The Great Rift Valley Lakes

This publication is one of a series of strategic impact assessments carried out as part of the Global International Waters Assessment Project (GIWA-UNEP/GEF) to evaluate the worlds transboundary waters, in recognition of the links between freshwater and coastal marine environments and the effects of human activities. This report focuses on the East African Rift Valley Lakes region, presenting the assessment of Lakes Turkana, Tanganyika, Victoria and Malawi, the largest of the East African Rift Valley Lakes and among the oldest lakes in the world. The lakes are renowned for their high endemism and support a vital socio-economic service as a core for transportation, water supply, fisheries, recreation and tourism. Anthropogenic impacts have significantly altered the ecosystem function of these lakes. Lake Victoria, shared by three countries and influenced by two more in the catchment area, was targeted for causal chain and policy option analysis. Root causes related to pollution and overexploitation are discussed and policy options to address the driving issues are presented.