Transcript Effects of Development on Lake Victoria Characteristics

Effects of Development on Lake Victoria
Characteristics:
• LANDLOCKED BY UGANDA, KENYA, and TANZANIA
•APPROXIMATELY 209 MILES LONG, 160 MILES WIDE, 26,600 SQ. MILES
• AVERAGE DEPTH 130 FEET, AS DEEP AS 270 FEET
• THE SOURCE OF THE NILE RIVER
• THE WORLD’S 2ND LARGEST FRESH WATER LAKE
Issues:
• DECLINING BIODIVERSITY: 400 SPECIES OF CICHLIDS REDUCED TO 200
• POOR WATER QUALITY & INVASIVE SPECIES
• THE HUMAN EFFECTS: AGRICULTURE, URBANIZATION, BUJAGALI DAM SYSTEM &
UNSUSTAINABLE FISHERY
• MALARIA
DECLINING BIODIVERSITY & LOCAL EFFECTS
• 2 EXOGENOUS SPECIES INTRODUCED TO LAKE VICTORIA:
•NILE PERCH & NILE TILAPIA
•INTRODUCED FOR ECONOMIC STIMULATION – world market demand
• PERCH & TILAPIA ARE PREDATORS TO CICHLIDS
•400 SPECIES TO 200 SPECIES
• BIG FLEET FISHING DISRUPTIVE TO LOCAL LIVELIHOODS
•SMALL FISHERMEN CANNOT COMPETE
•WOMEN CULTURALLY GUT FISH, NOW INDUSTRIALIZED
PROCESS DISPLACING WOMEN’S ROLE IN COMMUNITY
INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES & POOR WATER QUALITY
• WATER HYACINTHS INTRODUCED BY BELGIANS TO BEAUTIFY THE
LAKE REGION HAS PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE LEADING FACTORS
SLOWLY KILLING LAKE VICTORIA.
• THE WEED GROWS RAPIDLY – BLOCKS SUNLIGHT, DEPRIVES
OXYGEN, FOSTERS ALGEA GROWTH
• ALGEA GROWTH RESULTS IN POOR WATER QUALITY
• DENSE GROWTH OF HYACINTHS OBSTRUCT BOAT
TRANSPORTATION ON THE LAKE
•ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN DECLINING BIODIVERSITY
THE HUMAN EFFECTS
• AGRICULTURE
•INCREASED POPULATION  INCREASED
FOOD DEMAND  INTENSIFIED
AGRICULTURE
•Chemically intensive farming methods have runoffs
into rivers/waterways into the lake
• URBANIZATION: Increase in sewage close to water source
• BUJAGALI DAM SYSTEM: Energy demands require water
to run through its systems to generate hydropower – further
reducing the already low water levels of Lake Victoria
• UNSUSTAINABLE FISHERIES
•INCREASED DEMAND OF JOBS IN FISHING
 OVERFISHING
•DECLINING QUALITY OF LAKE YIELDS
LOWER FISH POPULATION. This leaves many
fishermen without jobs and food. What was once a
source to stimulate the economy is now creating
poverty from the dependence generated.
MALARIA
• DUE TO POOR WATER QUALITY,
LAKE VICTORIA IS THE CAPITAL
OF MALARIA
• INCREASING TEMPERATURES as
part of CLIMATE CHANGE
EFFECTS makes Lake Victoria prime
breeding ground for waterborne diseases
• 20% OF CHILDREN UNDER 5 DIE
OF MALARIA IN THIS REGION
• As part of desperate economy, many
have used treated bed-nets to catch and
dry fish, instead of using them for
intended purposes.
POLICY
Eradication of the Hyacinths is high on the priority list as well as efforts
to cure and prevent malaria. Since so many lives depend on Lake
Victoria as a resource to sustain their livelihoods, any improvements
made to the lake will improve poverty.
However, addressing issues facing Lake Victoria must be a community
effort between Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The issues faced are
COMMONS ISSUES:
FISHERY MANAGEMENT – POLLUTION
These are issues that can be addressed in policy. However, all 3 nations
must agree on the management of fisheries, a standard water quality,
and methods and regulations to achieve the standards.
LAKE VICTORIA FISHING ORGANIZATION, 1994. However,
member nations fail to enforce, therefore ineffective.
This may prove challenging. Though each nation have intentions and
regulations in place regarding water quality, in order for the overall
quality of the lake to improve, the nations must forge a coordinate effort
in preserving Lake Victoria for their citizens’ livelihoods.
AMERICA MAY PINTABUTR
ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT – SPRING 2009