ISSN 0912-7402

No.69 : March 2022

The 18th
World Lake Conference
Held Virtually

As we adapt to changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the World
Lake Conference is not exceptional. The 18th World Lake Conference(WLC18) which was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 inGuanajuato, Mexico, a beautiful city registered as a World Heritage Site,
was postponed for a year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, andwas finally held virtually on November 9-11, 2021.
Along with the theme of WLC18, “Governance, Resilience andSustainability of Lakes for a Better Society,” six thematic sessions,special sessions, ILBM workshops, and Spanish sessions wereorganized. Some members from the ILEC Scientific Committee madethematic keynote presentations in their areas of expertise. Taking
advantage of a virtual event, participants could easily access the multiple
sessions and find the programs they missed afterwards by VOD (VideoOn Demand). The total number of registered participants was 1,032
from 58 countries, with more participants from Asian countries thanfrom the neighboring Latin American countries. This result can be
unique to a virtual event. The Conference also recognized the presenceof many youth and women presenters, and that the broad range ofparticipants transcend generations and gender.
The three-day online conference concluded with thedraft of the Guanajuato Declaration at the closing
ceremony read by Prof. Walter Rust, Chair of the ILEC
Scientific Committee. A declaration is issued at each
World Lake Conference by the organizing committee,
summarizing the contributed views of the participants.
The declaration highlighted the importance of lakes
and wetlands, which account for most of the freshwater
resources on the planet, for sustainable lake basin
management and included some clauses focused on Latin
America. One of the recommendations is that the concept
of Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) should betransfused to deal with the interlinked water systems

IN
THIS
ISSUE

comprising lakes, rivers, and coastal basins, otherwise referred to as
lentic-lotic basins, which have yet to be addressed fully within theframeworks of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and
Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as exemplified with the
Lerma River–Lake Chapala-Santiago River Basin Case in Mexico.
While particular in Latin America, it calls for the involvement ofindigenous people from the planning process in the lake basin
management because they play a pivotal role with the inheritance ofhistorical experiences. At this conference, there were many sessions on
Latin America, including sessions in Spanish, which showed the highlevel of awareness of the region in lake basin management.
Thanks to the local organizing committee and all the people involved
and who participated in the conference, we managed to overcome thechallenge of holding the conference online for the first time in thehistory of WLC. It has become a meaningful and fruitful opportunity toshare experiences and exchange information for multi-stakeholders oflakes as has been emphasized in the past WLCs.
More reports on the other program are on the following pages.

■ The 18th World Lake Conference Held Virtually■ UNEP-ILEC Special Session on Mainstreaming Lakes and Wetlands■ High School Session■ ILBM Workshop■ Citizen Participation in Lake Basin Management (Shiga Session)■ Closing-Pass to WLC19 in Balaton, Hungary■ FY2020/2021 JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program■ 2021 JICA President Award■ Renewal of MOU with UNEP for Potential Cooperation■ Report from a Former JICA Training Participant■ Letter from Scientific Committee (Kenya)■ Our Activities Overview (FY2021)■ Board Members Reorganized■ UNEXPECTED PASSAGE OF OUR COLLEAGUE

1UNEP-ILEC Special Session on Mainstreaming Lakes and Wetlands
In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), ILEC organized a special session entitled “Mainstreaming
Lakes and Wetlands in the Global Water Agenda and SDGs”. It wasparticipated by representatives of key national governments andinternational organizations sharing the same concern with UNEP and
ILEC for the need to bring sharper focus to the world’s lakes andwetlands as subjects of critical importance in the global water agenda and
SDGs. This special session was intended to serve for building the
momentum toward the upcoming global fora on water and environment,i.e., the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly(UNEA5) and the Nineth World Water Forum (WWF9) in early 2022.
It began with a message from the Executive Director of the UNEP,
followed by two presentations by members of the ILEC ScientificCommittee from Australia and Brazil, highlighting the State of world’s

High School Session

A session on the exchange between Shiga, Japan, andGuanajuato-Chapala, Mexico high school students under thecommon theme “What we can do for lake conservation and water
resources” was held online on the weekend prior to the Conference.
The main objective was to raise awareness of how essential lakes
are for our livelihood, understand diversities, and enhancecommunication skills through presentations and discussion
regarding the conservation of water bodies and their future in ourenvironments.
The students divided into five teams made presentations for
introducing their familiar lakes and dams. The similarities,
differences, and problems on each lake were shared, helping them
deepen their knowledge of lakes and both countries. The topic
regarding the removal activities of invasive species and the role offreshwater for tourism gave the most attention.
Each team suggested practical actions for lake conservation andwater resources at their level in the discussion. Their opinions were
not only simple activities but also extended to environmental
education to raise the awareness of the valuable water resources interms of cultural, economic, and environmental aspects. In addition,
it was impressive that students recognized the importance ofreflecting their proposals into their activities with their related ones.
Prof. Sandra Azevedo, ILEC Scientific Committee member
contributed to the session as the commentator from the organizing
committee of WLC18. She mentioned that the younger generation
has much more knowledge than the older generation that lakes are
not simply storages of freshwater but vulnerable and complex
natural providing water resources for our lives. The session ended2

lakes and emerging challenges. Statements were also presented byinternational organizations of governmental and non-governmental
affiliation including an international professional association who
presented their respective views on the need for them to jointly show
their concern about the state of world’s lakes and wetlands, and agreed to
the need for joint actions. Finally, high ranking national government
officials from Latin America, namely Peru and El Salvador, and from
Asia, namely Japan and Indonesia, echoed their concern and support for
the aim of this special session, i.e., the need for mainstreaming lakes andwetlands in the global water agenda and SDGs. Finally, a short video
clip was presented by a member of ILEC Scientific Committee,
highlighting the scenes of the International Webinar held in October 2020
on the closely related subject focusing on Asian and Africa. A summary
video clip of this special session is uploaded on our website.

with her message that the student’s continued efforts for thesustainable utilization of lakes give us hope for a better future.

ILBM Workshop
Over the three days, an International Workshop on Integrated
Lake Basin Management (ILBM), which ILEC aims to promoteworldwide, was held to share the results and challenges of the pastefforts in Asia and Africa, where some progress has been made, andthe current status and prospects of the efforts in Latin America,
where further promotion is desired.
On the first day of the workshop, we introduced the concept of
ILBM, reviewed the activities in Kenya and Nepal where ILBM
has been supported for more than a decade, and had in-depth
discussions on the achievements and challenges.
On the second day, we discussed ILBM initiatives in the Escabá
Reservoir (Argentina), the lakes of Amatitlan (Guatemala), andChapala (Mexico) in the context of the conference held in a Latin
American country. By sharing the status of the initiatives andexchanging information, it
was observed that theorganizations playing acentral role in the initiatives
are cooperating to improve
the initiatives.
□On the last day of theworkshop, the ILEC ScientificCommittee members pointed

out the possibilities and challenges of policy responses, including
ILBM, to the emerging issue of global climate change, which ishaving a serious impact on lakes. To conclude the three-day
workshop, Dr. Sergio Silva, Vice President of the University of
Guanajuato, presented a comprehensive view on the importance ofintegrating ILBM into the current water management policies for
the Lerma-Chapala-Santiago river and lake system, which is one of
the most important water resources in Mexico.
The key points that emerged during this workshop formed amajor part of the Guanajuato Declaration that was subsequently
adopted.

Citizen Participation in Lake Basin Management (Shiga Session)
The session was held with the aim of disseminating Lake Biwa’s
efforts to the world as a case study of lake environmental
conservation. The session featured presentations on Shiga

Prefecture’s efforts from the soap movement to the formulation of
the Mother Lake Goals (MLGs) being a citizen-driven pursuit as
the Lake Biwa SDG goals, as well as the conservation activities ofyoung people in Lake Biwa.
Ms. Stephanie Smith, a citizen activist in the field of lakes, theprincipal of Zephyr Mangata Consulting who participated as acommentator, observed that “Lake Biwa’s efforts for citizen
participation can be a wonderful lesson for others in different partsof the world. In the development of their activities, it is important
to inspire others to take action.”
This session, which was planned and managed by university
students working in the prefecture, provided an opportunity for the
young generation to connect with the world and to accelerate theiractivities and citizen participation in lake conservation.

Closing – Pass to WLC19 in Balaton, Hungary
After the 3-day program, WLC18 was concluded on November
11. At the Ibaraki Kasumigaura Award Ceremony, two presentersfrom India and Kenya were honored by Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
At the closing ceremony, Dr. Sergio Silva, Vice President of the
University of Guanajuato, announced the next World Lake
Conference will be held in 2023 in Hungary with Lake Balaton as ahost lake. Dr. Gábor Molnár from Lake Balaton Development
Coordination Agency introduced Lake Balaton and delivered awelcome message as a representative of the host organization.
Lake Balaton, located in western Hungary, is the largest
freshwater lake in Central Europe and the venue of the 3rd World
Lake Conference in 1988. Lake Balaton is a shallow lake with anaverage depth of 3.2 meters and it extends in the east-west with asurface area of 600 square kilometers. The surrounding area isregistered as a Ramsar site to conserve the rich flora and fauna of
the ecosystem. Balatonfüred is a town situated on the northernshore of Lake Balaton and known as a hot spring resort. The
number of tourists has increased year by year from all over theworld. We hope the pandemic will have settled down by the time tohave the next World Lake Conference on-site at the beautiful place.

©Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency

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FY2020/2021 JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program
In the JICA-KCCP training program “Integrated Lake, River andafter participating in the activity.

Coastal Basin Management for Sustainable Use and Preservation of

The training hours were shorter than in previous years, and theWater Resources”, normally technical government officials fromonline lectures were limited to three hours a day due to the timedeveloping countries visit Japan as program participants from summer

difference, so it was necessary to narrow down the lecture content. We

to autumn to receive training for about two months. However, due toprovided offline self-study materials so that the participants could

the pandemic of COVID-19, we decided to conduct the program

learn the essence of the training. We also enhanced individual

remotely.

guidance to enable participants to create action plans that incorporate

The remote training was conducted from January 25 to February
12, 2021, and from September 6 to September 24, 2021, for FY2020
and FY2021, respectively, combining online and offline lectures.

the content of this training and to provide advice tailored to eachparticipant.
In addition, follow-up lectures for self-study materials were

We had a total of five participants from Albania (1), Bangladesh

conducted to make it easier for participants to understand the material(2), and Botswana (2), as well as one observer from Nepal in thewell. Also, in the FY2021 program, about 30 minutes before the

FY2020 program. We also had eight participants from Armenia (1),program, a pre-session was set aside for additional activities such as

Bangladesh (1), Botswana (1), Cuba (1), Malaysia (3), and Zambia (1)presentations by observers and discussions with them.

in the FY2021 program. Since observers were widely recruited, sixPart 2 of this training, which is scheduled from January 18 toobservers joined the program, including two participants who had

February 1, will be a joint program with both FY2021 and FY2022

previously participated in the training. The returnee participants

participants. It is also conducted online, including virtual tours of theshared their experiences, including the implementation of action plans

various facilities supposed to be conducted on-site.

2021 JICA President Award
Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, ILEC Vice President, received the 17th JICA

contributions to human resource development and social development in

President’s Award, at a ceremony held at the headquarters of Japandeveloping countries through international cooperation projects. Dr. Nakamura

International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on December 9, 2021. The award ishas been in charge of JICA’s subject-specific (JICA-KCCP) training program

presented to individuals and organizations that have made significant

on watershed management for 32 years and has supervised more than 310
participants from about 60 countries. The training program is structured basedon the six pillars of Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM), and throughhis witty lectures, guidance, and advice on the preparation of participants’
action plans, he has earned the trust of the participants. That has led to thedevelopment of the ILEC-JICA training participants network even after the
training. In addition to this training program, he is also involved in a wide
range of JICA projects, such as the regional understanding program for thedevelopment of JICA’s Graduate School of Development Studies,country-specific training, and the seminar for industry, government, andacademia in cooperation with JICA Nicaragua office, contributing to capacity

JICA-ILEC Follow-up Program in Kenya, 2019building in lake basin management around the world.

Renewal of MOU with UNEP for Potential Cooperation
We have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forand strengthening of training programs. We have conducted thethe implementation of joint projects with the Science Division ofinternational webinar and the UNEP-ILEC special session at

UNEP, which expired at the end of 2021. In this renewal, we have

18th World Lake Conference, and will further promote theadded new cooperation frameworks such as mainstreaming of lakes

mainstreaming of lakes based on the new MOU with UNEP.

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Report from a Former JICA
Training Participant
Supriyanto (Indonesia)

Directorate of Inland Water and Mangrove Rehabilitation
Indonesia Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Challenges and Solutions for Lake Management in Indonesia
A lake is not only a store of water in the low-lying area, but a lake is an

animal husbandry and tourism. Many of their economic activities are notecosystem of inland water in the basin that has an interaction between

environmentally friendly which causes lake pollution. For example, a lot of

upstream and downstream. I always remember this concept since I had an

upstream land in Lake Limboto has been converted into corn farming

opportunity to be a participant of training in Japan in 2019, which focused

because it is more economically profitable. To deal with this pressure, theon Integrated Lake Basin Management Approach (ILBM). ILBM has been

government is empowering the community through a business transfer

recognized in Indonesia policies for long time, but the implementation has

programme, in which an effort to divert community economic activities

yet to meet national expectation.

that are considered damaging or have the potential to disrupt the lake

I have been working in the department of lake degradation control since

ecosystem. The targets of these activities are farmers who cultivate land

2016. During this period, there were many programmes that had been

without conservation rules and fishermen who carry out the floating cagewidely implemented by the government to tackle lake degradation.

fish cultivation. There are three approaches for implementing these

However, those programmes have yet to answer the problems of lake

programmes as follows: 1) silvofishery is a model that combines fishery

management. Therefore, I summarize the general challenges and solutions

activities through biofloc techniques (minimal use of water and land) andof lake management programmes in Indonesia as follows:

forestry through planting economically profitable tree species; 2)

1. Poverty

silvopasture is a model that combines livestock with many benefits (meat,

The insufficiency of basic human needs causes poor people to use

milk, and methane gas) and planting trees as a source of food for thenatural resources beyond reasonable limits. This also applies to lakes thatlivestock; and 3) agroforestry is a model by planting short-term crops

are widely used by people to earn a living such as agriculture, fisheries,(corn, sweet potatoes and spices) and planting long-term tree species.

Silvopasture in Lake Maninjau

2. Greed

Silvofishery in Lake Rawa Pening

Indonesia collaborates with Japan to tackle this issue. To follow up that

Many activities using lakes exceed the carrying capacity of lakes tobilateral cooperation, Indonesia has dispatched human resources to learn

absorb pollutants. This probably happens because of the efforts tolake management in Japan, either by field visit or by online. Moreover,minimize production costs and to maximize profits by disposing of waste

both countries are working together to accelerate conservation in Lakeand garbage into lakes. For example, fishery in Lake Maninjau has

Rawa Pening and Lake Tondano.

exceeded the level of the carrying capacity as a result if which the lake

Lake management is not an easy process because of involving many

water has become heavily polluted. In anticipation of this issue, thestakeholders. The presence of Japan through ILEC-JICA could be a bridge

government and the university conducted water quality assessment tothat connects lake authorities and lake users to discuss together sustainablecalculate the carrying capacity of the lake as the scientific basis to control

lake management. The training which has been successfully carried out bylake water pollution. That was legally stipulated in the local government

ILEC-JICA was able to raise public awareness on the importance of lake

regulation. Lake Toba is the only lake in Indonesia which has regulation of

ecosystem. Therefore, we expect Japan to continue the contribution of lake

carrying capacity.

conservation programmes in Indonesia, especially in reducing poverty for

3. Inadequate management

local people through the grant scheme so that people are willing to switch

Some of the natural lakes in Indonesia are facing serious degradation,
but the capacity of Indonesia to solve those problems is limited. Therefore,

from unsustainable economic activities to eco-friendly economic activities
for the sake of sustainable lake ecosystem.

5

Letter from Scientiﬁc Committee (Kenya)

Lakes and their role in the Achievementof Africa’s Agenda 2063
Daniel Olago

Professor, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) & Department of Geology, Univ. of Nairobi

Africa’s Agenda 63, Goal No 1.7, is to achieve environmentally

good enough quality forsustainable and climate resilient economies and communities.

irrigation agriculture andHow do the continent’s lakes fit into this? The priority areas forindustrial uses. Given thegoal no. 1.7 are: 1.7.1 Sustainable consumption patterns; 1.7.2

rising level of water demand from the already dense urban and to a

Biodiversity, conservation and sustainable natural resource

lesser extent rural human populations that occupy the lake basins,

management; 1.7.3 Water security; 1.7.4 Climate resilience andit is prudent that the water is protected from pollution and isnatural disasters, and; 1.7.5 Renewable energy.

judiciously managed so as not to affect the natural balance andOur lakes range from among those with the highest biodiversity

health of the lakes. The recent sustained rise of lake levels inin the world (large and deep lakes e.g. Tanganyika, Malawi/Nyassa,

many of the Eastern Rift Valley lakes over the past ten years,

Victoria), to low biodiversity types (relatively smaller and shallow

particularly in Kenya, has brought to the fore the reality that lakes

lakes e.g. Naivasha, Bogoria and man-made reservoirs such as

need to be taken into account when considering issues of climate

Kariba, Chivero and Volta). These lakes tend to be normallyresilience and natural disasters (priority area 1.7.4). Major

surrounded by dense human populations who derive essential

infrastructure damage, displacement of human populations,

goods and services from them, but they are under increasingchanges in littoral ecosystems and fish dynamics, adverse impacts

pressures from various direct uses and cascading environmental

on lake-centred tourism, among others, have been occasioned bydegradation and pollution from their watersheds which combined

the rise in lake levels. It is, therefore, critical, that lakes are put atare threatening their ecosystem health and ability to sustain thethe centre of long-term planning in order to contribute positively

provision of ecosystem goods and services, thereby affecting

to the targets to have at least 90% of fisherfolk practicing climate

human wellbeing and livelihoods.

resilient production systems, and to reduce deaths, displacements

A number of targets for 2063 have been set for each of theseand property loss from natural and man-made disasters andpriority areas. For priority area 1.7.1, companies situated along theclimate extreme events by at least 60% by 2035. The fifth and lastlakeshores or along their influent rivers can implement sustainablepriority area under goal 1.7 is 1.7.5 – Renewable energy. In order

practices which adhere to statutory limits for environmental

to raise the percentage share of renewable energy in the energy

shedding of waste products, while communities, working together

mix, the role of lakes in power generation – such as the Shire riverwith government and other agencies, can play a key role inwhich flows from Lake Malawi and the Volta dam – should beenvironmental conservation and water use efficiency practices as

considered in the long-term in light of the potential effects ofthey eke out their livelihoods in the agricultural, fisheries, water,

climate change on lake hydrology and, consequently, sustained

and other sectors. Under priority area 1.7.2, countries should

and reliable power production.

implement the restoration of forest and vegetation cover to the

It is clear that lakes play a central role in the achievement of a1963 level as specified, while concomitantly reversing land

number of the targets of Africa’s Agenda 2063, as well as thedegradation, stemming loss of biodiversity and natural habitats,shorter term Sustainable Development Goals. In this respect,and expanding and protecting parks and conservancies. Suchtherefore, the Africa Union can play a leading part in bringing theactions will ensure that lakes are replenished with clean and safe

issues of lakes to the next session of the United Nations

water, thereby protecting the aquatic biodiversity. In relation toEnvironment Assembly so as to properly mainstream lakes in thepriority area 1.7.3 on water security, many of the lakes may notglobal water agenda for the enduring benefit and wellbeing of

have water that is directly potable, but some are used for drinking

humans and the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that theywater supplies, after treatment, such as in the case of Kisumu cityinteract with on a daily basis.

on the shores of Lake Victoria. Most of the lakes have water of6Our Activities Overview（FY2021）●May

12 Annual Meeting on Joint Activities with UNEP (Web)●June

4 Receipt of a donation from Kinki Rokin Bank
15 Receipt of a donation from Kansai Mirai Bank, Limited【PIC ❶】●September 6-24 JICA-KCCP Training Program Part1 (Web)●October

20 WLC19 Preparatory Meeting with Lake Balaton Development Council (Web)27 WLC18 2nd Domestic Committee Meeting (Web)●November 9-11 The 18th World Lake Conference (Web, Guanajuato)24-26 The first Indonesia Workshop (Web)25-26 Participation in TROPLIMNO 2021 as panelists (Web)●December 2,15,16 The second Indonesia Workshop (Web)12 Hosting Parent-Child Workshop for the future of Lake Biwa with Kinki Rokin Bankand a local NPO (Web)【PIC ❶】【PIC ❷】

17 JICA Regional Understanding Program (Kusatsu)【PIC ❷】22 Renewal of MOU with United Nation Enviroment Programmes (UNEP)
2022●January 18-2/1 JICA-KCCP Training Program Part2 (Web)~Board Members Reorganized~● Trustees

The new Board Members of ILEC as of June 11, 2021 are as follows:

Misuzu Aoki

Senior Research Officer, Wetlands International Japan

Misuzu Asari

Associate Professor, Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies

Yasuhisa Ishikawa

Director General, Department of Lake Biwa and the Environment, Shiga Prefectural Government

Yoshihisa Shimizu

Professor, Director of Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto
University

Noriko Takamura

Guest researcher, National Institute for Environmental Studies

Kazuhiko Matsui

Manager of International Business / New Business Project Office, Hiyoshi Corporation

Saburo Matsui

Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University

Shinya Yamaguchi

Manager of Business Strategy Division, HORIBA Advanced Techno Corporation● Directors

The new Board Members of ILEC as of June 11, 2021 are as follows:

Kazuhiko Takemoto(President)

President, Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan (OECC);
Former Vice-Minister for Global Environment, Ministry of the Environment

Masahisa Nakamura(Vice President)※

Professor by Special Appointment,
Research Center for Sustainability and Environment, Shiga University

Shinji Ide

Professor, Faculty of Environmental Science, the University of Shiga Prefecture

Eri Nakajima(Eri Hayakawa)Vice President, Children’s Future Society;
Former Vice Governor, Nagano Prefecture;
Former Director, Office of Global Environment and Decarbonizing Innovation Research, Ministry of the Environment

Kenzo Hiroki

Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies;

Nobuhiko Miwa

Senior Technical Director, Department of Lake Biwa and the Environment, Shiga Prefectural Government

Yoshika Yamamoto(Yoshika Ohori)

Professor, Department of International Tourism, Heian Jogakuin (St. Agnes’) University※ full-time● Auditors

The new Board Members of ILEC as of June 11, 2021 are as follows:

Toshiyuki Kaneko

Certified Public Accountant;
Licensed Tax Accountant

Kaoru Nakanishi

Operating Officer, Kansai Mirai Bank, Limited● Advisor
Hironori Hamanaka

Special Research Advisor, Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES); Former Vice-Minister for Global
Environment, Ministry of the Environment; Former President, ILEC

7

Prof. Salif Diop, a member of the ILEC Scientiﬁc Committee, passed away on 27th December, 2021.

Walter Rast, a dear colleague and Chair of the ILEC Scientiﬁc Committee, forwards the following eulogy.

UNEXPECTED PASSAGE OF OUR COLLEAGUE
It is with considerable sadness that I report the demise of a dear friend and colleague,
Professor Salif Diop, who passed away on December 27, 2021 , in Dakar, Senegal, following ashort illness. He has been a member of the Scientiﬁc Committee of the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC)
since 2010 and his departure leaves a void, both professionally and personally, in the ranks of the committee. I also had thehonor and privilege of working with him during our tenure together at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
His professional expertise speaks for itself. After obtaining his state doctorate in physical geography and coastal
geomorphology at Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, France, he was a senior Fulbright Scholar at the Rosenstiel Schoolof Marine and Atmospheric Sciences in the USA. His range of expertise blossomed thereafter, including extensive experiencein various aspects of freshwater assessment and marine issues, coastal oceanography, and sustainable management anddevelopment, all contributing to ILEC s continuing global mission within his role as a Scientiﬁc Committee member.
In addition to his ILEC activities, he was the Western African Vice President and subsequently active Governing
Committee member of the African Academy of Science (AAS). He represented the AAS on the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), including signiﬁcantly contributing to the IPCC 54th Session. He also was instrumental in promoting
ILEC s Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) platform in the western African region.
On a personal level, Prof. Diop was an outstanding gentleman, always a bright, enthusiastic, humorous and amiable
colleague. It was always a delight to jointly explore the many countries and regions in which ILEC had lake-related projects
or activities, particularly within the umbrella of his contagious sense of wonderment and enjoyment. Indeed, his demise is ashock to all ILEC Scientiﬁc Committee members, many of whom, including me, cannot yet fathom his loss. We only know that
his departure represents a considerable professional and personal loss that will take some time for us to fully comprehend.
In closing, I can only say farewell and wish my dear friend and colleague a happy passage on his journey to eternity.

Walter Rast, ChairILEC Scientific Committee

Thank You for Your Support!
●In the Fiscal Year 2021, ILEC received donations from the following organizations

Kinki RokinSHIGA CHUOU SHINKIN BANK●In the Fiscal Year 2021, ILEC received sponsorships from the following supporting member organizations

Your donation could provide funding to our activities on the world lake environmental conservation.
If you are interested, please visit our webpage at https://www.ilec.or.jp/en/support/

INTERNATIONAL LAKE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE FOUNDATION (ILEC)

1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu-city Shiga 525-0001, JAPAN
Tel:+81-77-568-4567 / Fax:+81-77-568-4568 /Website: www.ilec.or.jp / Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilec.english*The latest issue and back issues of this newsletter are also available on our website above.

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