ILBM Platform Process is Growing - Part Ⅰ
The conceptual framework of ILBM

surface areas in Southeast Asia (900 km2), is(Integrated Lake Basin Management) Platform

located next to the center of the Manila

Lake Lanao, the deepest and largest

has been developed through various

Metropolitan jurisdiction, with an approximate

freshwater lake in the Philippines, is situatedconsultative and research-based projects.

population of 6 million spread over 6

on the island of Mindanao. The local NGO andCurrently, ILEC is promoting ILBM-based

provinces, 13 cities and 48 municipalities

the Government of Lanao de Sul, with support

programs among basin communities aroundwithin its basin area of 3,820 km2. In 2009,

from LLDA, put together the Lake Lanao Brief,

the world (Fig 1). In this newsletter, some of

Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)

reflecting the output of the 2009 ILBM

these global ILBM cases will be introduced inrevised a lake brief on experience and lessons

workshop. The Rinconada Lakes refers to its

a series of articles, and this issue features thelearnt in Lake Laguna, which they originally

three sister lakes (Lake Bato, Lake Buhi, Lakeones from Philippines and Malaysia.

prepared in 2005, following the ILBM

Baao-Bula) located in the Province of Bicol,

Guidelines. As the only lake basin

Southern Luzon Island. Bato and Buhi are

1 PHILIPPINES

Pillars.

management institution in the Philippines,

basically fishery culture lakes, while Baao-Bula

As of 2001, 211 lakes were identified in the

LLDA is currently making a self-assessment tois an irrigation lake. In the July 2007 round

Philippines. Lake Laguna, one of the largest

enhance some of their ILBM Governancetable discussion joined by ILEC, it was agreed
that a perspective of ILBM should be
integrated into the conventional approach of
Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM)
which had been implemented there. Thus, the
ILBM Platform activities are being integrated
appropriately into the existing national
program framework, with full recognition of its
added value. The Mayors of these lake basinsare very proactive on implementing ILBM, witha focus on capacity building to improve ILBM
Governance.
2) Malaysia:
The National Academy of Science, Malaysia(ASM), and the National Hydraulic ResearchInstitute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), jointly
undertook a preliminary desktop assessment

Figure 1 : ILBM-related Case Study Lake Locations

IN
THIS
ISSUE

of the status of eutrophication in Malaysian■ ILBM Platform Process is Growing – Part 1■ A Report from a Former JICA Trainee■ Development of the ILBM Platform Process■ ILEC’s Scientific Journal, “Lakes & Reservoirs”■ A Letter from Scientific Committee■ Overview of ILEC Activities (2012 April – September)1

lakes in 2005, reporting that about 62% out of

inaugurated as the federal administrative(MOSTI), ASM and NAHRIM to discuss the

90 natural and manmade lakes were

centre of Malaysia in 1999. Lake Chini is one

current status of Malaysian lakes and theeutrophic, while the rest were mesotrophic.

of the few natural freshwater lakes in the

future programs to improve their conditions. In

The assessment was followed by the

Peninsular Malaysia. The main water source

September 2012, Dr. Walter Rast, the ILEC

Colloquium on Management of Lakes andcontributing to the lake is the Chini River, a

Scientific Committee Vice- Chairman, attended

Reservoirs in Malaysia in July 2007, focusing

tributary to the Pahang River, one of thethe National Seminar on Research andon development of the Malaysian Strategic

largest rivers in Peninsular Malaysia.

Management of Lakes and Their Basins forPlan for Lake and Reservoir Management.

Constructed in 1906, Lake Bukit Merah is theSustainable Use in Malaysia to give a keynote

Along with the preparation of the Strategic

oldest manmade lake in Malaysia and is

speech on the latest global experience ofPlan, eight lake briefs were prepared,

located in the north western part of Peninsular

ILBM.

including those for Lake Putrajaya, Lake Chini

Malaysia. In February 2010, the National

In Malaysia, the ILBM Platform activities are

and Lake Bukit Merrah.

Seminar on Managing Lakes and Reservoirs

being pursued as a basis for the national

Lake Putrajaya is a ten-year old manmadefor Sustainable Use was organized by Ministry

program development, with a well organizedlake, constructed as part of the landscapeof Natural Resources and Environment (NRI),

plan to integrate and expand on the ILBM

planning when the city of Putrajaya was

Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation

framework.

Development of the ILBM Platform Process
ILBM is a concept for sustainable

The Cyclic Process of ILBM Platform

improvement process rather than a project, it

management of lakes and their basins that

The aforementioned process is repeated

has to evolve over decades toward a

have evolved from the years of theirindefinitely until its outcome satisfies thesustainable resource development, use andmanagement experiences, and still continues

Platform members. How each lake basin canconservation. Secondly, even without calling it

to evolve. This article is about the basic

improve its governance toward sustainability“ILBM”, process adopted in successful lake

process of ILBM Platform and its roles (Fordepends on a number of factors. For some,basin management cases entails gradual but

more details, please refer toe http://www.ilec.

their conventional approaches in planning,

continuous improvement of lake basinor.jp/eg/).

without any explicit reference to the concept ofgovernance. This idea is presented as a Cyclic

ILBM, may be adequate for addressing their

ILBM Platform Process in Figure 2. Finally, it issustainable

important for any knowledge and data of lake

Key Steps in ILBM Platform Process

management.

However,

ILBM Platform Process is not only aexperience and lessons learned from the ILBM

basin

governance improvement, but also acases compiled over the years have clarified

implementing the Platform Process to be

stakeholder consensus-building process, for a

two things. Firstly, since a lake basin

appropriately compiled and shared among thebasin system that consists of lentic (standing)management is a long-term governanceglobal ILBM Platforms.

management

acquiredand lotic (flowing) water bodies. Its
development is a stepwise, incremental andgradual process. The first step for the Platform
members, or the key basin stakeholders, is tocollectively acknowledge the state of their lakebasin management, including contentious
issues, through preparation of a lake brief, or acollectively prepared report on the state of lakebasin and management issues. The second
step is to jointly analyze issues, needs andchallenges for improving the Six Governance
Pillars of ILBM. The third step is to implement
identified actions for improvement. The fourth
step is to assess incremental improvementswith appropriately identified indicators and torevise the lake brief accordingly to address
remaining and new challenges.
Figure 2 : Schematic Illustration of a Cyclic ILBM Platform Process

2

while

A Letter from Scientific Committee

Managing Environmental Risks to Food and Health Security
in the Laguna de Bay Watershed（2009〜2014）
Adelina C. Santos-Borja（The Philippines）

The Laguna de Bay Basin is strategically(LLDA). For brevity, the project is locallyland use changes, agrochemical inputs, andlocated in the heart of Luzon Island wherereferred to as the LakeHEAD Project which

their cumulative impact on food production and

Manila is located. The lake, being the largest

stands for Laguna Lake Health, Environment

relationin the Philippines, has a surface area ofand Diversity. This is an innovative project

deterioration; and 4) to describe land use

900km2 and a watershed of 2,920 km2, which

which combines social, medical and naturalchange in the Laguna Lake area and its

cradles 61 cities and municipalities belonging

sciences in order to develop strategies ofimpact on water and material cycles.

to five provinces and Metropolitan Manila.

ecological risk management for sustainable

An important feature of the project is the

The accelerated development, particularly infood, health and environmental security

periodic exchange of information from thethe northwestern part of the watershed, hasplanning in the lake’s watershed. Specifically,

Japanese and Filipino researchers with thetremendously changed the landscape and theit has four main objectives:1) to document thecommunities to validate traditional knowledge

larger ecosystem. In a span of ten years, fromcurrent levels and pathways of heavy metals

and reinforce them with scientific evidences to1993 to 2003, the forest cover was reduced

pollution in the aquatic resources of Laguna

improve their value in forewarning thefrom 31 percent to 24 percent, the agricultural

Lake; 2) to investigate the health condition of

stakeholders from impending ecological risks

areas increased from 17 percent to 21 percent

local residents and their perception of foodand environmental disasters.

and the built up areas increased from 15

risks; 3) to analyze the ecological effects ofpercent to 21 percent. Heavy metals, both ofgeogenic and anthropogenic origin, have beentosubsequent

ecosystem

Note: Laguna Lake is interchangeably used with Laguna de Bay, although the latter is more appropriate
for historical and cultural reasons.

detected in certain areas in the tributary rivers,in the lake and in the aquatic biota. Increasing
eutrophication has been observed and insevere cases has been the cause of several
instances of fishkills. The lake has become
shallower from an average depth of 2.8 metersin the seventies to its present average depth of
2.5 meters due to siltation and sedimentationand the accumulation of large volumes of solid
wastes. Of equal alarm is biological pollution
due to the invasion of non-native fish species
which has upset the food chain and thebiodiversity of the lake. Climate change
impacts, such as the unprecedented andprolonged flooding in the lakeshore towns
have further aggravated the risks on the lakebasin’s ecology.
In 2009, the research project, Managing
Environmental Risks to Food and Health
Security in the Laguna Lake Watershed, wasinitiated by a team of Japanese researches
and scientists under the umbrella of the
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature(RIHN) in collaboration with the University of
the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB),
University of the Philippines in Manila (UPM),
and the Laguna Lake Development Authority

Land use in Laguna de Bay Basins

3

A Report from a Former JICA Trainee
MR. AIBANSHNGAIN SWER (India)
Mr. Aibanshngain Swer participated in a JICA training course “Environmental
Education Focused on Fresh Water Environment” in FY 2007. He is currently
Assistant Soil and Water Conservation Officer, who belongs to Soil and Water
Conservation Department, Government of Meghalaya. Mr. Aibanshngain reports
the challenges one of India’s states is facing.
CHERRAPUNJEE - DESERT IN THE RAIN

Mr. Aibanshngain Swer

the annual burning of grasslands leaving nothrough the conservation of flora and fauna.

Cherrapunjee, located in the North Eastern

scope for new plants to regenerate, for crop

Drainage line treatment to support rain water

State of Meghalaya, India, is a small hill town

cultivation or grazing lands. Because of theharvesting structures, reducing surface runoff,

overlooking the plains of Bangladesh at anavailability of low grade coal, locals havepromoting ground water recharge andelevation from 1,300 to 1,400 m above mean

pursued Rat Hole form of coal mining thatrejuvenating the springs and aquifers aresea level. Officially called Sohra, believed tocreates low income employment and opens up

being done to compliment fisheries- based

be the original name, the area is rich in coal,source for water pollution.

livelihood activities.

limestone, minerals and was chosen by the

The state Government of Meghalaya with

To tackle the menace of deforestation,

British East India Company, as headquarters

the support of Government of India has

massive tree planting to cover the large tractsof the British Empire in this part of the world

recently started the Cherrapunjee Ecologicalof barren land with local plant species has

and eventually became the origin of the Khasi

Project-Restoration of Degraded Lands underbeen initiated and alternative, improved

alphabet, the language used by the Khasi tribe

Sohra Plateau, with the aim of ameliorating thescientific

who inhabit the region. Widely known as theecology and environment of Sohra Plateau,

consumption to ease the burden on forests

wettest place on Earth, Sohra, because of its

restoring degraded lands, strengthen village

were started. Livelihoods through Eco Tourism

position on the path of the South Westlevel institutions on Natural Resource

were started to tap the tourism potential andMonsoon has an average annual rainfall ofManagement and minimizing human activities

local tribes involved in tourism activities areabout 12,000mm with rainfall occurring over a

detrimental to the environment in order tobeing groomed through intensive training andperiod of 5-6 months and boast of many

create avenues for sustainable livelihood.

exposure visits to successful tourist

spectacular waterfalls, limestone caves andtourist circuits.

innovations

to

fuel

wood

In order to achieve these objectives, the Soil

destinations. The Sohra area is also home toand Water Conservation Department ofdwindling traditional healers who treat patients

Despite being so water-rich, the Sohra

Meghalaya immediately swung into action andthrough the use of locally available herbs andplateau suffers from acute water shortage

awareness programmes, specialized trainings

medicinal plant species. Encouraging

especially during the dry months. Thickto ensure public participation, management

protection and expansion of these species hasvegetation is found only on the steep slopes

and monitoring of the project was organized.

become a priority.

but with the current rate of shifting cultivation

School children were specially targeted and an

However, in spite of all these initiatives,and deforestation for fuel wood, they arearmy of BEE’s (Barefoot Environment

bottlenecks still abound. Experience shows

receding at an alarming pace and encroaching

Educators) was formed to identify, mobilizethat bringing together Government agencies,

into catchments of village, protected forest andand apply traditional knowledge and skills fortechnical expertise, funding resources andsacred groves. To compound the problem isthe development of their own communities

local champions can make a real andmeasurable difference. For the people ofSohra, only time will tell.
Message from Mr. Aibanshngain SwerAs Assistant Project Manager of the Project,
I have been personally involved right from theinitial stages of survey and projectization,
capacity building till the start of implementationof the project. However, because we still lacka lot in terms of knowledge and technology tosave surface runoff into lakes and reservoirs,
ILEC can play a pivotal role in supporting
similar initiatives by way of training, technology

Rainwater Harvesting Structure

4transfer and knowledge sharing.

“Lakes & Reservoirs:Research and Management” is the official

sound management of world’s lakes by addressing a wide range of

publication of ILEC. The Journal aims to promote environmentally soundmanagement issues of natural and artificial lakes from various angles tomanagement of natural and artificial lakes, consistent with sustainable

scientists, managers and communities, such as security of safe water

development policies. ILEC desires to facilitate international exchange ofand food, conservation of biodiversity, development of appropriate

research results on the management and conservation of lakes andmanagerial framework of institutions, policies and economies, and evenreservoirs.

more preservation of cultural values of lakes.
Language: English

The editorial committee consists of researchers and experts on lakes

Size: A4, Color: Black/White

and water management from North America, Europe, Pacific-rim, and

ISSN: 1320-5331

Asia. Readers from developing countries can access to free papers

Editor in Chief:
Walter Rast
(ILECScientificCommittee Member)

online through UN-FAO-AGORA (http://www.aginternetwork.org/en/) and
UNEP-OARE (http://www.oaresciences.org/en/).

Publisher: Wiley Blackwell
ILEC expects more contribution and subscription to the journal from
“Lakes & Reservoirs” is a quarterly journal being published since 1995.

around the world. For your paper submission, please use the online

Recently, the third issue of its seventeenths volume has been publishedsubmission system (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/lre). For yourin September 2012. The Journal publishes papers on research andinquiries about regular subscription, please visit the official journal

management activities of world’s lakes and reservoirs, including

website (http://:wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/lre).

developing countries. It aims to contribute to promoting environmentally

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If you are interested in any of the above articles, please visit the journal website <wielyonlinelibrary.com/journal/lre>.

Overview of ILEC Activities (2012 April − September)to international participants, in particular those from the Middle
April

and South America.

bDr. Nakamura, the Scientific Committee (Sci Com) Chairman

bDrs. Nakamura and Rast visited Sao Paulo, Brazil andvisited Africa to organize an ILBM seminar at UNEP Head

Guadalajara, Mexico. In Sao Paulo, they participated in an

Office in cooperation with the Indian and African ILBM focalinternational symposium on Enhancing Water Management

points (April 23), and participated in East Africa Great Lakes

Capacity in a Changing World to discuss a wide range of

Observatory (EAGLO) workshop to present ILBM platform

global water issues, which created a better recognition of theactivities taking place in a number of lake basins around thesignificance of ILBM concept among scientists of the world

world (April 24-27).

(June 25-26). In Guadalajara, they attended the Stakeholders
Workshop of Lerma-Chapala ’s Sub-Basins.

MaybDr. Nakamura and Sci Com Vice-Chairman Walter Rast
attendedthe

GlobalEnvironment

Facility(GEF)-

Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP)
meeting in the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris to discuss core
activities of lake component in TWAP-Full Size Projectscheduled to start at the end of this year (May 3-4). After that,ILEC worked on preparatory activities for the FSP from midMay through September, including revision of lake basin
assessment methodology and promotion of dialogues withpotential cooperation organizations.
June
bILEC participated in the United Nations Conference on

6

Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

bSecretary General Toshiaki Kagatsume visited Daegu, South(June 20-22) to disseminate the results of the 14th World Lake

Korea to participate in the International Conference toConference (Austin Declaration). At the ILEC-Shiga Prefectural

Celebrate the Host of the 7th World Water Forum in 2015 (JuneGovernment joint exhibition booth located in the Japan21) and Japan-Korea Seminar for Sustainable Basin

Pavilion, the Secretariat conducted a public relations

Management (June 22) to present activities of ILEC and an

campaign, distributing various publications of ILEC, including aoverview of Shiga Prefectural Government’s initiatives for the

newly-published primer for the development of ILBM platform,

Lake Biwa-Yodo River Basin management.

AugustbILEC co-organized KODOMO Ramsar in Lake Biwa withRamsar Center Japan (August 4-5), and conducted the 13 th
JICA-sponsored training program “Environment Education
Focused on Freshwater Environment” started (August 24October 11).

JulybILEC co-hosted the 4th World Lakes Student Conference inOtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan (July 5-13) with World Water
and Climate Network (WWCN) as a side event of the 2012ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting held for the first time in Asia.
b ILEC and Shiga University conducted ILBM-NASBI
Consultative Visit to Thailand and Malaysia (August 28 September 5). In Malaysia, Drs. Nakamura, Rast, andAssistant Coordinator Yasue Hagihara presented on Integrated
Lentic Lotic Management (ILLBM), TWAP and ILBM-NASBI
under the International Biodiversity Conservation Project,
respectively.

b ILEC and Shiga University invited two Nepalese
representatives from National Lake Conservation Development
Committee (NLCDC) and co-organized the Integrated Lake
Basin Management-National Lake Strategic Development for
Biodiversity Improvement (ILBM-NASBI) Kickoff Workshops in
Shiga, Kyoto, Fukui and Ishikawa Prefectures, Japan, which
included sight visits to local biodiversity conservation activities(July 22-27). The whole objective of the workshop was toexchange information and opinions between Japaneseenvironmentalists and Nepalese counterparts to help the

September

NLCDC develop the Nepali National Lake Strategic PlanbDrs. Nakamura and Rast gave keynote and memorial lectures

focused on biodiversity conservation in the Himalayan alpine

to commemorate the late Dr. Mohan Kodarkar, former

lakes.

Scientific Committee Member, at the International Conference
on Urban Lakes in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (September 78)

7

bDrs. Nakamura and Rast participated in International Waters

bFinally, the Secretariat is currently working on the site selection

Science Conference in Bangkok, together with Senior Director

for the 15th World Lake Conference, tentatively scheduled inSatoru Matsumoto to discuss GEF activities in international

2014. The final decision for the conference site will be made bywater areas, specially, on enhancing the ways to strengthen

the end of this year.

science-policy dialogue (September 24-26). Dr. Matsumoto
also attended TWAP Preparatory Meeting there (September
27).

Activities of ILEC (April − September 2012)
Apri

July

23

ILBM Seminar at UNEP HQ (Nairobi, Kenya)

8−13

the 2012 ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting (Shiga)

24−27

Participation in EAGLO Workshop (Nairobi, Kenya)

22−27

ILBM-NASBI Workshop : In collaboration with Shiga
University (Shiga, Kyoto, Ishikawa and Fukui, Japan)

May
3−4

Participation in TWAP-PPG Meeting (Paris, France)

August
4−5

June
20−22

Participation in UN Conference on Sustainable Development(Rio+20): Joint participation with Shiga Prefecture (Rio de

22

Japan)
24 (-Oct 11)

Janeiro, Brazil)

13th Environment Education Focused o FreshwaterInternational Conference in celebration of the 2015 World

Environment:Commissioned by Japan International

Water Forum (Daegu, Korea)
22
24−25
28−29

KODOMO Ramsar in Lake Biwa 2012 : Jointly organizedwith Japan Ramsar Center, Shiga Prefecture, etc (Shiga,

Cooperation Agency (Shiga, Japan etc)

Japan-Korea Joint Seminar for the Sustainable River and28 (-Sep 5)

Lake Baisn Management (Daegu, Korea)

ILBM-NASBI Consultative Visit to South East Asia : In

Participation in International Academy Panel (Sao Pauro,collaboration with Shiga University (Several cities in Thailand

Brazil)and Malaysia)

4th

STAKEHOLDERSWORKSHOP

OF

CHAPALA’S SUB-BASINS (Chapala, Mexico)

LERMASeptember
7−8International Conference on Urban Lakes (Mumbai, India)

24−26International Waters Science Conference (IWSC 2012,27

TWAP-FSP Preparatory Meeting (Bangkok, Thailand)

Bangkok, Thailand)

INTERNATIONAL LAKE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE FOUNDATION (ILEC)

8