An overview of Pollution Loading into Lake Kivu Basin

Abstract: 
Increasing pollution loading is one of the factors which have led to instability of the Lake Kivu threatening the survival of millions of people living around it. This study will i) characterise and quantify historical land use and livelihood changes in the Lake Kivu region, ii) estimate pollution load from different sources into the Lake and iii) identify the best management options for reducing point and non-point pollution loading into Lake Kivu. Qualitative, quantitative and modeling approaches are being used. The major outputs of the study include increased understanding of the factors and processes driving changes, land-use/cover and livelihood trajectories since 1974, tools to predict future conditions, hotspot of sediment and nutrient export into the Lake, evidence based recommendations to inform future management decisions aimed at conserving and restoring the natural and human environments of the Lake Kivu basin. This study has just been initiated.
L’augmentation de la décharge polluante est l’un des facteurs qui ont conduit à l’instabilité du lac Kivu menaçant la survie de millions de personnes vivant dans ses environs. Cette étude permettra i) de caractériser et de quantifier les changements de l’utilisation historique des terres et des moyens de subsistance dans la région du lac Kivu, ii) d’estimer la charge polluante provenant de différentes sources vers le lac et iii) d’identifier les meilleures options de gestion pour réduire la décharge de pollution ponctuelle et non ponctuelle dans le lac Kivu. Des approches qualitatives, quantitatives et de modélisation sont utilisées. Les principaux résultats de l’étude comprennent la compréhension approfondie des facteurs et des processus expliquant les trajectoires des changements, de couverture/ utilisation des terres et de moyens de subsistance depuis 1974, des outils pour prédire les conditions futures, les points chauds d’exportation des sédiments et des nutriments vers le lac, desrecommandations fondées sur des preuves pour informer les futures décisions de gestion visant à conserver et à restaurer les milieux naturels et humains du bassin du lac Kivu. Cette étude vient juste d’être lancée.
Language: 
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Risk and Vulnerability
Date of publication: 
2012
Region Focus: 
Central Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Risk and Vulnerability