November 7-11, 2016

1st Anouncement
Lake Ecosystem Health and Its Resilience:
Diversity and the Risks of Extinction

Organized by:
Ministry of Environment and Forestry Indonesia
Ministry of Public Works and Housing Indonesia
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)In collaboration with
International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC)

BackgroundLakes, whether natural or artificial, fresh or saline, are an important and dramatic featureof our global landscape. They have been centers of human cultural development
worldwide throughout the centuries. By providing their services in terms of increasedfood supply, safe drinking water and satisfying other water needs for human health andwellbeing, these ecosystems have become landscapes of inspiration, creativity andspiritual manifestations that constitute the ‘heartware’ that enriches and elevates humanexistence. Thus, lakes constitute a global heritage that must be restored andcontinuously protected to enhance their life-supporting ecosystem services, including
those resulting from their linkages to other aquatic ecosystems. These linkages also haveimportant scientific and governance implications.

It is pertinent that each and every lake has different characteristics; be in terms of its
morphogenesis and morphology or in terms of social and economic condition of its
surrounding community. Accordingly, they have certain specific problems anduniqueness from the socio-economic, cultural and ecological point of view. Lakes havenumerous purposes related to human life. They are not only function as water resources,
but also serves, among others, as an important element to balance ecosystem, control offlood, drought and climate change, and as a habitat for biodiversity. Along with theirfreshwater plants and animal’s richness, lakes have advantages for developing
ecotourism, research and development, as well as an energy sources. In addition, lakes
have also important role in cultural preservation.

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On the other hand, we are all aware that, as a result of increased population, intensified
use of surface waters, exploitation of shoreline properties and other human pressures,
lakes are increasingly being threatened. Declining water quality, nuisance algae blooms,
excessive weed growths, deteriorating fisheries, sediment infilling, contamination,
shoreline erosion and so forth are common problems being experienced due to humanactivities. Consequently, it may influence socio-economic condition of the lake’s
surrounding community, which in turn may impact economic and social development of
the country and the world. It is no doubt that collaboration and coherence among
relevant stakeholders, both governments and non-government actors, should bestrengthened and further developed with the view to coping with the emerging
challenges of lake management.

About the World Lake Conference
The history of the World Lake Conference (WLC) dates back to the Shiga Conference on
Conservation and Management of World Lake Environment of 1984, known as LECS'84,
which was held on the shore of Lake Biwa, Japan. The aim of the LECS' 84, which was tocontribute to promoting scientific approaches in the world lake basin management, hasbeen inherited to the World Lake Conferences held in various parts of the world
including USA, Hungary, China, Italy, Argentina, Denmark, Kenya, India and Japan. Today,
the Conference is globally recognized as a place for multi-sectoral participants (i.e.,academia, government, citizens, NGOs and enterprises) to exchange their views andexperiences on the sustainable management for lakes and their basins.

The Previous WLC: WLC15
With this perspective in mind, the 15th World Lake Conference (WLC 15) in Perugia, 1-5
September 2014 has manifested the Perugia Declaration. This declaration acknowledge
that freshwater is fundamental for all life, being finite in quantity, extremely vulnerable
to human activities, and irreplacable in its many uses. We are conscious that, in spite ofnoteworthy progress made over recent decades in attempting to address human and2

ecosystem water needs, achievement of effective governance, capacity and a financialbase adequate to ensure sustainable ecosystem services of lakes and other standing
water systems remains an elusive goal of civil societies and their governments.
WLC15 which was hosted by the Umbria Scientific Meeting Association (USMA) and cohosted by International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) was of utmost
importance as provided opportunity to address many issues of our common concern onlake management and to strengthen cooperation among countries and stakeholders
involved. Such cooperation has been undertaken through sharing of experience and bestpractices as well as transfer of knowledge, data and information. Through a fruitful andcandid discussion among participants of the conference, WLC15 has defined appropriate
policies, strategy, program and actions meaningfully to address our profound challenges
in lake management.

WLC16
It is our humble expectation that the Government of Indonesia would like to contributeto the international community via organizing the 16th World Lake Conference (WLC16)
and, at the same time, gain more knowledge and understanding through inter alia
sharing of experience and best practices from various stakeholders. Through theconference, we hope that we can reinvigorate and reignite the zeal and passion we havefor the issue of lake management. Conservation of lake ecosystems is something that wecannot avoid to. It is a must. That said, we are of the view that there are a number ofareas whereas international lake community might consider to pursuing collaborative
global actions in order to save lake ecosystems.

3Let us be firm in our conviction. Let us be bold to take action. Our support for the lake
conservation and rehabilitation is imperative for the future of our ecosystem, our people,
and for the destiny of the next generation. We should not stop here, but we need tocontinue our works and deliberation in years to come. Therefore, it is our great pleasure,
on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, to kindly invite all ofstakeholders, governments and non-governments who are involving in lake management
all over the world, to participate in WLC16, scheduled to be held in Indonesia inNovember, 2016.

Venue• Udayana University, Jimbaran, Bali
• Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
DateFrom 7 to 11 November 2016
AgendaMain Events• Plenary Sessions• Scientific Sessions• Thematic ForaSide events:• International/Local Policy Dialogue• Field trips• Special Workshops for Indonesian and Asian Lakes Management• Development of Regional Collaboration Framework for Lake BasinManagement (especially targetting South-East Asia and South Asia)• Other side events (targeting Students, Children and Journalists)• Cultural Events• Award Ceremonies• Exhibitions
Websitewww.wlc16bali.com
Email address
secretary@wlc16bali.com

4Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia