East African Living lakes Network status report 2008 By Ann Nabangala Obae Introduction The Mission of East African Living lakes Network is “To build holistic and interdisciplinary approaches that are geared towards ensuring clean and healthy living lakes, supporting man and aquatic ecosystems in a sustainable manner.” As a means of achieving the above Vision and Mission, the following are the specific objectives: 1. To lobby and advocate for streamlining policy and decision making based on sound science and best available information for the sustainable management and use of East African Living Lakes resources 2. To promote networks and partnerships with local, national, and international resource providers to improve infrastructural capacity, support research and share best practice 3. To enhance capacities of members and other stakeholders on sustainable management and use of East African Living Lakes resources 4. To promote and/or undertake research for stock and inventory on various issues pertaining to the sustainable use and management of the East Living Lakes and their resources; 5. To facilitate the conflict resolution process among competing users of the Living Lakes resources in East Africa The East African Living Lakes Network Status The network has been operating with the interim secretariat being at OSIENALA. So far there has been no clear cut strategy on legal framework, resource mobilization, execution of members’ interests etc. However the interim secretariat at OSIENALA has been coordinating the East African Living Lakes Network as an open network. During this one year period Profiling of 18 living lakes by contact persons from various organizations across the greater East Africa has been realized. The countries presently represented on the East African living lakes Network include; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. A data base of all 16 profiled and 2 being profiled lakes has been established and is available for sharing among members. The data base is as below; Names Country Lake of Profiling Organization Email address interest status 1. Simon Kenya Bogoria Profiled World Wide Fund for [email protected] Chepkonga nature- Nakuru 2. Ken Oluoch Kenya Kanyaboli Profiled Kenya Organization for [email protected] Environmental Education ( SECODE Project) 3. Dr. Obiero Kenya Victoria Profiled OSIENALA ( Friends of [email protected] Ong’ang’a Lake Victoria) 4. Faith Oneya Kenya Magadi On going Youth Conservation [email protected] Organization 5. Righa Kenya Jipe On going OSIENALA ( Friends of [email protected] Makonge Lake Victoria) COSMERLAV 6. Ronald Uganda Albert and On going Earth Savers [email protected] Busiinge George 7. Batista John Tanzania Tanganyika Profiled Sustainable Development [email protected] Foundation 8. Kateregga Uganda Wamala Profiled Uganda Coalition for [email protected] Dennis and Sustainable Development Bunyonyi ( Youth Watch Project) 9. Alexander Uganda Katwe Profiled Makerere University [email protected] Bombom 10. Ann Obae Kenya Chala Profiled Kenya Organization for [email protected] Environmental Education ( SECODE Project) 11. Franklin Simbi Profiled Simbi Nyaima - Ouma Nyamai 12. Frank Rwanda Kivu Profiled The Nile Basin Forum +250 555101786/ HABINEZ Opposite Amahoro +250 (0) 8563039 A National Stadium http://www.nbdfrrwanda.org.rw 13. Jaccqueline Rwanda Tanganyika Profiled Oragnisation pour la Ntukamazin defence de a L’environment au Burundi 14. Douglas Uganda Bisina Profiled Youth Watch- Uganda Kaziro chapter 1. Lake Victoria- OSIENALA (FRIENDS OF LAKE VICTORIA)- Kisumu Contact person; Dr. Obiero Ong’ang’a- Director OSIENALA Location: Kenya; Nyanza province Communities living around the lake: Luo, Suba and Luhya mainly Spectacular features; Second largest fresh water lake in the world, rich culture of the local people, beautiful islands and bird watching adventures among others 2. Lake Bogoria (previously Hanningtone)- World Wide Fund for Nature- Nakuru Contact person; Sirma Chepkonga. Programme officer Environmental Education and Community Development Location: Kenya; Rift Valley province Communities living around the lake: Tugen (Endorois) Spectacular features; Hot springs geysers and fumaroles along its shore. It is fed by the hot springs, the geysers, four seasonal rivers and numerous seasonal streams. The rivers are Waseges-Sandai, Loboi, Emsos and Mogun. Great tourism attraction site Lake Wamala- Youth watch, Fresh water management thematic group – Uganda chapter Contact person; Dennis Kateregga. C.E.O Youth watch Uganda Location: Uganda; Central Uganda. Mubende, Mpigi and Mityana districts. Communities living around the lake: Baganda Spectacular features; Lake Wamala derives it name from the last King “Wamala” of Bachwezi dynasty, which founded the Kitara territory that covered central (including Buganda), western and southern parts of Uganda and part of northern Tanzania, Western Kenya and Eastern Congo in the Bronze Age. The Legend has it that King Wamala disappeared into lake Wamala at a site near Lubajja fishing village called Nakyegalika and his spirit resides in the lake. Hence, people from all walks of life from as far as Kampala frequent this site to perform rituals. At Nakyegalika – one of the spiritual sites where Buganda kings performed rituals to appease spirits, there is a cave of cultural significance that is overseen by Lugave clan one of Buganda’s major clans. Lake Chala , Kenya Organization for Environmental Education Contact person; Ann Nabangala Obae. Programme officer Capacity building , Advocacy and Networking Location: Kenya; Coast province in Taveta on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro Communities living around the lake: Taita Spectacular features; Lake Chala has more than 250 parasitic cones and craters in the Kilimanjaro ecological complex, which exhibits some of the finest volcanic scenery in the world, presenting a dramatic landscape. Its water is crystal blue with lush green vegetation. It is a beautiful and remote crater lake of natural spring water situated on the southeast plains of Mount Kilimanjaro. recommended. Visitors can hike at the lake and enjoy the beautiful view and fresh air. Aside from plenty of fish, Monitor lizards, baboons, monkeys and common snakes may be seen by chance. Home for tilapia (Oreochromis hunteri) is a species of fish in the Cichlidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. One major threat facing lake Chala is the Kenya government’s plan to draw water from it for irrigation, a move that is being challenged by the Tanzanian government. Valentine Marc Nkwame Arusha Times (Arusha) June 3, 2006 Lake Kanyaboli , Kenya Organization for Environmental Education Contact person; Ken Oluoch. Programme officer Planning and Management Location: Kenya; Nyanza province. Siaya district Communities living around the lake: Luo Lake Kanyaboli lies in the north-eastern corner of Lake Victoria. Lake kanyaboli is located on the north-eastern corner of Lake Victoria. Its has an average depth of 3meters and covers a total area of 1500 ha. It is one of the most important riparian satellite lakes around the Lake Victoria. Lake Kanyaboli is part of Yala swamp which forms the mouth of both Rivers Nzoia and Yala. The lake is a freshwater deltaic wetland arising from backflow of water from Lake Victoria as well as the rivers’ floodwaters. It provides a very important habitat for refugee populations of certain fish species which have otherwise disappeared from Lake Victoria. It provides major ecological and hydrological functions and is a major source of livelihood for the neighbouring communities. In particular, the lake continues to be a significant habitat for certain species of animals that have disappeared from the main Lake Victoria. Lake Kanyaboli is highly productive ecosystem as characterized by the dense growth of macrophytes and its general biodiversity richness. The Lake is also dominated by the emergent papyrus (Cyperus papyrus) and Phragmites mauritianus reeds. In Natural vegetation at the edges of the wetland is heavily affected by human settlement, widespread cultivation and cutting of trees for fuelwood and construction. A section of Lake Kanyaboli and inset a feeder canal A rich community of invertebrates and fish is found along the river outlets and in the lake. The aquatic nymph of mayflies (Ephemeroptera), dragonflies (Odonata) and stoneflies (Plecoptera) are common in the gravely substratum of the river outlelets. Other macro-invertebrates include oligochaetes (Branchiura sowerbyi) and molluscs. Major threats to lake Kanyaboli include; eutrophication resulting from increased population pressure coupled by commercial rice farming from the Dominion farms, illegal and over fishing practices by the locals, ecosystem imbalance resulting from introduction of foreign species among others. In July 2008, a meeting was convened at International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), MBITA Kenya to have East Africa Living Lake Network’s strategy clearly defined. The agenda of the meeting was as follows; 1) Clear strategic direction for East African Living Lakes Network 2) Current work plan East African Living lakes Network 3) Resource mobilization strategies 4) Profiling of lakes / recruitment of more members 5) Bulletins; Articles, developing a clear communication strategy. Clear strategic direction for East African Living Lakes Network In line with the World Living Lakes network, the normal arrangements for sub-networks have been merging members at continental level. During