ISSN 0912-7410

No.44 October 2003

NEWSLETTER
International Lake Environment Committee=Promoting Sustainable Lake Management=This Newsletter is also available in Japanese.

1 0 t h Wo r l d L a k e C o n f e r e n c e - A R e s o u n d i n g S u c c e s s
he 10th World Lake Conference wasTjointly sponsored by ILEC and the Greataround the world. Recently launched atheld at DePaul University in Chicago,

Lakes Commission on June 24, andthe 3rd World Water Forum in March 2003

Illinois USA, during June 23-26, 2003.

included the participation of the Governors

in Japan, development of the World Lake

Holding the conference jointly with theand other government officials of both the

Vision was sponsored by ILEC, the United

46 Annual Conference of the International

Shiga and Ibaraki Prefecture. This special

Nations Environment Programme and the

Association for Great Lakes Research

symposium was a follow-up to the World

Shiga Prefectural Government. Walter(IAGLR), the conference was a resounding

Lake Conference held in Michigan, USA,

Rast of the ILEC Scientifi c Committee

success, drawing more than 650 registrants

in 1986, focusing on Great Lakes issues

also served as the Program Co-Chair offrom the United States, Canada, Japan andwith relevance for lakes around the world,

the joint 10th World Lake Conference

about 28 other countries around the world.

including toxic chemicals, water quantity,

and 46 th International Association for

It attracted over 600 abstracts, comprisingand alien invasive species. A technicalGreat Lakes Research Conference.

45 individual technical sessions as well as

session also was held on the World LakeT h e n e x t Wo r l d L a k e C o n f e r e n c ean extensive poster session. A feature of

Vision, including discussion of its relevanceis scheduled to be held in Nairobi,

the conference was a special symposiumfor lake and reservoir management efforts

Kenya in either the year 2005 or 2006.

th

In
This
Issue

• Integration of ILEC Projects• Wise Use of Lagoon Wetlands• World Lake Conference session• Indonesian Lake Forum• Manila Workshop• Lakes of the World - Laguna de Bay• 12th Biwako Prize for Ecology• Executive Summary Translated• Environmental Education Program• Forthcoming Meetings
1

Integration of ILEC’s major current projects
By S.E. Jørgensen, Chairman of
ILEC’s Scientific Committee

included in LW and the information gained

successfully the water quality, or at leastin RLM will inevitably improve ourto stop the deterioration of the water

overview of the state of the world’s lake inquality. It implies that LW provides “theLEC has launched three major projects

LW. The inputs from RLM will certainly belessons learnt” on which actions andduring the last three years: World Lakevery clear in the next presentation of LW

long-term strategies that are working

Vision (WLV), Lake Watch (LW) andin Nairobi in year 2005. Seven threats arein which context- information that is

the Review of Lake Management (RLM)

identified in LW and the idea behind LW

of great importance for the next WLV,

for 14 GEF supported lake projects andis to follow the water quality parameterswhich probably will be presented at the

14 non-GEF supported lake projects.

associated with these threats. Chapter two

11 th conference of Lake and Reservoir

The three projects are highly integrative.

in WLV presents the same threats, althoughManagement in Nairobi in 2005.

RLM will, to a certain extent, be based onthey are formulated slightly differently.

I

WLV. Particularly, the seven principles
of sound lake management, the eight
immediate action proposals and theT

he objectives of LW are not only toT

he information on lessons learnt– what is working and what is notfollow the trends in certain water

working – will obviously be also be very

proposed long-term strategies, can bequality parameters but also to identify

useful in the RLM. So, very fortunately,used as evaluation criteria for the projects

if immediate actions and long term lake

ILEC’s three major current projects

and should be refl ected in the briefs ofmanagement strategies as presented

demonstrate reciprocal synergistic effects.

the lakes. Many RLM lakes are also inin WLV have been able to improve

IAGLR Business Lunch at the World Lake Conference
Finnish participant Seppo Hellsten

spawning fishes such as northern pike. Also

projects of lake water level regulation.

gives a report of the topic of interest

some changes in wetland bird colonies

After the change of Finnish Water Act

to him during the Conference

were found as a consequence of habitat

in 1995, there was a tendency to takechange. Small changes in lake water levelalso other water users than hydropower

ater levels and biota relationships

led to a cut in the fl ood peak on the St

production and fl ood protection intoW

were discussed actively in a specific

Lawrence River by several metres, which

account. Aquatic macrophytes are usedsession chaired by Dr. Susan Doka. Most

has altered permanently whole wetlandcommonly as indicators of ecologicalof the presentations were focused on water

ecosystems near the city of Montreal.

status of lakes, because they are sensitive

level regulation of Lake Ontario, which

Future goals of Lake Ontario regulation

for water level regulation and refl ect

started almost five decades ago to eliminate

include development of a comprehensive

also the general status of shorelines

the harmful floods of St Lawrence River.

model to understand complex systems offrom the point of view of recreational

Despite relatively small (less than 50 cm)

water level regulation and habitats without

users. Recently implemented EU Water

changes in water level fluctuation range

forgetting the users of watercourses.

Framework Directive will emphasize theimportance of aquatic macrophytes as oneof Lake Ontario, signifi cant changes in2

wetland habitat quality took place in the

The session included also an overview oflake causing a lower production of spring

Finnish studies related to developmentof the key biological quality elements.

Lake Basin Management Initiative Project - Manila WorkshopThe 2 nd Regional Experience andthe ground from Adelina Santos-Borja andLessons Learned Workshop of theeveryone at the Lake Laguna Development

ILEC-executed GEF-MSP Lake BasinManagement Initiative Project was held in
Manila, Philippines from 1-4 September

Authority.”TFor readers who were not able to attend
the workshop, the “Experience andLessons Learned Briefs” prepared byconsultants for each lake are available

he fi rst day of the workshop began

for download at http://www.worldlakes.

with presentations from dignitaries

org/workshops/asia.asp ILEC would be

brought together representatives from Lakesuch as the Hon. Elisea G. Gozun,

most grateful to anyone who could take

Biwa (Japan), Laguna de Bay (Philippines),

Secretary of the Dept. of Environment andthe time to read and comment on any of

Lake Xingkai/Khanka (China/Russia), Lake

Natural Resources, the Hon. Augusto H.

these briefs. An electronic forum has been

Dianchi (China), Tonle Sap (Cambodia),Baculio, Representative and Chair of theset up at http://www.worldlakes.org/dial

Lake Toba (Indonesia), Lake Chilika

Committee on Ecology and Dr. Robertogue.asp and everyone is encouraged to(India) and the Bhoj Wetland (India) to

Vance Pulley, the World Bank Country

participate. Messages may also be sent todiscuss what has been learned about lake

Director. The afternoon, as well as thegefmsp@ilec.or.jp for comments /questions

management from these eight lakes in Asia.

second and third days, were dedicatedregarding the briefs or project as a whole.

2003 at the Westin Hotel. The workshopTto presentations and discussion on the

he workshop organizer and technicallake cases. The third day was held atT

he final briefs for the Asian lakes will

coordinator for the project, Thomas

Wonder Island, a small island located inBallatore, said “I was pleased with thethe southern part of Laguna de Bay and2003. These briefs, along with the ones

way things came together in Manila.

provided a chance for the participants tofrom the 1 st Workshop in June 2003

We took a chance by designing a very

see the lake itself and to stretch their legs.

(Americas, Europe and Central Asia) andstraightforward program with lots of time

The fourth and final day were organized

the upcoming 3rd Workshop to be held infor open discussion. Our biggest risk wasaround thematic discussions related to

Nairobi, Kenya from 3-6 November 2003

that participants wouldn’t “participate” butlake management such as economics,

will form the basis of the final report that

we had a simply excellent group of people

policy, participation, finance, science andwill be produced by mid-2004. Again,at the meeting and most discussions had

institutions.

everyone is welcome and encouraged

be complied by the end of October

to be continued over lunch or dinner. And

to contribute comments about anythinglogistically, we had superior support on

related to this project.

Exchanging ideas on Laguna de Bay312th Biwako Prize for Ecology

Prince Akishinomiya of Japan

Dr. Mori

Dr. Wang

The award presentation ceremony of

Dr. Seiichi Mori is currently Professor ofprocess of evolution from the migratory‘The 12th Biwako Prize for Ecology’ wasCommunity Welfare Policy, Gifu Keizai

type to the landlocked type. He also foundheld on July 1st, at Biwako Hotel with the

University. He was granted the degree ofthat evolution to the landlocked typegracious presence of Prince and Princess

Doctor of Science by Kyoto University

occurred separately in Japan and North

Akishinonomiya of Japan. Only one ofin 1991. His research theme is ‘Field

America.

the two awardees, Professor Mori of Gifu

research on behavioral ecology regarding

Keizai University, was able to present

the stickleback’. This time, he received

his paper at the ceremony, with Assistant

the award with a thesis titled ‘Behavioral

Dr. Wen-Xion Wang is currently AssistantProfessor Wang of Hong Kong of Science

ecology on the reproductive success

Professor in the Department of Biology

and Technology having to cancel becauseof three spine stickleback hariyo andat Hong Kong University of Science andof the SARS issue at the time. Professor

conservation activities: from individual to

Technology. He was granted his Ph.D. by

Iwakuma of Hokkaido University, thesocial structure’. He compared the forms ofState University of New York in 1996. This

chairperson of the selection committee

the freshwater threespine stickleback itoyo,

time, he received the award with the thesis

for the awardees, introduced Mr. Wang’sand its subspecies hariyo, and their ecology

titled “Heavy Metals in the Aquatic Foodresearch in his place.

in their natural habitats, conducted pairing

Chains”. He showed that the real state ofexperiments, and analyzed reproduction

trace metal element behavior through foodFor further information, please see: http://

isolation in their reproductive behavior. As

chains in the water, and the factors thatwww.ilec.or.jp/prize/e-index.html

a result, he succeeded in confirming thecontrol such behavior.

Experimental Environmental Education Program
The first ‘Experimental Environmental Education Program’ was held
at ILEC for three days from July 28th to July 30th. This program isfor higher grade elementary school children. This was the first year of
the program and it sponsored by the Heiwado Foundation, which isbased in Hikone city, Shiga Prefecture. Seventeen pupils from Shizu
elementary school and Tokiwa elementary school (both in Kusatsucity) and one teacher participated in the program. The contents of the
program were as follows.
• Learning about the environment using Karuta (Japanese playing
cards) and the picture story books.
• Water quality test using simple kits and phosphorous extraction
experiments from daily foods.
• Observation of plankton in the water sampled from Lake Biwa.
• Making posters for raising awareness of the environment.
The contents of the program were so varied that all the pupils
commented on how quickly the three days passed by. On the lastday, Mr. Furukawa, ILEC Secretary General, gave a certificate ofparticipation to each student.
Professor Kawashima with his young charges
4

Indonesian Lake Forum EstablishedA

in Jakarta, Indonesia on June 4, 2003 atTby a keynote speech by the DeputyP

the office of the Minister of Environment

Minister on the current situation of lakes

their sustainability, either by exchanging

of the Republic of Indonesia. It was thein Indonesia. ILEC introduced the ‘World

information on the conditions of the lakes

fi rst national event focusing on lakes in

Lake Vision’ and called for sustainable lakeand or by running joint efforts. To this end

Indonesia, and also a direct response to the

management initiatives in individual lakes

the meeting participants agreed to establish

call for action of the World Lake Vision

based on the Vision. Prof. Dr. Payaman

the Indonesian Lake Forum, forming apresented at the 3rd World Water Forum.

Simanjuntak, Chairman of Lake Toba

working group consisting of representatives

The meeting was attended by about 200

Heritage Foundation, discussed social,from national and local governments

participants across the country, including

economic and cultural potentials of lakes.

and institutions, academics, NGOs, andheads of the Ministry of Environment

The two case presentations followed, one

journalists. The working group will be

and relevant national institutions,by Mr. Tukul Santoso, Operational Director

responsible for nominating the Executive

representatives from local governments,of Jatiluhur Reservoir on the benefits ofMembers and draft Indonesian Lake Vision

NGOs, scientists, and journalists. ILEC

Jatiluhur Reservoir and the other by Mrs.

and Forum’s action plans.

was invited to the meeting as an ‘advocate’

Wayan, Regional Environment Office, Bali,of the World Lake Vision.

on the conditions of lakes in Bali.

meeting on the conservation ofIndonesian Lakes was conducted

he meeting was addressed by the
Minister of Environment, followed

articipants discussed the problemsof Indonesian lakes and confi rmed

the need of cooperation to maintain

Mr. Matsumoto of ILEC presides at the meeting in Indonesia

International Workshop on the Wise Use of Lagoon Wetlands

AIn International Workshop on theto discuss future activities. In the main

Wise Use of Lagoon Wetlands wasworkshop on July 24, two keynote speeches

held in Kushiro, Japan on July 23-24, 2003

and 15 reports, plus 5 poster sessions,

to commemorate the 10th anniversary ofwere presented. It was reported that many

that ‘Wise Use’ in the Ramsar Convention

the 1993 Ramsar Kushiro Conference. Itof the lagoons are seriously affected bymeans ‘Sustainable Use’ in the World Lakebrought together some 100 participants

human-induced impacts. Another topic of

Vision. Through two days of discussions,from Japan and East-Asian countries.

discussion was how to convince the general

the workshop confi rmed a need forO

LEC participated in the event tointroduce the World Lake Visionpresented at the WWF3 and demonstrated

public of the value of lagoons an urgent

collaboration between lake people andn July 23 an open forum wasissue to protect them and achieve their ‘wise

lagoon people because both of them areorganized to reflect on the past 10

use’.

pursuing the same goals.

years since the 1993 Conference and5Lakes of the World - Laguna de Bay, The Philippines
Adelina C. Santos-Borja

L

aguna de Bay is the largest and mostupon contact with saline water. This

cities and 49 municipalities of which 27 areimportant lake in the Philippines. It

is a much-awaited phenomenon of thelakeshore towns and 2 are lakeshore cities.

has a surface area of 900 km2 and ranks as

fi shermen and aquaculture operators

Rapid industrialization and urbanization

one of the five largest lakes of Southeast

because it enhances the productivity of thein the watershed are the biggest threats on

Asia. The lake is also one of the shallowest

lake.

the lake, from which siltation and pollution
problems emanate. Rapid changes in thelakes in the region with an average depthof 2.5 meters. Its shoreline of 285 km

Laguna de Bay is a multiple use resource

land use in the last twenty years havedelineates the three distinct bays namely,

but at present its dominant use is for open

decreased the forest cover to only 5%.

the West Bay, Central Bay and East Bay.

water and aquaculture type of fi shery.

The total basin population is close to

The West and Central Bays are separated

A developing potential of the lake is its

6 million people but up to the present,

by Talim Island, the largest and the only

utilization as source of raw water for

there is no municipal sewer and sewage

inhabited of the nine islands in the lake.

domestic supply.

treatment facility except for septic tanks

The watershed’s area of 2920 km 2 isI

is not surprising that 68% of the BOD

Authority (LLDA) was created by theloading in the lake comes from domestic

Philippine Government with the mandate

sources. Industrial establishments used to

There is only one outlet, the 27 km Pasig

to promote and accelerate the development

be concentrated in the Metropolitan Manila

River, which drains to Manila Bay. During

and balanced growth of the lake basin witharea but have expanded to other cities

conditions when the lake level is lower thandue regard and adequate provisions forand municipalities and has accelerated

Manila Bay and when there is suffi cientenvironmental management and control. It

the conversion of agricultural areas into
industrial and residential estates.

divided into 24 sub-basins from whichmore than 100 streams flow into the lake.

tidal fluctuation that could push the entry

started operation in 1969 and its mandateof saltwater into the lake, backflow of thewas further expanded by series of laws

Pasig River occurs. During, this condition,that strengthened its regulatory function,

Laguna de Bay becomes a brackish water

but this was not complemented withlake. The extent of saline water intrusion

appropriate increase in human and financial

depends on the duration of the backflow

resources.

and the prevailing climatic condition.

TI

n 1996 the Master Plan of the Lagunade Bay was implemented. It places

heavy emphasis on the prioritization ofprograms and projects in order to attain thesustainable development of the lake basin.

he LLDA is faced with a lot ofFour flagship programs are currently being

challenges emanating from the lake

pursued namely environmental management,

4,000 mg/L at sustained backflow of thebasin which is occupied in whole or in

w a t e r s h e d m a n a g e m e n t , fi s h e r i e s

Pasig River. The intrusion of saltwaterpart by the National Capital Region, anddevelopment and institutional reform andimproves the lake’s transparency due tothe provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite,

development. The most significant measures

the fl occulation of suspended particles

Batangas and Quezon, consisting of 8

taken were the following:

The normal chloride concentration ranges
from 250 to 350 mg/L but could reach to6

in most individual households. Thus, itn 1966, the Laguna Lake Development

Implementation of the Environmental Users

w a s o rg a n i z e d i n e a c h o f t h e 2 4

D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y t o w a rd s a n

Fee System (EUFS). This market-based

sub-basins. Through close partnership

Integrated Water Resource Management

instrument makes all discharges of industrial

and coordination with the LLDA, theyand Development Authority with the major

liquid waste directly accountable forhave initiated programs to improve their

aim of being a more responsive Authority

environmental damages brought about by

capacity in initiating plans and programson Laguna de Bay.

their day-to-day operations by internalizing

to rehabilitate the rivers.

T

he conservation and management of

the cost of environmental degradation andLaguna de Bay does not lie on theenhancement into their business decisions

Full implementation of the 1996 Zoning

and actions. The EUFS complements theand Mananagment Plan (ZOMAP) of

shoulders of the LLDA alone. Throughregulatory system, which the LLDA has

Laguna de Bay which delineates theits evolution in the last 34 years, thebeen implementing.

fi shpen and fi shcage belts and sets the

LLDA has highlighted the importance oflimit for ownership and operation of thesecommunity involvement, partnerships with

Adoption of the micro-watershed approachstructures by corporations, cooperatives

different stakeholders and linkage within lake basin management. A Riverand individual owners.

international institutions in achieving theRehabilitation and Protection Council,
consisting of different stakeholders

goals of sustainable lake basin management
Re-engineering of the Laguna Lakeand development.

Call for Articles
We are always looking for articles for our Lakes of the World series. If you would like to let the ILEC Newsletter readership know
about your particular lake, please send us your articles of about 800-1200 words in length with a few suitable photographs for us
to choose from. Free publicity for you and some interesting information for our readers. You can send articles by email or post at
the addresses given on the bottom of back page of this newsletter.
7

World Lake Vision Executive Summary
The Spanish and German editions oflanguages as possible so that we are able

two Executive Summaries on our website

the Executive Summary have been

to help people around the world make(http://www.ilec.or.jp/).

completed. ILEC is to trying to translate

their own Lake Vision with the aid of thisthe Executive Summary into as many

document. You can take a look at these

Forthcoming Meetings
Oct 20 - Oct 24, Havana, Cuba: The

8-9 December, Melbourne, Victoria,

Feb 19 - Feb 21 2004, New Delhi, India:

International Congress on Irrigation andAustralia: Symposium on Urbanisation andWorld Congress on Natural Disaster

Drainage.

Stream Ecology.

Mitigation.

Oct 22 - Oct 24, Sassari, Italy: Integrated

Nov 17 - Nov 21, Chiang Mai, Thailand:

May/June 2004, Vancouver, British

Watershed Management International

First Southeast Asia Water Forum.

Columbia Canada: 52nd Annual Meeting of

Conference.

the North American Benthological Society.
Mid Jan - Mid Mar 2004, ILEC: The 14th

Beginning of November - GEF Project

Lake Water Quality Management JICA

Nairobi workshop.

training course.

Chicago and the World Lake Conference
INTERNATIONAL LAKE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE--Secretariat--

81091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu-city, Shiga 520-0001, JAPANTEL +81-77-568-4567, FAX +81-77-568-4568, E-mail: info@ilec.or.jp