Lake Victoria supports one of the densest and poorest rural populations in the world, with densities of up to 1,200 persons per Km² in parts of Kenya. An average annual population growth rate of 3% is exerting increasing pressures on the lake’s natural resources.
- Lake Victoria generates an annual GDP of US$3 000–4 000 million, providing more than 25 000 people with an annual income of US$90-270 per capita.
- Water erosion is extensive in many parts of the Lake Victoria Basin, with approximately 45% of the land prone to such erosion. The lake’s increased siltation and increasing flood risks in estuaries are the direct effects of soil erosion and other degradation forces in the basin.
- About 75% of the Lake Victoria wetland area has been significantly affected by human activities and about 13% is severely degraded.
- Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) were introduced into Lake Victoria in the mid-1950s to boost local fisheries production. With a voracious appetite for other fish, the perch decimated the lake’s 350 native fish species, reducing their number to less than 50, according to some estimates. In short order, it worked its way to the top of the lake’s food chain.
- The environmental degradation of the Lake Victoria Basin over the last three decades (due to high population, massive algal blooms, water-borne diseases, water hyacinth infestation, oxygen depletion, introduction of alien fish species etc.) has been determined as placing a present value of 270–520 million USD at risk to the lake communities, if the large export fishery for Nile perch was lost.
Information from the Lake Victoria section of the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) website, from the UNEP publication ‘Lake Victoria Environment Outlook (LVBEO)’ [PDF format – 2.61 MB], from the UNEP publication ‘Africa's Lakes: An Atlas of Environmental Change’, from the ‘East African Rift Valley Lakes – GIWA Regional assessment 47’ publication.
PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO LAKE VICTORIASpecial Report on the Declining of Water Levels of Lake Victoria [PDF format - 448 KB]
By the East African Community (EAC) - Lake Victoria Basin Commission. © EAC 2006. This paper outlines the changing trends of the meteorological (rainfall, temperature, wind and evaporation) and hydrological (catchment rivers inflows) regimes in the lake; the declining water levels and its causes; the impacts of the reduced water levels on the economy and ecosystem; and proposals for immediate to long term interventions to mitigate the impacts and the threats. Access the paper [PDF format - 448 KB] Lake Victoria Basin Environment Outlook (LVBEO) [PDF format - 2.61 MB]
By the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Early Warning and Assessment – Africa. © UNEP 2005 This report provides an in-depth integrated analysis of the environmental dynamics within the basin. The LVBEO report is set within the context of environment and development. In this context, the report explores the plight of its people and their livelihoods. It also discusses the existing policy framework for improving these livelihoods and sustaining the environment. Access the publication brochure [PDF format - 2.61 MB]
LINKS ABOUT LAKE VICTORIA
Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) LVFO aims to harmonise, develop and adopt conservation and management measures for the sustainable utilisation of Lake Victoria’s living resources to optimise socio-economic benefits from the basin for the three Partner States (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). This website offers information on the Lake Victoria fisheries, the management plans, documents, publications, links, news and events. Lake Victoria Development Programme (LVDP) This programme coordinates the various interventions on the Lake and its Basin; and serves as a centre for promotion of investments and information sharing among the various stakeholders. This website contains information on the programme, on the lake basin, news, events, publications, links and a database. OSIENALA (Friends of Lake Victoria) OSIENALA is a non-governmental and non-profit organization established in 1992 initially to provide interventions in environmental management around the Lake Victoria region. This website offers information about the organization’s programme and Radio Lake Victoria, and provides publications, news and events. ILEC section on the Lake Victoria This section of the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) website contains information on the location of the lake, its physical dimension, physiographic features, water quality, biological features, socio-economic conditions, lake utilization, the deterioration of the lake’s environment, hazards and wastewater treatments.
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