Catchments of Great Lakes Using Science to Meet the Challenges in the American and African Great Lakes

Transcription

1 Catchments of Great Lakes Using Science to Meet the Challenges in the American and African Great Lakes Dr. Zafar Adeel Director, UNU-INWEH Chair UN-Water Global Dimensions of Change in River Basins 8 December 2010 The UN Think-Tank on Water

2 Wag the Dog Why does a dog wag its tail?

3 Because a dog is smarter than its tail.

4 If the tail were smarter, the tail would wag the dog.

5 Can science trump: Political expediency Vested interests national & international Bureaucratic inertia

6 Overview The notion of twinning the Great Lakes The governance game History of Great Lakes governance Examples of science-governance in decisionmaking Past instances Some concluding thoughts How can science wag the Great-Lakes governance?

7 The Notion of Twinning the Great Lakes Similarity of challenges Economic exploitation Population pressure Climate change Invasive species Possibility of learning new ideas Sharing scientific findings Management approaches that work and don t

8 Geography Luarentian GLs African GLs Surface Area 245,200 km 2 148,535 km 2 Water Volume 22,560 km 3 30,926 km 3 Coastline 16,000 km 9,000 km Max depth 400 m Superior 1,436 m Tanganyka

9 Demography Luarentian GLs African GLs Population in lakeshed Recreational fishing / Commercial Fishery 40 million 100 million $7 billion/year $340 million/year

10 Lake Twinning Framework (Entebbe 2008) Climate change (adaptation/mitigation) Vulnerability mapping Management strategies Governance structure How to deal with uncertainties Invasive species management Community engagement Human wellbeing Linkage between healthy lakes and human well being Natural resources evaluation

11 Lake Twinning Framework (Entebbe 2008) Public-private partnerships Institutional analysis of how to foster these partnerships Sustainability of partnerships Gender equity Role of women in management and education Ecosystem approaches and management Groundwater aquifer management Invasive species Pollution control Water quality standards

12 THE GAME OF GOVERNANCE

13 Science-Governance Interface Reducing uncertainty; evaluating efficacy Entry points: Improvement in human health and wellbeing (food and water security, poverty) Fisheries (stock improvements, invasive species) Tourism (sustainability, green tourism) Ecosystem services (inputs/outputs, payment for eco-services) Climate change (water quality, ecosystems, lake levels) Two-way street Inclusion of science in governance process Synthesizing science for governance & decision-making

14 Governance of Laurentian Great Lakes Source: WWDR III, 2009

15 Governance of Laurentian Great Lakes International Joint Commission (IJC) 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 1991 Air Quality Agreement Great Lake Fisheries Commission (GLFC) 1955 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries

16 GLFC Council of Great Lakes Fishery Agencies Council of Lake Committees Lake Superior Committe e Lake Michigan Committe e Lake Huron Committe e Lake Erie Committe e Lake Ontario Committe e Technical Committee(s) for each Lake Committee

17 Governance of African Great Lakes

18 (Short) History of Governance Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) (1994 Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) ( Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) (2007 Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania and Zambia)

19 Lake Victoria - LVBC Summit LVBC Sectoral Council LVFO Council of Ministers LVBC Secretariat Policy Steering Committee Executive Committee Regional Fisheries Committee EAC Council of Ministers EAC Secretariat Regional BMU Network Regional Working Groups Scientific Committee LVFO Sec Fisheries Management Committee Regional Working Groups National Working Groups Fisheries Research Institutes National Committees for Lake Victoria Fisheries Departments/ Directorates of Fisheries National Working Groups Provincial Comanagement Committees in Tanzania International organisations, development partners and collaborators District Fisheries Comanagement Committees Sub county/ward/ Location/Division Fisheries Co management Committees National BMU Networks District BMU Networks Sub county/ward/ Location BMU Networks BMUs BMU Committees Provincial BMU Networks in Tanzania Other agencies: Environment Water resources Wildlife Wetlands Academic Inst. Private Sector NGOs, Police Judiciary

20 Lake Victoria LVFO

21 EXAMPLES OF SCIENCE-GOVERNANCE INTERFACE

22 Managing Water Hyacinths Water Hyacinths in Lake Victoria Initial entry through Kagera river in 1987 Mobile water hyacinths initiated in early 1990s Initial redistribution of water hyacinth influenced by: Wind patterns Availability of nutrient reserves

23 Managing Water Hyacinths Rapid proliferation in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Estimated infestation in late 1990s was 12,000 ha Devastating economic and ecological impacts Disruption of power generation; obstruction of water transport; fisheries, including fish transport and marketing; blocking of access routes and landing beaches Degradation of water quality; impaired biodiversity

24 Managing Water Hyacinths Integrated regional responses Physical weed removal using manual and mechanized extraction of water hyacinth Herbicides to control water hyacinth subject to EIA Adaptation and implementation of biological control as the primary long term option Research and monitoring of water hyacinth infestation dynamics, its impacts and the impacts of control options

25 Managing Water Hyacinths Biological control rated the most effective Biological control through weevils Weevil multiplication facilities Biological succession: Hippo-grass, various ferns and other plants

26 Managing Water Hyacinths Alternative uses

27 Managing Water Hyacinths Some Lessons: Early integration of science in decision making increases effectiveness Including stakeholders leads to (scientifically) unexpected outcomes Science-governance interface is iterative and adaptive

28 Great Lakes Eutrophication Short history Problem encountered in 1960 s; Lake Erie Public outcry in early 1970 s led to political action Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) Implication of excess phosphorus Link to algal growth Use of mathematical models to determine input rates Significant decrease in P loads Reduction in eutrophication

29 Great Lakes Eutrophication Recurrence of the problem recently Inadequate handle on variance of P levels Management challenges Land-based activities in the lakeshed Scientific uncertainty Increased monitoring and assessment

30 Invasive Species in Laurentian GL 50 No. o f Species Species

31 Invasive Species in Laurentian GL Impacts: Fishing opportunities Introduction of parasites Changes to ecosystem & biodiversity Public nuisance Economic damages Causes: Poor control on ballast water Connectivity of waterways Opportunistic trade practices

32 Invasive Species in Laurentian GL Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) First sighted in 1988 Great adverse impacts Few positive impacts

33 Invasive Species in Laurentian GL Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) No known, scientifically ascertained solution available for zebra mussel removal Linked lack of funding for science Lack of science as an argument for lack of political action

34 SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

35 Unresolved Scientific Challenges Impacts of climate change (attribution) Are the lakes warming? Are the lake levels dropping? Control of invasive species What best intervention approaches? Is ecosystem restoration a realistic and/or desirable goal? Managing eutrophication What are the primary causes of resurgence? What management approaches will work?

36 Can Science Wag the Governance? Governance is a tortuous, non-linear game Well-defined economic interests can drive positive outcomes Science interface is difficult Scientists often cannot articulate policy relevance Decision-makers often do not create opportunities to bring science in Key role for think-tanks Science may not have ready-made answers Significant knowledge gaps still exist Nurturing research and monitoring is key Research should be placed in $$$ context

37 Can Science Wag the Governance? Reasons for optimism Success stories are science driven International community is paying attention to science Sharing of experiences is on the rise

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