Restoring Lake Victoria: CSE, Tanzanian authorities hold multi-nation stakeholder consultation

Subject: IR

Section: Places in news

Context:

On January 23, 2024, a multi-nation stakeholder consultation was held in Dar es Salaam, organized by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in India and Tanzania’s National Environment Management Council (NEMC).
This meeting aimed to develop strategies for restoring the lake, which is essential for the livelihoods of around 45 million people.

Details:

Lake Victoria is facing serious environmental challenges.
The lake’s ecosystem is at risk due to heavy pollution and requires urgent intervention to prevent irreversible damage.
The lake is shared by Tanzania (51%), Uganda (44%), and Kenya (5%), and the consultation was attended by representatives from these countries, as well as Burundi and Rwanda.
Previously, CSE and NEMC had identified Mwanza town in Tanzania as a major pollution hotspot and released a report and a management strategy for cleaning the lake and sustaining its ecological integrity. The efforts aim to improve Lake Victoria’s water quality and ensure sustainable use.

About Lake Vicotria:

Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. With a surface area of approximately 59,947 km2 (23,146 sq mi), Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake by area, the world’s largest tropical lake, and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake by surface area after Lake Superior in North America.
In terms of volume, Lake Victoria is the world’s ninth-largest continental lake.
Lake Victoria occupies a shallow depression in Africa.
The lake’s area is divided among three countries: Tanzania occupies 49% (33,700 km2 (13,000 sq mi)), Uganda 45% (31,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi)), and Kenya 6% (4,100 km2 (1,600 sq mi)).
Lake Victoria is considered to be part of the Rift Valley system although it lies between the two branches. All of the African Great Lakes were formed as the result of the rift, and most lie in territories within the rift.

Source: DTE