Tue 7th Oct 2008, 11:00-12:00

This session was about what IUCN and partners are doing in the Lake Chad Region. The region is facing environmental threats due to climate change and mismanagement of natural resources by local population. Through pilot’s projects funded by the GEF, IUCN drafted a management plan to mitigate threats to the water body and surroundings .

The session was a genuine opportunity to present the situation of the Lake Chad Basin to people from different region of the world.

1. UNIQUENESS
First of all, the Lake Chad Region is a unique and highly productive basin, home to 30 millions inhabitants by 2020, with an exceptional biodiversity. The ecosystem of the Lake Chad contribute to economical development of the region up to 45 million US$ for fishing, 26 million US$ rain-fed and flood recessional cropping, 14 million US$ animal husbandry and 20 million US$ small and large scale irrigation cropping.

2. SITUATION ANALYSIS
The presentation emphasized natural and anthropogenic factors that affects the water body of Lake Chad. These effects are responsible of the observable water body shrinkage. In 40 years, Lake Chad Water Body shrank from 25,000 Km² to approximately 2,000 Km² in a rate of 2.3% of its area per year.

3. THREATS
The region is facing serious threats among which the most important are: effects of climate change, inefficient IWRM at national and regional levels, weak coordination and stakeholder participation, weak economic situation of member states and legal framework. 

During this session, the presentation also developed the following points concerning the region:

4. CURRENT ACTION and PERSPECTIVE

FEM-LCBC Project aimed at preparing a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) of Lake Chad Basin

 1. Under this project, UICN worked to:
     a. Develop Management Plan of Lake Chad
     b. Support Local initiatives
     c. Develop Management Plan for Waza Logone Floodplain
     d. Prepare Management Plan for Waza National Park

Recommandations/Expectations:

 1. Need to raise awareness on Lake Chad Ecosystem degradation at Global, Regional and Local level
 2. International community to support actions to reverse current water and soil degradation trend
 3. IUCN to search for funds to keep on working in Lake Chad Basin
 4. States to be supported to classify Lake Chad Water Body as RAMSAR SITE