Disclaimer
The views expressed in this report do not necessarily represent the official opinions or policies of theorganizations herein identified.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area orof its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Moreover, the views expressed do not necessarily represent the decision or the stated policy of the individuals or the organizations with which they are associated, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement.

World Lake Vision Committee

Acknowledgements

Preface
World Lake Vision : A Call to Action

This document is the result of collaborative effort by many organizations and individuals, prepared by theWorld Lake Vision Committee, and is available on the world wide web at http : //www.ilec.or.jp/wwf/eng.
The preparation and production of this report was financially supported and promoted by the International
Lake Committee Foundation (ILEC), Shiga Prefectural Government, and United Nations Environment
Programme-International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP-IETC).
Many organizations and individuals contributed to the project by supporting the participation of their member(s) at the meetings and workshops in the development of the World Lake Vision, and by reviewing and/or
providing comments (Annexes 3 and 4).
The many other organizations and individuals that have supported the formulation of the World Lake Vision,and those that will support and implement the World Lake Vision in the future, and who are not listed, arealso acknowledged with gratitude.

The World Lake Vision is the result of a candid look at what is happening today to lakes around the world,whether natural or artificial, freshwater or saline, and what is likely to happen to them if present trends continue into the future. It recognizes the critical state of many of these fragile, vulnerable, and often strikingly
beautiful ecosystems. It seeks to convince people of the need to insure healthy lakes as a primary sourceand storehouse of the world’s easily-accessible water resources, and as sources of food and economic livelihoods, utilizing them in a manner that maximizes their sustainable use for humans and nature, while alsopreserving their quality and ecosystem integrity for current and future generations.
To this end, the World Lake Vision invites everyone with an interest in lakes and reservoirs to support andpromote this vision for the future ………
……a future in which humanity manages and uses lakes and their resources with the guiding view of preserving and improving them, rather than presiding over their continuing degradation...
……a future in which the understanding of lakes includes recognition of their inseparable connections to
the drainage basins that surround and nourish them, and to the people whose activities control their healthand vitality...

Copyright 2003 International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and United Nations Environment ProgrammeThis publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes
without special permission from the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and United Nations Environment Programme, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The International Lake Environment Committee Foundation, Shiga Prefectural Government, and United Nations Environment
Programme-International Environment Technology Centre would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source.

……a future in which the importance of water from clean lakes is recognized as a life and death issue forthe poorest communities...
……a future in which research on lakes is initiated and pursued in a coordinated manner that increases
human knowledge of their properties and functions, and benefits effective policy formation and management
practices identified as important to the health and sustainable use of lake basin ecosystems...
……a future which acknowledges their aesthetic, therapeutic, and even spiritual qualities which, together,
form a sparkling and intricate aquatic mosaic across our global landscape.

No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without
prior permission in writing from the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme.

First Edition 2003
ISBN 4-9901546-0-6

Table of Contents
Topic

Page

Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………………………………

Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………………………………



The World Lake Vision : An Introduction …………………………………………………… 1
Lakes as essential components of global water resources ……………………………………………
The uniqueness, values and uses of lakes ………………………………………………………………
Saving our lakes : The World Lake Vision as an importantinvestment in our global water future ……………………………………………………………………
The beneficiaries of the World Lake Vision ………………………………………………………………







1
2
4
5

Barriers and Threats Facing the Sustainable Use of Lakes ……………………… 7
Socioeconomic factors contributing the to unsustainable lake use …………………………………… 7
Increased demands for developing and using lake resources …………………………………… 7
Limited public awareness and understanding of human impacts on lakes ……………………… 8
Insufficient governance and accountability systems ………………………………………………… 8
Inadequate mechanisms for managing international lake systems ……………………………… 9
Threats arising from within lake drainage basins………………………………………………………… 9
Excessive water withdrawals or diversions …………………………………………………………… 9
Water quality concerns ………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Unsustainable fishing practices and aquaculture …………………………………………………… 11
Loss of aquatic biodiversity and habitats ……………………………………………………………… 11
Human health risks ……………………………………………………………………………………… 12
Accumulation of litter and garbage …………………………………………………………………… 12
Loss of natural beauty…………………………………………………………………………………… 12
Threats arising from outside lake drainage basins ……………………………………………………… 12
Long-range transport of airborne pollutants ………………………………………………………… 12
Invasive species ………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Climate change…………………………………………………………………………………………… 13

Implementing the World Lake Vision : Promising Actions and Strategies … 17
Immediate actions for addressing major threats facing lakes ………………………………………… 17
Managing water withdrawals and diversions ………………………………………………………… 18
Preventing and controlling water pollution …………………………………………………………… 19
Achieving sustainable fisheries management ……………………………………………………… 21
Conserving lake biodiversity …………………………………………………………………………… 22
Controlling invasive species …………………………………………………………………………… 23
Preventing human health risks ………………………………………………………………………… 23
Controlling litter and garbage ………………………………………………………………………… 23
Establishing a management mechanism for the sustainable use of lakes and their resources …… 24
Longer-term strategies for addressing major threats facing lakes …………………………………… 25
Monitoring and assessing the health of lakes and their drainage basins ………………………… 25
Developing the capacity of individuals and organizations
to manage lakes for their sustainable use ………………………………………………………… 26
Identifying lake stakeholders in the drainage basin andfacilitating their active involvement…………………………………………………………………… 28
Implementing and carrying forward the World Lake Vision …………………………………………… 28

Annexes ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31
１．Glossary of Terms ………………………………………………………………………………………… 31
２．Examples of Sources for Additional Information Relevant to the Managementof Lakes and Their Resources ………………………………………………………………………… 32
３．World Lake Vision Committee and Drafting Committee Members ………………………………… 34
４．Other individuals and organizations contributing to World Lake Vision …………………………… 35
５．World Lake Vision Meetings, and Consultations ……………………………………………………… 36

Principles for Implementing the World Lake Vision ……………………………… 14
A harmonious relationship between humans and nature is essential for the sustainable use of lakes … 14
A lake drainage basin is the logical starting point for planning andmanagement actions for sustainable lake use ………………………………………………………… 15
A long-term, preventative approach directed to preventing
the causes of lake degradation is essential …………………………………………………………… 15
Policy development and decision making for lake management should
be based on sound science and the best available information……………………………………… 15
The management of lakes for their sustainable use requires theresolution of conflicts among competing users of lake resources,
taking into account the needs of present and future generations and of nature …………………… 16
Citizens and other stakeholders should be encouraged to participate meaningfully in
identifying and resolving critical lake problems ………………………………………………………… 16
Good governance, based on fairness, transparency andempowerment of all stakeholders, is essential for sustainable lake use …………………………… 16The World Lake Vision : An Introduction
Humans and lakes are interdependent ; their sustainability is enhanced by establishing and maintaining relationships that link humanity, aquatic ecosystems andthe landscape in an harmonious manner that complements the attributes and addresses the needs of all ……
The need for adequate freshwater supplies for human survival is obvious. Freshwater also has afundamental role in fueling economic development.
Regions with limited water supplies typically exhibit
low levels of economic activity. Some basic level of
economic development, therefore, appears to be aprerequisite for people to exhibit concern for thestate and sustainability of the environment in which
they live. Thus, the sustainable use of water resources should contribute directly to sustainableeconomic development, and to maintaining thehealth of the environment that supports this development. What is essential, therefore, is to seek abalance between the water needs of people on the
one hand, and the maintenance of the terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems that provide economicallyimportant and even life-supporting ecosystem services to humanity on the other hand. This fundamental notion lies at the very core of sustainable
development.

the total. Nevertheless, even this small amount isdeemed sufficient to meet all the present and foreseeable human water needs if it were evenly distributed around the world and protected from degradation, neither of which unfortunately is the case.
Lakes have a fundamental role in nature’s continuing cycle of evaporation, precipitation and flow ofwater on and below the land surface on its journeyback to the sea. They form parts of larger aquatic
systems that may include rivers, wetlands, andgroundwater. However, if one could take a snapshot of all the liquid freshwater on the earth’s surface at a given instant, it is estimated that morethan 90% of it would be in natural and artificial
lakes. Water enters lakes primarily from precipitation and runoff from the surface and/or seepage ofgroundwater into the lake basin.

Based on this tenet, this document introduces anddescribes the World Lake Vision, which highlights
the values, uses and protection of lakes and theirresources in human society. It also discusses theenvironmental and socioeconomic consequencesof not using them in a sustainable manner, consistent with the concept of sustainable development.

Lakes as essential components ofglobal water resources
Seen from space the earth appears as a largely
blue planet, suggesting the presence of vast quantities of water. Although this is true, only about two
percent of all the earth’s water is freshwater, withthe majority of even this small fraction being locked
up in the form of icebergs and glaciers, or located
far underground beyond easy reach. As a relative
perspective, if all the water on earth could be put
into a four-liter bottle, the readily-available quantity
for human use would be about one tablespoon (15milliliters), or less than one-half of one percent of

1

Although the blue color of Earth suggests the availabilityof large quantities of water, nearly all of it is in the oceans,unsuitable for most human needs.

From a landscape perspective, a lake consists of
two distinct yet interrelated parts, the drainage basin and the water body itself. Both must be taken
into account, since the latter cannot exist without
the former. About 20 of the world’s lakes are considered extremely deep (more than 400 meters in
depth), containing a significant portion of ourplanet’s freshwater. For example, Lake Baikal in
the Russian Federation contains about 16%, while
the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America (Su-perior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario) constitutethe greatest continuous mass of freshwater on
earth, containing about 20% of all the liquid freshwater on the earth’s surface. Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi in Africa are also among thelargest or deepest lakes in the world. The CaspianSea is the largest inland lake basin separated fromthe ocean. The vast majority of our readilyaccessible water resources, however, are contained in the numerous lakes of much smaller sizeand volume, usually less than 20 meters deep.
These lakes are typically the most accessible to
the greatest number of people, and are especially
important to local lakeshore communities that depend on them for their water supplies, food andother resources for their livelihoods. The fundamental concerns in regard to their quality and sustainable use are the same, however, regardless of
their area or volume.
Humans throughout history also have constructed
artificial lakes, also called reservoirs, impoundments, dams or tanks in different regions of theworld, primarily for addressing problems of water
scarcity, or alternatively for providing flood protection. In modern times, they also are used for such
purposes as hydropower generation, sports andcommercial fisheries and water-based recreation.
Nearly all the world’s major river systems have reservoirs in their drainage basins, and an estimated800,000 reservoirs are now in operation worldwide.
Approximately 1,700 more large reservoirs are currently under construction, particularly in developing
countries.

The uniqueness, values anduses of lakes
Lakes are among the most dramatic and pleasing
features of the planetary landscape, and the mostvariable of inland water systems. Whereas rivers
represent flowing water systems, lakes are primarily water storage bodies. Their sizes, shapes anddepths vary considerably, based on their specificmode of origin. They are dynamic aquatic ecosystems, being at the same time storehouses for large
quantities of water, sources of food and recreational pleasure for humans. Lakes are home to anamazing range of biodiversity, in some cases containing organisms found nowhere else on Earth.
For many indigenous lakeshore communities, lakes
also provide the very foundation of people’s livelihoods.
Lakes also are significant repositories of naturaland human history, with ancient local political centers often arising on or near lake shores. Specificlifestyles based entirely on lakes and their resources have developed in some locations, an example being the indigenous cultures in the Lake Titicaca drainage basin in Bolivia and Peru. Lakes
also have fundamental religious and spiritual sig-

Natural lakes and reservoirs have many similarities
in common. They also have some significant differences in such variables as their currents and flows,
their potential life spans, and their water flushingrates. These similarities and differences must be
considered in designing accurate, meaningfulmonitoring programs for assessing the water quality status of lakes and reservoirs, as well as theimplications for the organisms living in them. For
the purposes of this document, however, the term“lake” is meant to denote both natural lakes andreservoirs, unless otherwise indicated. Because
many of the guiding principles are equally applicable to natural lakes and reservoirs, the World Lake
Vision considers both in the same manner in regard to managing them for their sustainable use.

Humans have constructed reservoirs aroundthe world to meet beneficial water needs.

2Lake fisheries provide the livelihood formany indigenous communities.

nificance for many cultures. The Huichol in Mexico,
for example, consider Lake Chapala a sacred site.
Manasarowar Lake in Tibet, China, is another example of a sacred lake, where pilgrims gather from
Tibet and neighboring areas. On Chikubu Island in
Lake Biwa, the goddess of water “Benzaiten” is enshrined and worshiped.
The large quantities of water stored in lakes areespecially useful for meeting human and ecosystem water requirements when natural climatic conditions would not otherwise supply the water when
it was most needed. On the other hand, the abilityof lakes to store water also helps protect the lives
and property of downstream communities during
flood events. At the same time, it may significantly

Economic Value of Some Lake Fisheries
More than 60% of the fish consumed in Tanzania come from inland fisheries, and about
60% of the protein intake in Malawi is freshwater fish.
The creation of Lake Kariba produced a viable
regional fishery in an area in which freshwater
fish were previously absent from the diet ofZimbabweans.
The above-noted fisheries in the Zambezi/
Luapula and other drainage basins provide
employment for nearly 100,000 indigenous
fishermen and fish traders.
Lake Victoria generates an annual GDP of US$ 3-4 billion, providing more than 25,000 people with an average annual income of US$ 90270 per capita.
In contrast, the eutrophication of Lake Chivero
threatens the health and livelihoods of nearly
three million inhabitants in the greater Harare/
Norton urban areas, and caused the virtual
collapse of a once-thriving fishery.

3

The goddess of water is enshrined on
Chikubu Island in Lake Biwa, Japan.

raise lake water levels, thereby affecting people living along the shoreline. Because water also canabsorb a large quantity of heat, lakes with large
water volumes also can moderate the local climate
by reducing the range of atmospheric temperaturefluctuations in the atmosphere.
Lakes also are among the most vulnerable andfragile aquatic ecosystems. They are sinks for inflowing substances, including sediments, minerals,
aquatic plant nutrients and organic materials fromtheir drainage basin. Such materials tend to accumulate in the water column or on the lake bottom.
In sparsely-populated drainage basins, this typically leads to a relatively slow aging process. In
densely-populated or industrialized drainage basins,
however, human activities can significantly accelerate this natural aging process, and degrade thewater quality and the lake bottom environment. Because of this property, lakes serve as sensitive indicators and unique records of the effects of human and natural activities inside their drainage basins and also sometimes from activities occurringoutside their basins.
Regardless of their size, lakes are primary repositories of rich aquatic biodiversity, with many having
a range of native and endemic species. Their biodiversity, however, is very sensitive to hydrologicaldisturbance, water quality degradation, and the introduction of non-native species without sufficientscientific knowledge of their impacts. Lakes cansuffer significant loss of their endemic and native
species when, in the absence of their natural
predators or other control mechanisms, invasive
species proliferate and replace them.
There are many lakes around the world with relatively saline or salty water caused by the weathering of minerals from the bedrock of their drainage

basins, and typically exist in closed drainage basins. Others have become saline over time because of excessive diversions or withdrawals ofwater. Some examples of saline lakes include Lake
Issyk−Kul in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, the Great Salt Lake in the United States,
and the Dead Sea in southwestern Asia. In spite of
their varying salinity, most saline lakes have manyof the same uses as typical freshwater lakes, particularly in arid and semi−arid regions. Saline
lakes in the prairie and plains regions of North
America, for example, support 50−80% of the production of the continent’s waterfowl population.
They are not readily used, however, for domestic
or irrigation water supplies.
Not to be forgotten is the intrinsic beauty of lakes,
many of which exhibit breath-taking aesthetic features. Lakes evoke a pleasing range of emotional,
spiritual and intellectual responses in humans.
Lakes have been described as “pearls on a riverstring,” and “islands of water in an ocean of land.”
Although they are extremely important features, theaesthetic values of lakes are the most difficult toquantify, compared to their other uses.

lakes in meeting our water needs is enormous. An
unfortunate consequence of this need, however, isthat many lakes are now facing increasing threats
from human activities to both their water quantityand quality and to the viability of their biologicalcommunities, including important fisheries. Humanneglect or indifference is exacerbating these problems in other cases.
The need to protect water resources has been thesubject of a number of high-level global and regional conferences and discussions in recent decades. This topic was recognized, for example, atthe 1992 International Conference on Water andthe Environment (“Dublin Conference”), resulting in
the development of the Dublin Principles. It also
was highlighted in Chapter 18 of Agenda 21, developed at the 1992 United Nations Conference on
Environment and Sustainable Development (“Earth
Summit”) held in Rio de Janeiro. In 1999, theWorld Water Council developed a document, the“World Water Vision,” as a contribution to theglobal dialogue on ways to provide fundamental
guidance regarding the sustainable use of theseresources to freshwater stakeholders. Among its
components is a call for application of the concept
of integrated water resource management, first articulated in Dublin. The World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg in 2002,
more recently identified water as one of the global
priorities for the 21st Century.

Dublin Principles

Saving our lakes : The World Lake Vision as animportant investment in our global water future

Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource,
essential to sustain life, development and theenvironment ;Water development and management should
be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-makers at alllevels ;Women play a central role in the provision,
management, and safeguarding of water ;Water has an economic value in all its competing uses, and should be recognized as an
essential good.

Adequate supplies of water are essential for human survival and socioeconomic development, as
well as for maintaining economically-important andlife-supporting aquatic ecosystems. Accordingly,
this document focuses on the sustainable use oflakes as a vital component of our available water
resources. Because they are readily-accessible
sources of large quantities of water, the value of

The World Lake Vision was developed to insurethat humanity recognizes that lakes are not merely
convenient sources of water and food, or interesting recreational outlets, but also water systems of
profound biological complexity and intrinsic beauty,
as well as cradles of cultures, history and social
development. The World Lake Vision is a significant call to action regarding the sustainable use ofLakes represent some of the most breathtaking
features of the global landscape.

4lakes and their significant values, focusing on theiruniqueness, their range of uses, and their fundamental importance to the human condition and thenatural order now and in the future. It complements
the “World Water Vision” in embracing the notionof integrated water resources management as a
primary guiding principle for the sustainable use oflakes.

The beneficiaries of theWorld Lake Vision
The World Lake Vision also emphasizes the needfor an integrated approach or framework for comprehensively identifying and addressing freshwater
issues. Although there are some examples of positive lake management efforts based on such an
approach that have been undertaken in different
parts of the world, the reality is that well-conceived
andenvironmentally-sustainable
management
plans do not exist for most lakes. Data and information on the conditions of the world’s lakes havebeen increasing over the past several decades.
Nevertheless, a comprehensive vision of the futureof the world’s lakes in general, and the development of specific visions for individual lakes, is stilllacking. Complicating the problem is that thecauses of lake problems may be of local, national,
international or even global origin. Another complication is that the sustainable use of transboundary
or international lakes must effectively integrate thenational interests of the riparian countries thatshare them.
The World Lake Vision provides guiding principles, as well as a toolbox or menu of strategies
and opportunities, as fundamental components ofan integrative framework for identifying significant
lake problems and developing practical solutions.
In providing such opportunities and motivation, it
considers the implications of lake problems andtheir solutions in a manner (1) that is readily understood by the public, decision-makers and scientists
alike ; (2) that can be implemented across a wide
range of social and economic conditions ; and (3)that will facilitate the sustainable use of these critical freshwater ecosystems in meeting human waterneeds for socioeconomic development, while at thesame time addressing the water needs of nature,and the future of both.
The management and conservation of lakes fortheir sustainable use is a dynamic process.
Narrowly-focused or static approaches that only
highlight the elimination of specific threats to water
systems, such as control of floods and pollution,
are not sufficient when trying to develop a comprehensive vision for an individual lake. A visionary
assessment of policy, planning, financing, technology and education to provide fundamental guidance on managing and conserving the world’s
lakes, therefore, requires that the scope of thisWorld Lake Vision not be unduly limited. Rather,
it must develop and evolve on the basis of the participation of the widest range of stakeholders. Recent opportunities and new knowledge directed toenhancing ecosystem capacity are emerging as
novel, integrative approaches for managing water
resources for their sustainable use (e.g., ecologicalengineering, ecohydrology, phytotechnology). The
World Lake Vision is intended, therefore, to be aliving document, to be reviewed and periodicallyadjusted on the basis of changing conditions, improved knowledge, strategies and technological advances, as well as the lessons learned from lake
management experiences throughout the world.

There is a large and ready audience for the World
Lake Vision, including individuals, environmentalists, governments, non-governmental organizations,the private sector, advocacy groups, the media,
and scientific and educational institutions, among
others. Notwithstanding, the World Lake Vision is
first and foremost aimed to the citizens that inhabit
lake drainage basins and use lake resources, because they typically constitute the primary users forindividual lakes and in some cases, the primarycause of lake problems. They usually are the firstto experience the impacts of degraded water quality. They also can be the first ones to initiatechanges and programs to solve such problems.

The lack of a comprehensive vision for guiding human efforts regarding their sustainable use andconservation may lead to fragmented or insufficientlake management actions. Of equal concern is that
this trend will ultimately hinder achievement of desired socioeconomic development. Without a holistic, integrated approach to lake management that
focuses on their sustainable use, scores of lakes
around the world can be expected to be less andless able to perform their ecosystem functions andprovide life-supporting services, thereby also
threatening the human communities that dependon them. The development of the World Lake Vision to address these needs, therefore, is both
fundamental and essential.

Lakes are a source of interest and inspiration for people of all ages.

5

6

Barriers and Threats Facing the
Sustainable Use of Lakes“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s
eye ; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature”……Henry David Thoreau
Many lakes are beset by a myriad of problems affecting their sustainable use. Further, a lake and its
drainage basin are fundamentally linked, and interactions between humans and their water and land
resources are critical factors influencing a lake’s
health and its potential long-term uses. Just as theimpacts of unsustainable lake uses are felt within
the waterbody, along its shoreline or in other partsof its drainage basin, the causes of the problems
may lie along their shorelines, elsewhere in theirdrainage basins, and even outside their drainage
basins (Fig. 1). The use of water and land resources within a drainage basin, therefore, determines the types and magnitude of its environmental stresses. Further, because many of theworld’s lakes are being impacted simultaneously bymultiple problems, their remediation often is moredifficult and more costly than addressing one problem alone. Lake problems do not necessarily affectonly the people living along its shorelines, but also
can have significant economic, health and/or environmental impacts on inhabitants further afield,
both within and outside their drainage basins.

derstanding, to technical shortcomings, to inadequate intellectual, financial and/or technological resources, and to inappropriate development andgovernance. There is no disagreement, however,that the excessive stresses placed on lakes tomeet human water needs are a major factor. Suchstresses, as well as the issues identified below,
have the potential to fundamentally affect the livelihoods of people that depend directly on lakes fortheir food and basic economic well-being, particularly the indigenous peoples and lakeshore communities.

Figure1. Diagrammatic representation of theinterconnectedness of the origin
and nature of threats facing lakes.

Socioeconomic factors contributing
to the unsustainable lake use
Major environmental or water use problems generally accompany substantial human settlement of alake’s drainage basin, resulting in the need forlarge quantities of water for drinking and economic
development. In most developing countries, lakeshore communities are heavily or completely dependent upon lakes for their livelihoods throughsuch activities as open-water fishing and intensive
aquaculture, one example being the Seven Crater
Lakes of San Pablo City in the Philippines. Manyof the problems facing lakes are deeply rooted insocioeconomic issues, and a major causative factor for the variety of problems facing lakes, in fact,
is their multiple roles within human society. Factors
contributing to decreased or degraded lake uses
range from insufficient scientific knowledge and un-

7

Increased demands for developing andusing lake resources
The world’s population is predicted to grow fromsix billion today to about nine billion by the year
2050, putting increasing pressure on local authorities and planners to supply water to satisfy growing
agricultural and urban water and sanitation demands. Untreated or inadequately treated sewage
already is a major water pollution issue in virtually
all developing countries, particularly those undergoing explosive urbanization. Industrial water demands also will continue to grow with increasing
economic development pressures. It is predictedthat approximately two of every three persons will
live under conditions of water-stress by the year
2025 if present water use trends continue. Since
most of the water taken from lakes and rivers is
eventually returned directly or indirectly to thesesources, it is necessary that increased lake water
withdrawal and usage be accompanied by the development of basic sanitation and wastewater
treatment. Excessive water withdrawals from a lakealso can cause significant water-level fluctuations
directly affecting lake ecosystems and, in somecases, the very existence of a lake itself.
Growing human populations will tend to increase
agricultural water demands. It is predicted that
global food production in the next 30 years must
double to keep pace with population needs. The
need for increased food supplies is causing farmers in many locations to increasingly cultivate marginal lands, resulting in greater use of fertilizers
and other agricultural chemicals, and increasing
the potential for lake eutrophication and the accumulation of pesticides, with the accompanying human and ecological problems.
In some regions of the world, population-related
stresses on the availability of freshwater resources
may occur against a background of intensifying adverse impacts of climate change on regional hydrology. This phenomenon could have profound
impacts on water inflows and lake levels, especially in inland drainage basins. For lakes that normally receive significant quantities of water fromsnow melt, reduced snowfield areas associatedwith climate change also can lead to lower hydrological inputs.
Limited public awareness and understandingof human impacts on lakes
Limited public awareness of the human impacts onlakes contributes to the degradation of the values
and uses of lakes. Inadequate public awarenessmay result from insufficient knowledge, data and/or
understanding on the part of citizens, local authorities, decision-makers, the media, industry and others of their roles, either individually or collectively,
in causing lake problems or in helping to solve
them. Lake scientists and experts can do more to
conduct applied lake research and inform the public and policymakers about their results. Further, insome cases, governmental agencies and/or
decision-makers may believe that the only appropriate role for the public in such matters is to provide the required funds for the programs and activities to address lake problems, in contrast to theproactive approach of working with the public to
identify and resolve current problems and/or avoid
similar problems in the future. On the other hand,citizens may think they need to rely exclusively on
governmental agencies and/or decision-makers forsolutions to such problems. Experience around theworld, however, suggests that, where it is feasible,
the involvement of the public can be beneficial in
identifying lake problems and in developing sustainable and publicly-supportable solutions to them.
A major contributor to the lack of understanding
and awareness by the public and decision-makers
regarding lake degradation is the subtle nature ofmany types of lake problems. Such problems canmanifest themselves very slowly, often over generations. They may only become evident after the
degradation has become very severe, and evenpotentially irreversible. This subtle nature of lake
environmental degradation makes it harder to create awareness of lake problems among the publicand decision-makers, and to initiate needed remediation or restoration activities in a timely manner.
Insufficient governance andaccountability systems
Assuming that an institutional framework for lake
management already exists, the lack of proper accountability on the part of citizens and governments is one of the most significant root causes of
unsustainable lake use. Poor public consultation,
inadequate stakeholder participation, and a lack ofappropriate and effective governmental institutions
and regulatory mechanisms are major hindrances
to sustainable lake use. The lack of clear policy
frameworks that recognize lakes as importantaquatic resources, and that specifically addresslake management issues, is another threat to sustainable lake use. Further, many countries aroundthe world suffer from inadequate legal expertise in
the fields of environmental law and management,
resulting in inconsistent enforcement of environmental regulations. Many also lack sufficient primary and secondary level teachers with the necessary education and training regarding important environmental issues and their relevance to humanconditions and well-being and, hence fail to convey
the urgency of the need for awareness and participation by youth and communities in lake management efforts.
Available avenues for seeking governmental andstakeholder accountability often are limited by fragmented governmental jurisdictions and competingor overlapping responsibilities. As a result, public
policies and practices often appear to be insensitive to lake use issues, especially at the local level.
A lack of transparency in the decision-making process is surprisingly common. Further, in emerging
democracies, there often is an asynchrony be-8tween the process of developing good governanceand the urgency of implementing accountable environmental stewardship. This situation can be exacerbated by not recognizing the linkages between
the concerns of environmental managers on the
one hand, and water managers on the other hand.
Effective training for local and national governmental and non-governmental staff, particularly forbuilding coalitions, managing projects, and increasing monitoring and evaluation skills, also is lacking
in many countries. Further, although many countries may have central environmental authorities,
effective institutions for initiating and overseeing
the development and implementation of comprehensive, long-term plans for the sustainable use oflakes and their drainage basins often are lacking.
Factors such as these strongly constrain the development and implementation of environmentallycompatible and cost-effective management plans
for the sustainable use of lakes and their resources.
Inadequate mechanisms for managing
international lake systems
Many lakes in the world are shared by two or morecountries. Although some riparian countries havediscussed the management of international river
systems, far fewer people are aware of the implications of lakes as international water systems.
Some involve upstream-downstream relationships
and issues between countries sharing a lake, whileothers involve lakes that serve as internationalboundaries between countries. This lack of international lake awareness can be manifested in the unsustainable use of water from a shared lake by
one or more of the countries in its drainage basin,
as well as in changes in water quantity and quality,
wetland ecosystems, aquatic plants and animals
communities, etc.
Cooperation and collaboration between countries
sharing an international lake would obviously facilitate the identification and implementation of solutions to lake problems. After nearly 30 years of development, for example, the United Nations General Assembly in 1997 adopted the “United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational
Uses of International Watercourses.” Unfortunately,
there is no similar intergovernmental consensus regarding a code of conduct for managing international lakes as shared water resources. The 1909
Boundary Waters Treaty between the UnitedStates and Canada, and the subsequent formationof the International Joint Commission to address

9transboundary water issues is a useful model of international cooperation. It has served the twocountries well over many decades, including facilitating the sustainable use of the North American
Great Lakes. The Binational Authority for Lake Titicaca in the South American Andes Mountains isanother example of the benefits of international cooperation in lake management. Such models are
rare, however, and require diligence efforts fromthe countries entering into them.
In regard to lake management issues in general,
whether on an international or national scale, it isfurther noted that we have not yet developed aclear picture on what has worked, what has not,and under what conditions. The lack of such information, data and experience limits our insight andcapabilities about what can be done in the future to
improve drainage basin-scale lake management
programs. A systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of previous lake management efforts throughout the world, particularly those directed to sustainable lake use, is urgently needed to provide suchinformation and guidance.

Threats arising from withinlake drainage basins
Excessive water withdrawals or diversions
Withdrawing or diverting excessive quantities ofwater from lakes can reduce their water levels andvolumes to the extent that their water quality, andthe biological communities they support, is seriously threatened and shoreline characteristics altered. A dramatic example is the demise of theAral Sea, a large lake in a closed drainage basin insouthcentral Asia. Because of the significant diversion of the lake’s inflowing tributaries for irrigation
purposes during the last half century, the Aral Sea
has shrunk significantly in surface area and volume,
experienced a major increase in salinity, and undergone fundamental changes to its biologicalcommunities. Water withdrawals for the purpose ofland reclamation also can have profound impacts.
The reclamation of paddy fields from lakes in the
Hubei Province of China, for example, reduced thenumber of lakes with surface areas over 0.5 km2
from 1,066 in the 1950s to 309 in 1981. The reclamation of land from lakes for building houses in
Wuhan City, China, is significantly impacting existing lakes as well.

In addition, hydraulic structures used for water
withdrawals or diversions can change the flow patterns in lakes. They also can change the relationship between the upstream and downstream communities and water use possibilities. Actions in an
upstream lake drainage basin, for example, cansignificantly affect downstream drainage basins inregard to flood risks, water supply, ecosystems
services, etc. In contrast, water withdrawals in adownstream drainage basin may limit or otherwise
impact the potential water uses in an upstream
drainage basin.
Water Withdrawals and Diversions :The Dead Sea (Israel, Jordan, Palestine)
Lying in the heart of the Syrian-African rift valley
at the southern outlet of the Jordan River, theDead Sea, 417 meters below sea level, is theworld’s saltiest large waterbody. It is severely
threatened by excessive water withdrawals from
Jordan River in the north, and dams and industrial development in the south, as a result of ever-increasing industry, agriculture and tourism. The
annual flow of the Jordan River was approximately 1,370 million m3in the 1950s, while today
the total river discharge to the Dead Sea isabout 300 million m3 per year. As a result, about
one-third of the world’s saltiest lake has alreadybeen drained, with its level dropping by about
one meter each year. Although Jordan, Israel
and Palestine have numerous development
plans for the Dead Sea, there currently is nomaster plan for these development efforts.
Water quality concerns
A variety of pollutants can degrade lake water
quality, including the following :Excessive nutrient loads (primarily phosphorus
and nitrogen) can cause accelerated eutrophication,
the accelerated growth of algae and aquatic plants
to nuisance levels (e.g., algal blooms and floating
weeds), with accompanying degradation of water
quality and significant imbalances to lake ecosystems and their biological communities. Excessive
nutrient inputs can stimulate the growth of toxic
blue-green algal species detrimental to both livestock and human health. They also can interferewith beneficial human water uses, such as causing
taste and odor problems in drinking water, and providing precursors of trihalomethanes, chemicalcompounds which have been identified as carcinogenic.

Algal scum, symptomatic ofadvanced lake eutrophication

Impacts of Lake Sedimentationin Lake Baringo (Kenya)
Until the mid-1979s, Lake Baringo was very richin biodiversity. Growing human and livestock
populations, drainage basin destruction, indiscriminate cutting of forests and charcoal burning,and poaching have since reduced this richness.
For example, although there were seven rivers
continuously flowing into the lake in the mid1970s, only one river now flows into the lake
during all seasons. It is estimated that five million cubic meters of sediment are currently being
deposited into the lake each year from the drainage basin. The combination of reduced inflows
and increased sediment loads has reduced thedepth of the lake from about 8.9 meters in the
mid-1970s to about 1.9 meters today. It is estimated that if the lake continues to accumulate
sediment at the present rate, it will change dramatically in character within the next 20 years,
possibly drying up altogether or becoming aswamp. The impacts of sedimentation are best
illustrated by its effects on fish biodiversity, withspecies that contributed to local livelihoods (e.g.,
Labeo) becoming almost extinct. Depleted fishstocks also have had impacts on other biodiversity, including fish-eating birds, many species ofwhich have been significantly reduced since
1980.

10

Contamination of water and sediments fromtoxic and hazardous substances can occur frommany sources. Those of greatest concern to human and ecosystem health are some heavy metals(e.g., mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, chromium)and persistent organic pollutants (e.g., dioxins,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and otherpesticides). These pollutants are of particular concern because of their long life, and their ability toaccumulate in lake sediments and in humans,
aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Many arethought to cause birth defects, tumors and cancers
in humans and wildlife. Chemicals that mimic natural hormones (“endocrine disruptors”), and pharmaceutical and medicinal residues with potentially adverse human health and reproductive implications,also are being detected in lakes with increasing
frequency.

Water pollutants enter lakes from a range of point andnonpoint sources.

Increased erosion and sedimentation can result
from deforestation and other land and soil disturbances associated with clearance and conversionof land to agricultural and urban purposes, producing large quantities of sediment that can enter
lakes, degrade water quality, and destroy lake
habitats. Sedimentation can rapidly fill many lakes,
and can significantly reduce their water storage capacity and recreational potential, interfere with flow
control mechanisms, and reduce their flood control
capacity. The Nizamsagar reservoir in India, for example, has lost more than 60% of its water storage
capacity in 40 years. The siltation of Lake Dongtingin China has reduced its surface area from 6,000
to 3,000 km2 over the last century. Sediments entering lakes also can contain sediment-bound nutrients and toxic metals and chemicals that can bereleased into the water column under certain conditions.

gered in recent decades. The loss of aquatic habitats from natural or human-induced modifications
to the landscape (e.g., draining wetlands for pastoral and agricultural purposes, cutting forests
along rivers, clearing lake frontage to enhance human access, removing aquatic vegetation in nearshore areas, land reclamation) is another significant cause of the loss of aquatic biodiversity, andincreases the potential for the expansive growth of
non-native species.
Examples of fishing nets and gear that are
illegal insome countries

Unsustainable fishing practices andaquaculture
Unsustainable fishing practices (e.g., inappropriate
fishing gear, poisons, explosives) can indiscriminately remove juvenile and breeding populations,
ultimately diminishing or destroying a fishery’s capacity to be self-sustaining. The same is true forover-fishing for a prolonged period of time, which
can diminish or destroy commercial fisheries. Nonnative fish species also have been introduced intolakes to enhance fish production, some with devastating consequences to native fish species. Aquaculture can cause serious water quality problems,
including nutrient pollution and increasing quantities of antibiotics and hormones entering a lake.
Loss of aquatic biodiversity and habitats
Lakes provide habitats for many aquatic organisms(fish, crustaceans, mollusks, turtles, amphibians,
birds, mammals, insects, aquatic plants, etc.) andsupport biodiversity in the surrounding land areas,
including many migrating bird species. These native species are well-suited to local conditions andtypically live in balance with other aquatic life.
Many support local fisheries and other economic
activities. Around the world, however, thousands ofwater species have become threatened or endan-

The huge numbers of organisms utilizing lake ecosystems
attest to their ability to support singnificant biodiversity.

11

Human health risks
Waterborne disease is the single greatest cause ofhuman illness and death on a global scale. Unbalanced lake ecosystems can provide enhanced survival opportunities for disease-causing organismsthat have an aquatic phase in their life cycle (e.g.,mosquitoes). Human diseases, such as typhoidand cholera, are readily transmitted via contaminated waters, with poor sanitation facilities andcontaminated drinking water supplies being major
pathways for the spread of both the disease andthe disease-causing organisms. Because humanwastes also contain large quantities of aquaticplant nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, lack of proper sanitation facilities also contributes to the accelerated eutrophication of lakes.
Accumulation of litter and garbage
The consequences of accumulated litter (durable
goods, biodegradable items, containers and packing materials, etc.) include physical obstruction andreduction of the natural beauty of lake systems,
and the less-obvious impacts associated withchemicals leaching from the litter. Macropollutants
or solid wastes such as litter and garbage contribute to the spread of human disease organisms andcan adversely affect native wildlife and domestic
animals, particularly waterfowl. In areas where refuse collection is unavailable, discarded wastes
from households, farms and marketplaces areoften dumped into nearby ditches and streams.
Where these water systems drain into a lake, they
can cause oxygen depletion in its bottom waters,
contributing to a “mucky” lake bottom, and decreasing the lake’s aesthetic values. Indiscriminate
dumping of solid wastes also may clog waterways
and cause floods that can destroy property and human lives. During floods, these wastes can be
spread over a large area.
Loss of natural beauty
Over-development or inadequate control of construction activities, particularly along lake shorelines, degrades the natural beauty of lake landscapes, and can have negative impacts on lakewater quality and nearshore biological communities.
Although difficult to categorize in a quantitative
sense, the aesthetic quality of a lake can readily
disappear over time as a result of increasing human settlement and related activities in its drainage basin. Litter transported from drainage basins
to beaches, littoral zones or left floating on the lake
surface, also can reduce the economic value oflakes to local economies.

Inappropriate shoreline development can destroy aquatic
habitats and degrade the aesthetic quality of lakes.

Threats arising from outsidelake drainage basins
Long-range transport of airborne pollutants
The atmosphere can be a significant mechanism
for transporting contaminants to lakes, both withina drainage basin and from sources outside the basin. The best example of this phenomenon is lake
acidification resulting from the atmospheric transport of acid-forming compounds from distant industrial smokestacks and vehicular emissions. Lake
acidification has eliminated acid-sensitive fish (e.g.,
trout, bass) in certain parts of the world, including
Scandinavia, northeastern United States andsoutheastern Canada. Other pollutants, such as
pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, andsoils from eroding land surfaces, also can be carried great distances via atmospheric transport.

Litter degrading the Lake shoreline

12Invasive species, such as water hyacinth,can interfere with many lake uses.
The long-range transport of airborne polutants cancause water polution problems far from the pollutant source.

Invasive species
Invasive or non-native animal and plant species intentionally or accidentally introduced into a lake
can proliferate rapidly in the absence of their natural predators and other control mechanisms. Onceestablished in a new location, they can disrupt native lake flora or fauna, even eliminating them insome instances. Invasive species can enter lakes
from a number of sources, including ballast water
discharges from ships, the transfer of water between drainage basins, release of aquarium specimens, disposal of fish bait, escape of organisms
from aquaculture operations or research facilities,
and from intentional introductions to boost fisheryproduction, enhance sport fishing or eliminate otheraquatic species. Although there are a few successful examples of introducing non-native species to alake (e.g., the introduction of water sardines into
Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe/Zambia), apparently withminimal biological impacts), experience around theworld has repeatedly demonstrated that once aninvasive species becomes established in a new
aquatic habitat, it is usually extremely difficult andexpensive to eradicate. A prominent example is theproliferation of the water hyacinth plant (Eichhornia
crassipes) in many lakes in Africa, southeast Asiaand other parts of the world. The plants grow inthick mats that begin at the shore and extend toward the lake center, inhibiting navigation. The
density of the vegetation also slows down fishingtrips and makes some parts of a lake completely
inaccessible to ordinary boats, thereby also threatening lakeshore communities that depend on fisheries for their livelihoods. Water hyacinth also provides a habitat for the snail that causes the debilitating disease bilharzias or schistosomiasis.

13

Invasive Species : Nile Perch and Lake Victoria(Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania)
Nile perch were introduced into Lake Victoria inthe mid-1950s, with the goal being to boost the
local fishery. With a voracious appetite for otherfish species in the lake, the Nile perch has, since
its introduction, nearly destroyed the lake’s 350
native species of fish, reducing the number toless than 50 today, according to some accounts.
In short order, it also has worked its way to the
top of the lake’s food chain. The Nile perch cangrow to enormous sizes, with typical commercial
sizes ranging between 7-13 pounds (3-6 kilograms). As a result, the nature of the indigenous
fisheries also has changed. The native Lake Victoria fishes were much smaller and amendable
to sun drying, whereas the larger Nile perch require factor processing. Some factories werebuilt for this purpose, but were never operated tocapacity, given the disconnect between the indigenous fishing activities and the commercial
nature of the fish processing enterprise.
Climate change
The predicted impacts of climate change, particularly global warming, vary throughout the world.
Many will likely manifest themselves, however, inthe form of altered precipitation patterns and drainage basin hydrology. The ultimate impacts will be afunction of the magnitude of the changes from thepresent conditions in a drainage basin. Lakes are
particularly vulnerable to changes in climatic parameters. Variations in such climate variables as
air temperature and precipitation, for example, candirectly cause changes in water evaporation, lakelevels and water volumes, water balances, and biological productivity. Under extreme conditions,lakes may even completely disappear.
Lakes at high altitudes and high latitudes, and inarid and semi-arid regions, may be more sensitive
to climate change impacts than those in other regions.

14Principles for Implementing
the World Lake Vision
If you are planning for a year, sow rice ; if you are planning for a decade,plant a tree ; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people……Chinese Proverb
In addition to being important water sources forsupporting economically-important aquatic ecosystems, lakes are primary water sources for humansurvival and for economic development. At thesame time, however, lakes are especially sensitive
to the impacts of human activities. Thus, actions or
strategies directed to the sustainable use of lakes
and their resources must be based on principles
rooted in the notion of sustainability.
Sound lake management rests on the concept of
integrated water resources management (IWRM).
Lakes also are prime candidates for application of
the Precautionary Principle. This principle is invoked as a political decision rule to address scientific uncertainty in situations involving risks andtheir consequences. It is based on the notion that,
where there are threats of serious or irreversible
environmental damage, the lack of full scientificcertainty should not be used as a reason to postpone cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation and human health risks. It alsosuggests that problems about which incomplete
knowledge is available should receive more attention than those better understood. Thus, the Precautionary Principle provides an impetus for making decisions that seek to avoid serious damage,as well as fundamental guidance for decisions directed to facilitating the sustainable uses of lakes
and their resources.
The 1992 Dublin Conference promulgated principles for the sustainable use of freshwater, characterizing it as a finite and vulnerable resource, onewith an economic value in all its competing uses. It
also identified the need for water development andmanagement within a participatory framework involving all stakeholders. The Dublin Principles
have subsequently been widely accepted as fundamental guidance for managing water resources fortheir sustainable use. The World Lake Vision
readily accepts them, as well as the Precautionary
Principle, as logical starting points for developing
management programs and actions for sustainablelake use.

13

Lakes are major hydrologic components of thedrainage basins in which they are located, andcannot be effectively managed in isolation of theirbasins. Thus, effective lake and drainage basin
management are intimately interrelated and complementary. Therefore, to address the threats facing lakes and their root causes as discussed in theprevious chapter, the World Lake Vision offers acommon set of management principles for those
who directly or indirectly involved in the sustainable
use of lakes and their resources, and who are affected by the degradation or loss of their values.
These principles, implemented within the framework of integrated water resources management,
provide substantial guidance to the public, decision-makers, scientists and other lake stakeholders for
managing lakes for their sustainable use. They will
facilitate our ability to provide water from lakes fordrinking, sanitation, food production, economic development and flood control, while at the sametime insuring ecosystem health. Against this background, the World Lake Vision aspires to the following principles, which are presented in no strict
order of priority :Principle 1 : A harmonious relationship between
humans and nature is essential forthe sustainable use of lakes.
Lakes are dynamic ecosystems. In addition to being significant natural amenities, lakes are important inland water resources for meeting increasing
human drinking water demands. They also havesignificant economic values, including supplying
water for irrigation and power generation, providing
food via fish and other aquatic products, and preserving the health and biodiversity of important lifesupporting aquatic ecosystems. Excessive utilization and degradation of lake resources, however, iscausing significant lake problems in many countries. This situation limits the possibilities for managing them for meeting human and ecosystemneeds in a sustainable manner. It is necessary,
therefore, to insure that humans respect the natural

14

capacity of lake ecosystems to meet their various
water needs, even in the face of changing wateruses over time. To do otherwise will insure that individual lakes will eventually be unable to meetwater demands for virtually any needs, whether forhumans or nature.

Principle 2 : A lake drainage basin is the logicalstarting point for planning andmanagement actions for sustainable lake use.
A lake and its drainage basin, including its inflowing and outflowing tributaries, comprise an inseparable system. Although some causes of lake degradation may originate from outside its drainage
basin, most result from human activities within thebasin. Lake management, therefore, should best
focus on the scale of the drainage basin, effectively integrating hydrological and ecological processes, as well as socioeconomic realities. Further,
it must consider not only the water needs of thedrainage basin in which a lake is located, but alsoof downstream drainage basins. Water withdrawals,
diversions or discharges in the former can affect
the quantity and quality of water available in thelatter. Conversely, water needs in downstream
drainage basins may limit or otherwise modify therange or magnitude of potential water uses in an
upstream drainage basin. The health and sustainable use of lakes, therefore, depends on how humans use their land and water resources, and recognizing and utilizing this fundamental interrelationmust be an essential part of effective lake drainage
basin management.

Principle 3 : A long-term, preventative approachdirected to preventing the causesof lake degradation is essential.
In the face of increasing human populations andtheir water needs, it is not sufficient merely to protect lake ecosystems from human impacts, but also
to enhance their capacity to meet human waterneeds while at the same time maintaining ecosystem functions. Further, because of the complexityof lake ecosystems, including their water levels
and volumes, flushing rates and related hydrological factors, the initial detection of lake problems
may be delayed for years. Thus, implementation ofnecessary corrective actions in a given situation
may be delayed for years, decades or even longer.
Experience throughout the world, however, has repeatedly demonstrated that remediation of lake15

problems after they have developed is usually significantly more costly, and more difficult to treat,than preventing the problems in the first place.
Therefore, a preventative or proactive approachthat attempts to identify and address problems before they happen, including the need for continuingmonitoring, assessment and corrective actions, is a
key element in managing lakes for their sustainable use, in contrast to the reactive approach of responding to lake problems or crises after they have
happened.

Principle 4 : Policy development and decision
making for lake management
should be based on sound scienceand the best available information.
The study and management of individual lakes fortheir sustainable use requires a multidisciplinary
approach, including the physical, chemical, biological and social sciences, as well as consideration ofsocioeconomic, institutional, political, technological,
historical and cultural factors. Equally important insome situations is the knowledge and experiencesof people directly exposed to a lake, either as partof the lakeshore community or as individuals who
depend on a lake for their economic livelihood. Effective policy development and decision-making forlake management must be based on current, accurate data and information, as well as other relevantlake experiences. At the same time, however, although scientific methods and laws are universal,
no two lakes necessarily have the same landscape,ecosystem characteristics, or socioeconomic or
cultural conditions. To develop and implementsound lake management practices for individuallakes, therefore, it is essential that systematic, continuous and up-to-date monitoring and evaluationof environmental and socioeconomic conditions be
undertaken. Attention also must be paid to thequality and relevance of the data and information
used for this purpose.
The value of local/traditional knowledge and customs, sometimes contained in the legends, oral
histories and experiences of native peoples, should
be considered. In some instances, they may be theonly sources of available information on the changing relationships between humans and lakes. Further, if the necessary resources or equipment for
accurate monitoring are not available, the acquisition of observational data on alternative indicationsof biological conditions and relevant local information should be pursued.

Principle 5 : The management of lakes for theirsustainable use requires the resolution of conflicts among competing users of lake resources, taking
into account the needs of present
and future generations and of nature.

Lakes provide a range of economic, cultural andecological values. Healthy lakes are major water
resources for meeting human needs, as well as
natural resource engines for economic growth.
Lakes also have a range of recreational, aesthetic
and spiritual significance. Because lakes are able
to accommodate a wider range of human and ecosystem water needs than either rivers or groundwater, conflicts over the use of lake resources may
exist. Lake basins also may be subject to multiple
jurisdictions at the local, regional, national andeven international level, both upstream and downstream from a lake. Many often have differing, fragmented and even conflicting rights and obligations
for the management and use of water and land resources. Effective lake management, therefore, requires the identification, analysis and reconciliationof competing users, as well as avoidance of waterrelated conflicts, particularly for international ortransboundary lakes.
Many lakes have been used to meet human waterneeds for a long period, and the history of a given
lake may be interwoven with that of the inhabitantsof its drainage basin. Because a lake’s ecologicalcondition at any given instant is a snapshot of its
natural and human historical development, its management for sustainable use requires considerationof the water needs of both present and future generations. This concept lies at the core of the notionof sustainable development, and provides the rationale for resolving conflicting water uses.

In addition to government agencies, involving citizens and other stakeholders, such as nongovernmental organizations, local authorities, business and industrial organizations, advocacy groups,
and educational and research institutions, is essential for managing lakes for their sustainable use.
Cooperative and collaborative arrangements forthese multiple stakeholders, therefore, are fundamental in such efforts. Accountable governance, institutional and financial structures also must be inplace, with all users and beneficiaries sharing in
the burden of managing their resource base. Lakebasins that cross or constitute internationalboundaries require additional management cooperation and collaboration.

Principle 7 : Good governance, based on fairness, transparency and empowerment of all stakeholders, is essential for sustainable lake use.
All lake management activities must be subject toa principle of fairness, in order to encourage citizens and other lake stakeholders to participate
meaningfully in the process of policy development,
decision-making and implementation. In fact, if it isperceived that any part of the process is not transparent, it will be difficult or impossible for citizens
and other stakeholders to trust the lake management process, components or activities. The benefits of fairness are a balance in the policies and a
resulting willingness of stakeholders to fulfill theirroles in the implementation of the policies. Thus,
citizens and other stakeholders must be empowered to play their significant roles. Employing participatory processes to develop and implement policies for the sustainable use of lakes and their resources is the most rationale means of insuring
fairness, transparency and empowerment for the
benefit of all citizens and other stakeholders in alake drainage basin.

Principle 6 : Citizens and other stakeholders
should be encouraged to participate meaningfully in identifying
and resolving critical lake problems.
Development and implementation of effective management efforts for the sustainable use of lakes
ideally should involve all the “lake people.” All citizens and stakeholders who wish to have meaningful roles to play in this process should be brought
effectively into the information sharing, and the policy development and decision-making, arena to facilitate the development of sustainable solutions tocritical lake problems.

16Implementing the World Lake Vision :Promising Actions and Strategies“A vision without action is just a dream ; an action without vision
just passes time ; a vision with an action changes the world.”……Nelson Mandela
The key to sustainable lake use lies in finding abalance between the water needs of humans andthe ability of nature to meet these needs over thelong term. To this end, the principles for action
identified in the previous chapter provide valuableguidance to citizens, governments, decisionmakers, managers, non-governmental organizations, scientists and other stakeholders involved in
the myriad of issues associated with the sustainable use of lakes and their resources. Applicationof the principles must be accompanied by practicalactions facilitating the timely, effective implementation of lake management goals. As noted in the introduction to this document, a vision without action
is just a dream - making it a reality requires implementation of practical and appropriate actions.
There is no single action for the instant reconciliation of the impacts of unsustainable use of lakes
and their resources. Rather, this chapter provides
a menu of promising actions and strategies for applying the principles of the World Lake Vision forthe purpose of developing individual lake visions.
They can be undertaken by individuals, organizations and other stakeholders working at the local,
national, regional and/or global levels-all have important roles to play in the process. The precise
nature and mix of actions and programs for implementing individual lakes visions will depend on thelocal conditions, including such factors as the magnitude of the problem, the available human and financial resources, the extent of public and governmental support and interest, consideration of theconsequences of doing nothing to address the
problem and other scientific and social factors.
This tool box is intended to provide immediate help
to those involved in problem solving for individuallakes, recognizing also that new approaches andmethods to address threats to lakes continue to be
developed and will be incorporated in the World
Lake Vision as their value becomes evident.
Implementing the principles identified in the previous chapter, as well as the immediate actions andlonger-term strategies outlined in this chapter, requires a systematic approach of the type outlined

17

in Figure 2. Because it represents a cycle of steps
to be undertaken, the entry point into this approachto develop an individual lake vision will depend
upon the extent of knowledge and information
available, community structure, and level of stakeholder participation. The development of needed
political commitment to undertake activities andprograms directed to sustainable lake use mustalso be undertaken early in the cycle. This may include the creation of appropriate agencies, institutions and organizations, both within government
and the local community.

land resources are critical factors influencing thehealth of lakes. Decisions and actions regarding
the utilization of land and water, therefore, will
largely determine the type and magnitude of
threats to lakes. Each threat and its underlying
causes have particular attributes to be considered.
Further, many different entities, including citizens,governmental agencies, decision-makers and managers, non-governmental organizations, the private
and agricultural sectors, educational and research
institutions, and the media, have a role to play inaddressing threats to the sustainable use of lakes
and their resources. Following the general order of
the threats to lakes identified in Chapter 2, therefore, this section identifies a number of actions thatcan be employed to address these threats.
Managing Water Withdrawals and Diversions
Develop accurate water budgets for individual lakes and their drainage basins−Developing an accurate water budget is a major step tomanaging water withdrawals from lakes and their
tributaries, identifying both the available water resources, and the various demands for it in meeting water needs throughout the drainage basin.
The latter should include the quantity of water
neededtopreserve
life-supportingor
economically-important ecosystem functions. Development of an accurate water budget is a critical step in prioritizing water uses on a drainagebasin scale, with the goal of developing a realistic management framework for sustainable lakeuse.
Drainage Basin Water Budget :Lake Titicaca (Bolivia, Peru)

Figure 2. Management cycle for developing, implementing andrefining individual lake visions.

In facilitating the sustainable use of water resources, it also must be recognized that no actionis always negative - even for situations where comprehensive lake management programs may not
be possible for financial, technical or other reasons,
implementing at least some action is still likely tobe beneficial. In identifying the actions and opportunities below, therefore, no order of priority is implied with the order of the listing.

Immediate actions for addressing
major threats facing lakes
Interactions between humans and their water andIn developing a water balance for Lake Titicaca,
the Autonomous Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT) discovered that the maximum usable
water flow in the lake’s drainage basin was significantly less than the estimated water demands.
The development of the water budget highlighted
the fact that the lake’s water transfer and irrigation projects must be strictly prioritized on thebasis of environmental, social, economic and hydrological criteria, if the use of Lake Titicaca’s
water is to remain within sustainable limits. Unfortunately, there are few examples of such useful assessment activities.
Implement technical water conservation
measures to reduce water use−Water diversions from lakes and their tributaries are a direct
result of growing water needs for irrigation, in-dustrial and municipal use. Only by reducing thequantities of water used by these three major
sectors, therefore, can we preserve adequate
supplies of water for meeting beneficial humanwater uses and maintaining lake ecosystems.
The vast majority of water on a global scale isused for agricultural irrigation. Further, much of
the water used for crops and plants is evaporated directly back into the atmosphere, thereby
not being returned to the water systems fromwhich it was taken, reducing the potential for immediate downstream water reuse. The largest
potential water savings, therefore, can be obtained by implementing more efficient irrigation
techniques (e.g., drip irrigation, micro-irrigation
systems), changing cropping practices or products, although these techniques sometimes require significant monetary investments. Substantial water savings also are possible by implementing more efficient industrial and domestic
water-use, upgrading urban water delivery systems that lose large amounts of water throughleakage, and using low-flow or dry toilets in individual households. Additional water savings canbe realized with the implementation of other innovative water conservation approaches, including reuse of gray water and of treated water frommunicipal wastewater treatment plants, rainwater
harvesting, etc.
Recognize the social and economic value ofwater in making water management and allocation decisions−Where appropriate, charging
an equitable price for water service and treatment is one of the single most important steps
for addressing the sustainable use of lakes andother water resources. Studies around the world
have demonstrated that the prices charged for
freshwater resources can be highly flexible, andcan result in significant water savings. Charging
even small fees for irrigation water, for example,
can create a strong motivation to reduce excessive water consumption and wastage. Further,some communities provide a basic allocation ofwater for use by low-income persons as ameans of insuring adequate sanitation and preservation of public health. Experience also has
demonstrated that, in the absence of adequate
revenue from water charges, municipal water enterprises are seldom able to deliver piped water
to poor areas, to reduce their often-significant
unaccounted-for water losses, or to provide fortreatment of wastewater prior to its discharge
back into the environment.

18

Also to be considered is the economic value ofpreserving aquatic ecosystems. Many aquatic
ecosystems, including lakes, provide valuable
services to humanity, including food production,
waste assimilation, nutrient recycling, flood control, water storage, etc. Further, they provide
these services free-of-charge to humanity. Noteworthy is the fact that these costs would otherwise have to be met by humans. On a global
scale, it is estimated that the economic value ofthese “free” ecosystem services totals in the trillions of dollars on an annual basis. This economic reality provides another incentive to actively pursue the sustainable use of lakes andother aquatic ecosystems.
Apply the lessons learned from past experiences in the future construction and operation of dams−Civilizations and societies haveconstructed dams from ancient times to store
water for meeting their drinking, irrigation andsanitation needs. In more recent decades, dams
also have been constructed for such purposes
as food production, flood control, hydropower
generation, recreation and other beneficial human purposes. Additional new reservoirs will
likely be constructed in some countries, particularly developing nations, in the future. Nevertheless, the construction of dams and the accompanying land-clearing operations and activities cancause changes to water quality, biological communities and landscape properties, both upstream and downstream of a lake. Thus, the environmental and socioeconomic lessons learned
from past construction of reservoirs can provide
valuable information and guidance to planners
and decision-makers regarding the potential impacts that may be encountered in constructing
new reservoirs. In its global evaluation of the developmental effectiveness of large dams, for example, the World Commission on Dams proposed guidelines regarding dam projects, including important aspects of needs assessments,
evaluating alternatives, and dam project preparation, implementation, operation and decommissioning. Other subsequent evaluation efforts also
are ongoing. It also is critical that decisions
about the use of water resources be taken in atransparent and participatory manner, facilitating
a full consideration of alternatives and a balancing of environmental and economic developmental goals.

19

Preventing and Controlling Water Pollution
Implement wastewater treatment within lakedrainage basins−The construction of adequate
wastewater treatment facilities continues to be a
top priority. Experience around the world suggests that large wastewater treatment systems
generally are the most effective approach in urban areas with large populations and water usage. In addition to improving local hygienic conditions, upgrading existing wastewater systems
to remove the largest quantities of biologicallyavailable phosphorus and other pollutants in
wastewater is also an important measure. In
sparsely-populated areas, small communitybased projects for meeting local sanitation needs,
including the use of constructed wetlands, canbe just as effective, less expensive and morepractical than large infrastructure projects. Depending on the specific circumstances, septic
tanks or low water volume toilets may be themost appropriate actions in other areas. Ecological sanitation that separately recovers urine andfeces for fertilizers also may be a promising approach for reducing water pollution in some regions.
Limit or ban the use of phosphate-based detergents−Because phosphorus in detergentstypically is in a chemical form that algae andother aquatic plants can readily use, thereby promoting lake eutrophication, the phosphorus content of industrial and residential detergents isregulated in many industrialized countries. Manylakes in developing countries, however, still receive substantial phosphorus loads from detergents. Manufacturers in many parts of the world
have successfully replaced phosphorus with lessenvironmentally-harmful ingredients, and manysuccessful models for implementing phosphate
detergent bans or limits are available to countries currently lacking them. Accordingly, management plans for sustainable lake use should
include comprehensive phosphorus reduction
strategies, combined with monitoring programs
that identify baselines and track changes in nutrient pollution loads and levels over time, as wellas information programs to inform consumers ofappropriate alternatives.
Protect forests and vegetation in the drainage
basin−A key to reducing excess sediment andpollutant loads to lakes is to protect naturalvegetation, often in the form of forests, savan-nahs and prairies along inflowing tributaries,
from development pressures. The presence ofvegetation and other substantial ground coverage reduces the velocity of water flowing overthe land surface, as well as promoting the removal of some types of water pollutants before
they can reach lakes and their inflowing tributaries. Reforesting or revegetating cleared areas,
therefore, are important preventative measuresfor enhancing the sustainable use of lakes andtheir resources. Maintenance of a mosaic landscape through protection of natural wetlands andother natural buffer areas is a good practice forprotecting waterways in urban and rural areas.
Protection of forests and woodlands enhances
the production of water from water source areas.
Implement best management practices tocontrol erosion−Best management practices
for agricultural areas, construction sites, eroded
land surfaces and other areas with bare soil surfaces are well described in the literature. Most
are effective in reducing soil erosion, primarily byslowing the velocity of water movement and promoting the sedimentation of soils and particles
carried in it prior to their entrance into lakes andtheir inflowing tributaries. Prominent examples
include constructed waterways, and water andsediment control basins with grassed waterways.
Adopt best management practices for reducing agricultural and urban runoff −Stormgenerated runoff and drainage from agriculturaland urban areas (nonpoint sources) are major
sources of nutrients, toxic contaminants, sediments and microorganisms. Best agricultural
management practices for reducing nonpoint
source nutrient loads include reduced fertilizer
use, abatement of fertilizer and livestock manure
runoff, grassed waterways, no-tillage/low-tillage
plowing methods, etc., all of which reduce thequantity of nutrients reaching lakes and their
tributaries. Better fertilizer management practices
can reduce costs to farmers without reducing
yields, creating a win-win opportunity. Better
management of the quantities and timing of pesticide applications, or implementing organic farming, also can reduce lake pollution. Best management practices for urban areas include street
sweeping, litter management and solid waste
disposal, stormwater detention basins, bufferzones, grassed waterways, and constructed wetlands, all of which can reduce pollutant loads. Although not necessarily significant on an individual household level, it is clear that the cumula-

Promoting Pollution Prevention Practices :Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (USA, Canada)
Acting collaboratively to protect the water quality
and biota of the North American Great Lakes,
which contain about 20% of the world’s liquid
freshwater, and the health of its drainage basin
citizens, the United States and Canada developed a Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy inthe 1990s. The strategy included programs forworking with industry to replace toxic chemicals
with less toxic substances, ultimately phasing out
chemicals that pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment, and those thatare toxic, persistent and can accumulate in thetissues of living organisms, including human. An
international, multi-stakeholder review of the effectiveness of this program undertaken in theyear 2000 indicated that it was contributing significantly to the reduction and elimination of suchchemicals in the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
This binational effort provides a useful model forother countries pursuing the same goals elsewhere in the world.

tive effect of many households employing similar
measures can be substantial on a drainage basin scale.
Promote pollution prevention practices for
persistent toxic substances, especially thosethat can accumulate in living organisms−Primary emphasis should be directed toward pollution prevention, taking into account environmental risk assessment and the entire life cycleof the polluting chemicals, in contrast to the necessity for costly clean-ups after pollution has
occurred. Viable alternatives exist for many
known uses and sources of persistent organic
pollutants, and all should be thoroughly exploredprior to using these chemical products. Othersignificant actions for reducing the generation of
toxic and environmentally-persistent agrochemical residues include the promotion and useof cleaner production and technologies, emission
inventories, product labeling, use limitations,
economic incentives, and the adoption of Integrated Pest Management practices. Particular attention should be given to controlling or eliminating those chemicals and other pollutants that canaccumulate in the tissues of living organisms,
thereby posing both human and ecosystem
health problems. Further, requiring polluters to
pay for all negative impacts resulting from theiractions, the so-called “polluter-pays principle,”20

can help realign distorted incentives, and also
generate financial resources for environmental
projects to prevent lake degradation. At thesame time, the application of this principle
should not be considered a substitute for a morecomprehensive pollution control program.
Develop and implement land use plans tolimit the use, generation and transport ofwater pollutants−With increasing populationand the associated agricultural production, urbanization, and industrialization, human demands for land resources also are increasing.
Thus, it is imperative that attention be focusedon the formulation of effective land use planningand “sustainable growth” processes that integrate developmental goals and environmental
needs. Sensible land use planning is essential toconserve critical lake drainage basin habitats, forsustaining ecosystem services, and for minimizing unnatural or altered water runoff to lakes, allof which can ultimately affect beneficial lakeuses. Providing accurate and timely information
to local and regional decision-makers about theimportance of lakes and their resources, andabout effective planning principles to protect lakedrainage basins, is an important means whereby
corporations, non-governmental organizations,and individuals can help shape local and regional land use choices.
Managing Water Resources Development :Lake Biwa (Japan)
The Lake Biwa Comprehensive Development
Project was implemented for Lake Biwa during
the period 1972-1997. It was implemented via
national legislation facilitating special financial arrangements between national, local, upstream
and downstream governments. It comprised 22
water resource development programs for thelake, Japan’s largest, including meeting downstream needs of the Osaka-Kobe region. It also
included projects directed to the socioeconomic
development of the region upstream of the lake,
including flood control, water treatment works
and construction of sewerage treatment facilities.
During this period, the lake has shown environmental improvement in some areas, with an example being the relative control of eutrophication
at the same time that the drainage basin population increased by 50%.
Develop, implement and enforce appropriate
pollution control plans, standards and regulations−Appropriate regulatory frameworks, and21

the enforcement of relevant requirements, including prohibition of toxic contaminants and otheraquatic pollutants and appropriate application of
the polluter pays principle, remain effective
measures not only for limiting the degradation oflake ecosystems, but also for encouraging thewidespread adoption within societies ofenvironmentally-sound practices and technologies. Pollution control plans can encourage
timely actions, which can also limit the costs anddifficulties of implementing future remedial programs required to mitigate the consequences ofenvironmental contamination. Such plans can include the application and enforcement of necessary regulations, limiting the potential for pollution through requiring appropriate siting and construction of infrastructure structures, and coordinating the activities of various segments within
civil society, including individuals, governmental
agencies, communities, and non-governmentalorganizations. Indeed, experience throughout theworld continues to indicate that a small investment made in a timely manner can result in substantial savings over time.

Achieving Sustainable Fisheries Management
Establish and implement a management program for sustainable fisheries−In the same
way that water budgets help prioritize water usesand protect aquatic ecosystem functions, preparing similar budgets for the plant and animals
species harvested from lakes also is essential.
Programs for protecting lake fisheries over thelong term should involve application of comprehensive fisheries management protocols, including collaborative actions among governmental
authorities, fishermen and the fishing industry in
conducting studies of fish biology, identifying

Sustainable fisheries are essential for the livelihood ofmany indigenous communities.

sustainable catch limits, and managing fisheries
with such measures as fishing permits and fees,
net or gear size requirements, harvesting seasons and limits, fishing technologies and harvest
area restrictions. Measures to protect the shoreland ecosystems, involving local communities,
commercial fishing operations, and other stakeholders, should be included in a sustainable fisheries management program. Certain zones canbe reserved for selected fisheries, particularly
traditional or indigenous fisheries. Development
and enforcement of equitable, sustainable fishingregulations also is critical, but presently insufficient for many lakes. Further, provision of alternative employment opportunities for off-peakfishing periods (e.g., ecotourism) should be considered in a fisheries management program.
Fisheries managers also must work to minimize
the catch and waste of non-target species and to
reduce the negative impacts on associated species, particularly endangered species, juveniles
and spawners. They should harmonize fishingregulations between different jurisdictions using
the same lake. Local fisheries management
councils, or partnerships between stakeholders
and authorities, can contribute to the development and implementation of fishing regulations
and management measures.

Establish protected areas within lake drainage basins−It is important that local, provincial
and national governments, as well as international agreements and programs (e.g., Ramsar
Convention, Convention on Biological Diversity,
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected areas program, UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site Programmes), work expeditiously to insure that critical areas within the lake drainage basin landscape mosaic are identified and protected. Suchprotections should be maintained over the longer
term, and be sensitive to the traditional uses ofsuch areas by indigenous peoples. Establishment of active use areas as buffers around protected areas has proven effective in the management of such areas. Private reserves, created byindividuals or non-governmental organizations,also are appropriate protection measures insome areas. In addition to major tributaries,
known spawning or breeding grounds for key
species, including springs, floodplains, steep
slopes and surrounding forest, are critical areas
requiring protection. Further, once they are underprotection, the effective and wise use of lands
and aquatic systems, in partnership with stakeholders, are essential.
Achieving Sustainable Fisheries :Fishing Zones in Laguna Lake (The Philippines)

Conserving Lake Biodiversity
Protect and restore biodiversity in lakes−Restoring and protecting aquatic biodiversity requires that attention be given to all thepreviously-identified threats to lakes. Careful
evaluation of the endemic species in specificlakes also is important for efficient and effective
conservation, and should go beyond the relatively common practices of fish and bird counts.
Mapping the ranges and breeding areas for key
species, and studies of life histories and relationships with other species, will help prioritize areas
for special protection. Designation of special protected areas at the local, national and/or global
levels can offer at least partial protection toaquatic organisms in lakes and their inflowing
tributaries. As discussed further below, comprehensive efforts also must be made to control the
introduction and spread of invasive species,
which is second only to habitat destruction as acause of biodiversity loss.

The Laguna Lake Development Authority developed a Zoning and Management Plan (ZOMAP)in Laguna de Bay to address the conflict between open water fishermen and aquaculture operators, and the declining fish catch due to overutilization of the lake’s natural food sources forfish. The fish pen belt and fish cage belt weredemarcated with specifications on the distance
between the structures and the maximum allowable area for each owner. From a lake area of
900 km2, a total area of 100 km2 and 50 km2
were allocated for fish pens and fish cages, respectively.

22

Controlling Invasive Species

Preventing Health Risks

Prevent the introduction of invasive species−IThe introduction of invasive species can haveserious ecological and economic consequences.
Programs aimed at preventing invasive plant or
animal species from establishing a foothold canbe created by governmental agencies and lakeusers and organizations. Monitoring of key habitats within the lake and its nearshore areas for
species known to be invasive in a specific region,or in similar habitats, also can be undertaken by
governmental agencies and citizen volunteers.
Policymakers can assist in this process by requiring extensive environmental impact and risk
assessment as part of any planning process inwhich the introduction of non-native species isbeing considered, whether for economic, recreational or aesthetic purposes. Programs for effectively reducing the accidental introduction of invasive species into lakes from such sources as
the ballast water of ships, transfer of water between drainage basins, etc., are also currently
being explored in several global fora.

Coordinate lake management actions withpublic health authorities−Properly-operated
municipal wastewater treatment plants are a primary means of preventing the spread of humanwaterborne diseases. Other possibilities include
ecological sanitation, septic tanks and simplified
toilets, especially for preventing diseases spreadby human wastes, and the use of small
community-based projects for meeting local sanitation needs. Shoreland management actions
that encourage human settlements in areas withenvironmental conditions suitable for reducing
health risks, and appropriate designation of areas for swimming, other full contact recreationand fishing, are useful tools in limiting the spreadof disease. Because of the fact that waterways
are major pathways for transmitting disease, as
well as the habitat of disease vectors, coordinating lake protection programs with those of publichealth authorities is another logical and usefulpartnership in many locations. Further, in undertaking activities such as promoting immunizations, health centers can distribute literature andinformation on protecting citizens from disease
vectors such as mosquitoes, through such simple measures as limiting the availability of stagnant water in containers, ditches, pits and otheruncovered water-holding or conveyance systems.
Special attention should be given to the sanitation problems associated with human settlements on or over the water or along the shoreline.

Eradicate or control established invasive species in lakes and their drainage basins−IIt isdifficult to control invasive species once they
have become established, particularly if they
have gained an economic importance. Current
methods for controlling invasive plant species include mechanical and hand harvesting, biologicalcontrol following appropriate evaluation and assessment to prevent unwanted introductions ofadditional non-native organisms, chemical treatment, and educational programs to reduce theirunintentional spread by lake users. Some invasive organisms, such as water hyacinth, flourish
because of high nutrient loads entering lakes.
Thus, strategies to reduce the nutrient loads
reaching lakes can also help reduce their spread.
Methods for controlling invasive or unwanted introduced animal species include mechanical andhand harvesting/clearing of targeted species, selective chemical treatment, biological control, installation of physical controls/barriers, lake waterlevel drawdown, and educational programs.
Many of the control strategies for both invasiveplants and animals can be implemented throughlocal coalitions, including governmental agencies,scientists and non-governmental organizations.

23

Controlling Litter and Garbage
Undertake anti-litter campaigns−Indiscriminately discarded refuse can ultimately find its
way into lakes and their tributaries, particularly
after precipitation events. Undertaking local antilittering campaigns, therefore, provides a mechanism for protecting lakes from garbage and trash.
Careful siting of refuse disposal points, the useof sanitary landfills constructed to provide treatment of leachates and gases, and implementation of street sweeping and refuse collection programs, for example, are often used to control environmental pollution from litter, debris, and discarded human materials. Implementation ofwaste collection and recycling programs, composting and bio-gas production, also may bebeneficial in reducing or reusing potential pollut-

ants. Such programs also enhance humanhealth by limiting opportunities for disease vectors to successfully reproduce.

Establishing a Management Mechanism for the
Sustainable Use of Lakes and Their Resources
Establish a mechanism for managing water
resources in a sustainable manner−To insure
the equitable and sustainable use of lakes, it isessential that they be jointly assessed and managed by the stakeholders sharing them, basedon an agreed and collaborative mechanism. A
primary goal is to harmonize the interests between and among lake stakeholders, whether local, regional, national or international, while also
maintaining the integrity of the lake ecosystem.
Whether on an international or local basis, different jurisdictions can be expected to operate under different organizational structures, operatingprocedures, and legal and policy frameworks. As
a result, hostilities and/or competition between
adjoining political entities are not uncommon.
Further, international lake drainage basins often
contain communities speaking different languages, greatly complicating attempts to form
coalitions and develop common understandings
and visions. Nevertheless, every effort should bemade to encourage dialogue among lake users,
rationale and equitable bases for lake management activities, and development of a sharedlake vision and action plan between different
communities, jurisdictions or countries using thesame lake.
Encourage creation of partnerships to resolve lake problems−Partnerships between
the citizens and government officials can be very
helpful in identifying and solving lake problems.
The management of lake problems may be accomplished at the drainage basin level throughestablishment of formal or informal partnerships.
Where feasible, public awareness and feedback
can be an important component of effective, sustainable solutions to lake problems. If the public
can be persuaded of the severity of a lake problem (and its human, ecosystem and economic
consequences if left untreated), it may more
readily appreciate the need to develop and implement effective lake management programs.
One result can be the development of a proprietary interest by the public in the work involved inaddressing lake problems. It also can make thepublic more amenable to the associated ex-penses of such activities.
The development of partnerships between government authorities, citizens and the private sector is an area requiring much greater effort. The
private sector has technical and managerial skills
that can enable it to produce more goods andservices using less water. Private sector companies have the human and financial resources toinvest in more “eco-efficient” technology that canprotect water, use water more efficiently, recycle
water for reuse inside plants and factories, andclean water before it is returned to rivers andlakes for common usage. Thus, if governments
set appropriate developmental, financial andregulatory framework conditions, it is possiblethat the economic and technical power of the private sector could be unleashed to tackle pressing problems facing lake and their resources.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is an example of a business association focusing on the sustainable use of waterand other natural resources.
Consider creation of new and alternative employment opportunities−Encouragement of alternative employment opportunities (e.g., ecotourism) can provide economic incentives forcommunities and individuals within lake drainage
basins and along lakeshores. Such opportunities
can include adopting environmentally-soundtechnologies, such as using locally-grown organic products, introducing recreational management programs based on consideration of alake’s carrying-capacity, restricting the numbersof visitors to sensitive sites, and providing appropriate informational materials regarding areas
frequented by tourists and others. In tourist or urban areas, provision of public transportation can
alleviate traffic and minimize environmental impacts of human economic activities on lakes. In
addition to helping reduce stresses on lake environments, such measures can be self-sustaining
in some cases, an example being the generationof revenues from tourism activities. Tax relief
provides a further opportunity to encourage theadoption of alternative technologies and employment.
Coordinate lake management and poverty alleviation programs−Experience around theworld indicates that the basic survival needs ofpeople must be satisfied before they can be expected to focus on lake management issues, oron environmental problems in general. Con-24

versely, the sustainable use of lakes and theirresources will contribute directly to alleviating
poverty. The provision of environmentallysustainable economic opportunities, therefore,
provides a primary mechanism for encouraging
the sustainable use of these resources for meeting beneficial human needs.

Longer-term strategies for addressing
major threats facing lakes
In contrast to the toolbox of immediate actions thatcan be used to address threats facing lakes, thissection of the World Lake Vision identifies arange of broader strategic approaches directed to
the goal of sustainable lake use. As longer-term initiatives, these strategies typically require sustained
action over a period of year or even decades.
Many span national boundaries, and might also be
best implemented at the regional level. Nevertheless, many also are equally applicable at the local
and community level. Their specific level of implementation will depend on the nature of the individual lake problem(s), and the capability of the relevant lake stakeholders to address them. This may
include the level of the individual, communities andgovernments , non-governmental organizations ,business and agricultural sectors, and/or scientificprofessionals and academicians. It is noted that
action by governments commonly involves both apolitical process, requiring that legal and institutional frameworks be put in place, that relevant actions by established governmental agencies andunits be implemented, and that the actions aresubsequently enforced.

Managing lakes for their sustainable use requires the cooperation andinvolvement of all lake stakeholders, particularly the citizens
inhabiting their drainage basins.

25

Monitoring and Assessing the Health of Lakes
and Their Drainage Basins
Implement and maintain lake monitoring andassessment activities−The World Lake Visionencourages new or continuing monitoring andassessment of the state of lakes and their drainage basins, and the dissemination of the results
to all lake stakeholders. It is a demanding task to
select ecological and water quality indicators forlake health assessment and to establish andmaintain a corresponding monitoring program. It
requires continuing and concerted efforts to acquire the necessary data and information formaking informed lake management decisions.
Ideally, all water development projects should include both pre-project and post-project monitoring activities, as a means of both refining individual projects and for identifying case studies andlessons learned for future projects. Monitoring
activities can be undertaken by individuals, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, corporations, and academic institutions at
all levels. Monitoring and assessment programs
should be specifically designed to recognize andincorporate the hydrological, biological, chemicaland physical similarities and differences between
natural and artificial lakes (reservoirs). Where
feasible, effective monitoring programs conducted by trained citizens can provide accurate,
long-term data about the health of a lake and its
drainage basin. If properly organized and super-

Data obtained from accurate, long-term monitoringare essential for making sound lake management decisions.

vised, citizen monitoring is a relatively simple,
low-cost approach for collecting essential lake
data and information. Citizen monitoring can bedone in collaboration with, or independent of,monitoring and assessment activities undertaken
by professionals in governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and academic/research institutions. Citizen involvement also has
the added benefit of increasing awareness andparticipation in lake management programs.
Disseminate and utilize the results of lakemonitoring and assessment activities−In addition to promoting monitoring efforts and activities for acquiring data for evaluating the state oflakes and their resources, including the use ofmultidisciplinary, integrated management models,the World Lake Vision also promotes the widespread dissemination of the results of such activities, both to inform lake stakeholders and to
guide lake management actions. Its widespreaddissemination facilitates the sharing of lakeknowledge and better understanding of the stateof lakes and the processes that fundamentallycontrol their conditions.

Developing the Capacity of Individuals andOrganizations to Manage Lakes for Their
Sustainable UseCreate web-based information, online databases and other readily-accessible materials
about management of lakes and their resources−The World Lake Vision promotes theestablishment and maintenance of electronic fora
or other appropriate communication systems todisseminate information and facilitate dialogue
about individual lakes, regions and issues ofglobal concern among lake practitioners. One
mechanism proving to be beneficial for this purpose is the World Wide Web. Where Internet access is readily available, many lake organizations are moving toward electronic disseminationof materials through electronic-mail (e-mail) lists,
web-based electronic forums, and online databases and instructional programs. Other Internet
possibilities include access to a clearinghousefor information and notices of relevant events,
and to experts or organizations for answering
questions regarding sustainable lake use. Although not an exhaustive list, examples of some
non-governmental organizations with relevantInternet-based lake monitoring and management
information and data, such as the International

Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC),
LakeNet, Living Lakes and the Inter-American
Water Resources Network (IWRN), are given in
Annex 2. Some professional associations andsocieties dealing with scientific and technical aspects of lake science and management, such as
the North American Lake Management Society(NALMS), also maintain websites. A primary goalof these and similar organizations is to facilitate
information sharing, training and exchange of experience among technical and non-technical lake
management practitioners alike.
Where electronic communication possibilities are
difficult to implement, printed newsletters, reports,
and mailings based upon traditional postal mailing lists can be an equally effective means ofsharing lake data, information and experiences.
Typical sponsors of such initiatives include government agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.
Establish science and education centers forthe compilation, analysis and disseminationof information on lake resources and management issues−The World Lake Vision promotes the establishment of science and education centers for individual lakes or lake regions.
These centers can focus on identifying, compiling, documenting and disseminating information,
data and experiences on specific lakes, theirproblems and their sustainable use. This information ideally should include the economic, ecosystem and cultural importance of specific lakes
and their resources, their direct and indirect uses
and values, promising tools and strategies fortheir management, and the lessons learned (successes and failures) from specific case studies.
In undertaking these activities, these centers will
enhance capacity building in managing lakes fortheir sustainable use. They also can provide
valuable region-specific information. Knowledge
and experience gained from studies of lakes in
the mid-latitudes, for example, are not necessarily appropriate for assessing and managing tropical lakes, nor are the scientific principles of theformer necessarily directly applicable to the latter.
Various scientific and educational centers havebeen established for some lakes, such as theLake Biwa Museum (Japan), Balaton Limnological Research Institute (Hungary), and Leahy
Center of Lake Champlain (USA). These andsimilar centers throughout the world have demonstrated and promoted the benefits of advancing scientific, educational and community devel-

26

opment goals for lakes and their drainage basins.
Thus, they serve as models for establishing centers for other lakes, whose sponsorship typically
includes private foundations, corporations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions.
Create more training programs and knowledge transfer opportunities for lake management−Capacity building can take place at theindividual or group level (covering skills andknowledge requirements), at the institutional ororganization level (covering operational and administrative aspects), and at the strategic level(covering legal, political and economic frameworks). In fact, effective training, focusing on
building coalitions, managing projects, and increasing monitoring and evaluation skills, is urgently needed in many lake drainage basins for
local and national governmental and nongovernmental staff. Mismanagement of lakes,
arising from the lack of trained staff in many
countries, hinders efforts to use lakes in a sustainable manner, or enforcing environmental andother regulations dealing with lake resources.
The World Lake Vision strongly supports the development of appropriate human resource capabilities to correct such deficiencies, including
region-specific training. Inclusion of a component
directed to effective capacity-building activities inall water resource investments can provide ameans of promoting such training at the international level as well. Several training programs
are available free-of-charge, or at very low cost,
for almost every aspect of lake management.
Examples include courses organized by the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and the North American Lake Manage-

Educating children about water-related issues is abeneficial long-term measure for achieving sustainable lake use.

27

ment Society (Annex 2), which are generally oriented toward water professionals and their institutions.
Implement a public education and awarenessprogram about lakes and their drainage basins−Some corrective lake management actions can be as simple as informing lake drainage basin inhabitants about how they canchange their work routines or personal habits to
reduce or alleviate problems associated with theunsustainable use of lake resources. Use of theeducational
system ,themedia ,
nongovernmental organizations, and the religious
community can be especially helpful in carryingout this task, providing practical information,
guidance and inspiration regarding sustainablelake use. They can help shape positive public attitudes about the threats facing lakes, and theneed for their participation in implementing practical solutions to them. Greater public awarenessof lake issues is usually facilitated by making details of lake problems and corrective programs
readily available to the public. This type of communication also can serve as a type of government feedback to the public, in the form of answers to public questions about individual lakes
and their drainage basins.
Establish exchange programs, “sister lake”
partnerships and lake networks−Another effective way to share knowledge and experience
is by “twinning” individuals, non-governmental organizations and government agencies working
on similar lake management issues. There aresuccessful examples of such partnerships thathave existed for many years (e.g., the partnership between Lake Toba in Indonesia and Lake
Champlain in the United States). At the larger
scale, networks such as Lake Net and Living
Lakes can provide a means of fostering goodwill
and cooperation among the network members,
and facilitating technical and scientific exchanges.
These exchanges can take place at any level.
Establish a grant, mini-grant or other financing program−Developing and supporting small
projects and local groups in lake drainage basins
is an excellent way to demonstrate or to pilot
lake management and conservation measuresfor lakes and their drainage basins. It also facilitates capacity-building for individuals and nongovernmental organizations, an example being
the support given by the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the private sector to the local

River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils.
Many local governments support this type of action through revenue sharing, provision of trust
funds, tax incentives, revolving loan funds, micro-banks, and similar mechanisms.

Identifying Lake Stakeholders in the Drainage
Basin and Facilitating Their Active Involvement
Develop lake-based partnerships−To raiseawareness of, and bring attention to, the continuing overexploitation and degradation of lakes
and their resources, the World Lake Vision encourages the establishment of comprehensive,
practical and, if appropriate, non-traditional
stakeholder partnerships at the drainage basin,national and global levels. Stakeholders include
all user groups and parties having interests inusing specific lakes and their resources, including individuals, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private sector corporations and agricultural operations, and academic/research institutions. Because stakeholder
participation in developing and implementing individual lake visions and action plans is of criticalimportance in such endeavors, greater efforts
are needed to identify and overcome the challenges associated with establishing such partnerships.
Provide technical and financial assistance,
and allow time for involving stakeholders−
An important step in the pursuit of sustainablelake use is to make stakeholder involvement a

condition of receiving financial assistance or, alternatively, to require that community assistanceprojects include a participatory approach. Suchinvolvement typically can include individuals, non-governmental organizations and private sector
corporations. In contrast, however, technical andfinancial assistance programs are often provided
by government agencies. Universities and research institutions also can offer scientific andtechnical expertise. Many community assistanceprojects include a participatory component, but
unfortunately do not provide adequate training or
allow sufficient time to facilitate stakeholder involvement. Where funds are lacking, however,using simple, low-cost methods to bring stakeholders together provides a means of initiating
their involvement. The World Bank and other organizations have developed guidance materials
for a participatory rural appraisal technique, as ameans of involving citizens and stakeholders in
identifying and inventorying local lake resources.
The technique was successfully applied in fivecommunities on Lake Toba in Indonesia, for example, to inventory resources, identify issues
and develop community-based action plans.
Wider use of such techniques is recommended.
On an institutional level, some financing options
commonly used to share the financial burden
among all users and beneficiaries of lake resources include pollution charges such as thepolluter pays principle, catchment, fish, marina
and sporting levies, and water tariffs. In addition,
tax relief and similar economic incentives canprove useful.

A harmonious relationship between humans and lakes is acornerstone for addressing the needs of both.

28

Implementing and carrying forward theWorld Lake Vision
Broadly disseminate the World Lake Vision−
The proponents of the World Lake Vision
should disseminate it to as many stakeholders in
as many lake drainage basins, and in as many
countries, as possible. This can be done in a
number of ways, including publication of theWorld Lake Vision, developing instructional anddescriptive brochures based upon it, disseminating these materials to relevant institutions, nongovernmental organizations and others, and conducting workshops and short courses at the national, regional and local levels on critical lake
problems, their social and ecological implications,and their possible solutions.
Use existing regional and global treaties,
conventions and protocols to coordinate andimplement the World Lake Vision−Some international agreements relevant to protecting andrestoring lake ecosystems include the (1) Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, (2) Convention on Biological Diversity,(3) Convention to Combat Desertification, (4)United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea and its protocols, (5) Convention on Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes,(6) World Heritage Convention, (7) Framework
Convention on Climate Change, and (8) Rotterdam Convention for the Prior and Informed Consent. The latter convention procedure for certain
hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade (IINC/PIC), together with the existing
Basel and Stockholm Conventions, can provide
a comprehensive and systematic approach tocontrolling chemical hazards to lakes and otheraquatic ecosystems. Thus, countries that have
not yet ratified these conventions should beurged to do so, thereby allowing the conventions
to enter into force at the earliest opportunity. International agencies also should work to insure,with appropriate funding assistance, that all
countries have the technical and financial capacity to implement the convention’s demanding
procedures. Countries are likewise encouraged
to implement their obligations within the context
of such treaties and their associated rules, protocols, and procedures.
Involve lake stakeholders in developing andimplementing local lake visions and actionplans−The World Lake Vision promotes indi-

29

vidual lake visions and long-term action plansapplicable at the level of the drainage basin.
These individual lake activities should follow the
principles outlined in the World Lake Vision.
They should consider not only the local causesof lake degradation and loss of lake uses, butalso those that may be regional, international oreven global in nature, including excessive water
diversions and withdrawals, water quality degradation, unsustainable fisheries practices, loss ofaquatic biodiversity and habitats, long-range
transport of airborne pollutants, invasive species,
and impacts of climate change such as flood
control and drought management. Because lakedegradation not only threatens the long-termsustainability of lakes and other aquatic ecosystems, but can also interfere significantly with
beneficial human water uses and related economic development activities, securing politicaland financial support for local lake visions andaction plans is both a tremendous challenge andopportunity. Doing so obviously requires the establishment of an appropriate institutional framework, and of partnerships necessary to involve
stakeholders in lake management efforts, and in
facilitating planning and implementation processes.

actions and programs for the sustainable use of
the world’s lakes.
In the century that lies ahead, humanity faces thechallenge of developing a civilization fit for a finite
planet, and one equipped to deal with a mounting
scarcity of essential resources such as freshwater.
The world’s lakes, which are a primary source andstorehouse of the world’s easily-accessible freshwater, will be a critical arena in this great transition
to a society which sustains itself without degrading
and depleting its own natural foundation. Many ofthese lakes are already in jeopardy. The World
Lake Vision aims to illuminate this growing crisis,
to articulate principles to guide this transition toward managing lakes for their sustainable use, andto provide a practical blueprint for insuring the long-term health of lakes and the integrity of the freshwater required by human societies for their survivaland economic development, and for maintaining
life-supporting ecosystems. Indeed, if we are able
to use lakes in a sustainable and responsible manner, there is much hope we can meet the needs ofthe human and natural communities that dependon them for clean freshwater resources, the key tolife.

Launch a world lake management initiative−
During the course of preparing the World Lake
Vision, it became clear that some institutional
mechanism was essential if the World Lake Vision was to be promoted and effectively implemented. One significant opportunity for achieving
this goal, consistent with the desire to carry theWorld Lake Vision forward as a living document to guide the development, sustainable use
and protection of these vital global water resources for meeting human and ecosystemwater needs, is to establish a global lake alliance,
as previously called for in the 9th World Lakes
Conference. An organization of this type could
take many forms, one example being a virtual alliance comprised of water resources professionals, individuals and other interested entities. In
fact, the organizations whose representatives
served on the World Lake Vision Committee,
as identified in the Internet web page http : //www.worldlakes.org/vision.html, provide a good
approximation of such an alliance. Whether thisentity ultimately is a governmental, nongovernmental or international organization, theWorld Lake Vision can be maintained, updated
and periodically revised through such a mechanism as a useful and living document to guide30

ANNEXES
Annex 1

Annex 2Glossary of Terms

Examples of Sources for Additional Information
Relevant to the Management of Lakes and Their Resources

Algae−Microscopic-sized, free-floating aquatic plants, whose dense growth can result in “algal blooms,”
degraded water quality and interference with beneficial water uses.
Aquatic ecosystems−Referring to the totality of the living organisms and non-living components of anaquatic system, such as lakes, rivers or ponds.
Best management practices−Technically-and economically-feasible measures and activities for reducing
environmental contamination or degradation, based on the local conditions and capabilities for addressing
the problems.
Biodiversity−Biological diversity commonly refers to the magnitude and range of different species and biological communities living in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Buffer zones−A transition zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, meant to protect the aquatic
system from land-based pollution runoff, and often containing vegetation or grass meant to slow water velocity and/or trap sediments and pollutants.
Climate change−Referring primarily to the process of global warming.
Disease vectors−Organisms whose life cycles involve some contact with water systems, and that are capable of carrying or transmitting diseases.
Drainage basin−The total land area from which water drains into a river system.
Ecotourism−Tourism activities based on the conservation, preservation and exhibition of terrestrial andaquatic ecosystems.
Environmental audits−A process to assess the nature and extent of environmental concerns at existing facilities, plants and other potential pollution sources.
Environmentally-sound technologies−Measures and procedures that are less polluting, use resources in asustainable manner, recycle more wastes, and handle residues in an environmentally acceptable way.
Emissions−Discharges, including pollutants, into receiving waters, the atmosphere and/or onto the land
surface.
Eutrophication−The nutrient enrichment of lakes and reservoirs, resulting in excessive growths of algae
and aquatic plants, degrading water quality and interfering with beneficial human water uses.
Groundwater aquifer−The underground basin containing abundant water that has percolated or otherwise
entered it from the land surface.
Integrated water resource management−Management of water systems for their sustainable use, including
identification and reconciliation of scientific, technical, social and economic factors.
Invasive species−Non-native organisms entering a given ecosystem in which they did not previous exist.
Lake drainage basin−The total land area from which water drains into and flows from a central lake system.
Littoral zone−The portion of the lake near the shoreline, in contrast to the open waters of the lake.
No till/low till plowing−Agricultural practices that eliminate or minimize the need to disturb the land surface
by plowing.
Nonpoint sources−referring to diffuse pollution sources resulting from storm-generated land runoff, andwhose entry point into receiving waters cannot be readily identified or quantified.
Persistent organic pollutants−Organic chemicals that are stable and persist over long periods of time, that
tend to accumulate in the tissues of humans and other organisms, and in lake bottom sediments, and thatcan cause cancer, tumors and/or birth defects.
Point sources−Referring to pollution sources that enter receiving waters at identifiable points, via distinct
pipelines or channels, and from which pollutant loads can be readily quantified with traditional hydraulictechniques.
Rainwater harvesting−The process of gathering and storing precipitation for use at later times.
Stakeholders−Referring to the range of persons having an interest in using, protecting and/or sustaining
lakes, their drainage basins and their resources.
Sustainable approach−A process or approach whereby the long-term use, rather than rapid or unbridleddepletion, of a natural resource is the goal.
Water budget−A calculation of all the water inflows and water extractions in a given drainage basin.
Water column−Referring to the water in lakes, from its surface to the bottom.
Transboundary−A lake or other water system shared and/or used by two or more countries.

31

Reports and Publications
Cosgrove, W.J. and F.R. Rijsberman. 2000. World Water Vision. Making Water Everybody’s Business.
World Water Council, Earthscan Publications Ltd, London, United Kingdom. 108 p.
Grey, D., E. Gilgan-Hunt, N.P. Sharma, D. Torbjorn and V.Okaru. 1996. African Water Resources : Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development. World Bank Technical Paper No. 331,
Washington DC, United States of America. 144 p.
International Lake Environment Foundation. Guidelines of Lake Management Series, volumes 1 through10. ILEC, Shiga, Japan.
International Lake Environment Foundation. Lake Data Book Series, volumes 1 through 5. ILEC, Shiga,
Japan.
Reimold, R.J. 1998. Watershed Management. Practice, Policies and Coordination. McGraw-Hill, New
York, United States of America. 391 p.
United Nations. 1993. Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
Resolutions Adopted by the Conference. United Nations Report A/CONF.151/26/Rev.1, Volume 1,
Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June, 1992. 486 p.
United Nations Environment Programme and Wetlands International. 1997. Wetlands and Integrated
River Basin Management. UNEP (Nairobi, Kenya) and Wetlands International-Asia Pacific, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. 346 p.
United Nations Environment Programme. 1999. Global Environment Outlook 2000. Past, Present andFuture Perspectives. Earthscan, London, United Kingdom. 398 p.
United Nations Environment Programme. 2002. Global Environment Outlook 3. Past, Present and Future
Perspectives. Earthscan, London, United Kingdom. 446 p.
United Nations Environment Programme-International Environmental Technology Centre. 1999. Planningand Management of Lakes and Reservoirs : An Integrated Approach to Eutrophication. UNEP-IETC
Technical Publication Series 11, Shiga, Japan. 375 p.
United Nations Environment Programme, Shiga Prefectural Government, International Lake Environment
Foundation. 2002. Proceedings of International Symposium on Building Partnerships between Citizens and Local Governments for Sustainable Lake Management. UNEP-IETC Freshwater Management Series No. 3, Shiga, Japan. 157 p.
Watson, R.T., M.C. Zinyowera, R.H. Moss and D.J. Dokken. 1998. The Regional Impacts of Climate
Change : An Assessment of Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
517 p.
World Commission on Dams. 2000. Dams and Development. A New Framework for Decision-Making.
Earthscan, London, United Kingdom. 404 p.
World Meteorological Organization. 1992. The Dublin Statement and Report of the Conference. International Conference on Water and the Environment : Development Issues for the 21st Century, World
Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. 55 p.
Zalewski, M. 2002. Guidelines for the Integrated Management of the Watershed-Phytotechnology andEcohydrology. United Nations Environment Programme-International Environmental Technology
Centre, Freshwater Management Series No. 5, Shiga, Japan. 188 p.
Jansky, L., M. Nakayama & J.I. Uitto (Eds.). 2002. Lakes and Reservoirs as International Water Systems-Towards World Lake Vision. UNU/ESD, 110p. ISBN 92-808-8003-9

32

Web-based Resources
Global Water Partnership (http : //www.gwpforum.org)
Inter-American Water Resources Network (http : //www.iwrn.net)
International Association for Great Lakes Research (http : //www.iaglr.org)
International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology(http : //www.limnology.org)
International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (http : //www.ilec.or.jp)
International Network of Basin Organizations (http : //www.inbo-news.org)
International Water Association (http : //www.iwa.org)
International Water Resources Association (http : //iwra.siu.edu)
Lake Champlain Basin Program (http : //www.lcbp.org)
LakeNet (http : //www.worldlakes.org)
Living Lakes (http : //www.livinglakes.org)
North American Lake Management Society (http : //www.nalms.org)
Peipsi Center for Transboundary Management (http : //www.ctc.ee)
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Hydrological Programme(http : //www.unesco.org)
United Nations Environment Programme (http : //www.unep.org)
World Water Council (http : //www.worldwatercouncil.org)
United Nations University(http : //www.unu.edu/env/water/transboundary-water.html)

Annex 3
World Lake Vision Committee and Drafting Committee Members
Individuals
Tatuo Kira (Chairman)
Chris H.D. Magadza(Vice Chairman)
Walter Rast＊(Chair, Drafting Committee)
Motokazu AndoDavid Read Barker
Adelina C. Santos-Borja＊
Aitken Clark
Denis Fourmeau
Liza Gonzalez
Buzz Hoerr
Shinji Ide
Libor Jansky
Liu Jiankang
Sven Jorgensen
Yukiko Kada
Saburo Matsui
Aurora Michel
Masahisa Nakamura＊
Mikiyasu Nakayama
Eric Odada＊
Mario Francisco Revollo＊
Vicente Santiago
Dongil Seo＊
Payaman Simanjuntak＊
Juan Skinner
Jeff Thornton＊
Maciej Zalewski

International Lake Environment Committee Foundation
University of Zimbabwe
Southwest Texas State University
Tokyo University of Agriculture
LakeNetLaguna Lake Development Authority
Living Lakes
International Network of Basin Organizations
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Nicaragua
Lake Champlain Basin Program
Kosho Net
United Nations University
Institute of Hydrobiology/Chinese Academy of Sciences
International Lake Environment Committee Foundation
Kyoto Seika University/Lake Biwa Museum
Kyoto University Graduate School
Sociedad Amigos del Lago de Chapala A.C.
Lake Biwa Research Institute
United Graduate School of Agricultural Science
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
University of Nairobi/Pan-African START Secretariat
Autoridad Binacional Del Sistema Hidrico T.D.P.S.
UNEP-International Environmental Technology Centre
North America Lake Management Society/
Chungnam National University
Lake Toba Heritage Foundation
Lake Atitlan Sustainable Management Authority
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
International Environmental Management Service Limited
International Center for Ecology/Polish Academy of
Sciences

Organizations
International Lake Environment Committee Foundation*, Kosho Net, LakeNet*
Living Lakes*, International Network of Basin Organizations, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, Shiga Prefectural Government*, UNEP-International Environment Technology Centre*, United Nations University＊Drafting Committee Members

3334

Annex 4

Annex 5

Other individuals and organizations contributing to World Lake Vision

World Lake Vision Meetings and Consultations

Individuals :Nathaniel O. Agola (Kansai Gaidai University), Thomas Ballatore, Hiroya Kotani, Victor Muhandiki (International Lake Environment Committee Foundation), Jeremy Bird, Alberto Calcagno (UNEP-Dams andDevelopment Project), Lisa Borre, Laurie Duker (LakeNet), Ram Boojh (Centre for Environment
Education-North), James Bredin (Government of the State of Michigan), Jorg Duerr-Pucher, Udo Gattenloehner, Marion Hammerl-Resch, Stefan Hoerman (Global Nature Fund), Lilia G.C. Casanova (UNEPIETC), Neo Clark (Regional Council), Nina Dagbaeva (Bikal Information Center), Doug Gartner (The
Taupo District Council), Margaret Catley-Carlson, Torkil Jonch-Clausen, Bjorn Guterstam (Global Water
Partnership), Ayako Fujii (Shiga Ecological Co-op Union), Michael J.B. Green (Broads Authority)，Rafik
Hirji (World Bank), Vu Thi Minh Hoa (IUCN), William M Kudoja, Micheni Japhet Ntiba (Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization), Pasi Lehmusluoto (UNDP), W.J. Mavura (Egerton University), Yoshio Matsuda(Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration), Aniruddhe Mukerjee (Jabalpur Municipal Corporation), Pradip Kumar Nandi (Bhoj Wetland project, Bhopal), Robert Ndetei (The Wetlands Programmeof Kenya Wildlife Service), Dolora Nepomuceno (Laguna Lake Development Authority), James Nickum(Tokyo Jogakkan Women’s College), Gertrud Nurnberg (Freshwater Research), Obiero Ong’ang’a(OSIENALA), Ed Ongley (water monitoring consultant), Sang Hyun Park (Korean Agricultural and Rural
Infrastructure Cooperation), Greg Reis (Mono Lake Committee), Richard Robarts (UNEP GEMS/Water
Programme Office), Jan Sopaheluwakan (Earth Science), Mwakio P. Tole (Moi University), Jose Galiza
Tundisi (International Institute of Ecology), Juha I. Uitto (GEF Secretariat), Rolando Gaal Vadas (Water
Resources), Yusuke Yamashiki (Kyoto University), Pen Limin, Gong Yuan (Wuhan Environmental Protection Bureau)

Organizations :Environment Canada, Government of State of Michigan (USA), Great Lakes Commission (USA), International Association for Great Lake Research (IAGLR), International Environmental Management Services
Ltd (IEMS), Third World Water Forum Secretariat, Global Water Partnership

35

2001

Sept. 4-6 (Shiga, Japan)

2002

July 26-28 (Shiga, Japan)
Task Force Meeting
Aug. 1-4 (Shiga, Japan)
World Lake Vision Preparation Meeting (1st Draft)
Aug. 27 (Johannesburg, South Africa)
World Lake Vision Meeting (Proposal of Vision)
Sept. 26-28 (Shiga, Japan)
World Lake Vision Committee Inaugural Meeting
World Lake Vision Workshop (2nd Draft)
Oct. 15-19 (Cleveland, USA)World Lake Vision Consultation Meeting (3rd Draft)
Dec. 15 (Shiga, Japan)
World Lake Vision Symposium
Dec. 16-18 (Shiga, Japan)
World Lake Vision Workshop (4th Draft)

2003

Feb. 24-25 (Shiga, Japan)
March 20 (Shiga, Japan)

Workshop : Toward a World Lake Vision

World Lake Vision Committee Meeting(Final Draft)
The 3rd World Water Forum(Official Launch of the World Lake Vision)

Photo Credits : The photographs contained in this document were provided by members of the World
Lake Vision Committee or others associated with the development of the World Lake Vision. Their contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

36

World Lake Vision Project Secretariat
International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC)
1091 Oroshimo-cho
Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0001, JAPANWorld Lake Vision website : www.ilec.or.jp
e-mail : info@ilec.or.jp
telephone number : +(81-77) 568-4567
fax number : +(81-77) 568-4568