Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda share Lake Victoria. It is the worlds largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater lake. Lake Victoria touches the Equator in its northern side. It covers a total area of 68,800 sq. km [km²] and with a maximum depth of 80 m it is relatively shallow. A population of over 30 million people live in its basin.
The ecological health of Lake Victoria has been affected profoundly as a result of a rapidly growing population, clearance of natural vegetation along the shores, a booming fish-export industry, the introduction of several exotic plant and animal species, the disappearance of about 50 % of its fish species (it had 400 species of Cichlids), prolific growth of algae, and dumping of untreated effluent by several industries and human settlements. The Nile perch was introduced to the lake to improve fish stock, but now it is responsible for the extinction of many indigenous fish species. Much of the damage is vast and irreversible. Traditional lifestyles of lakeshore communities have been disrupted and are crumbling. There is a consensus among conservationists that if an accelerated push to save the lake is not made soon, this important body of water will cease to sustain life.
Besides eutrophication and the increased inflow of nutrients the introduced Water Hyacinth is a major threat to Lake Victoria. Water hyacinth is a fresh water plant capable of vigorous growth. It was introduced on the African continent as an ornamental plant in early 20th century, and since then has spread rampantly. In Lake Victoria the water hyacinth caused a reduction in fish through de-oxygenation of water, blocking of the in- and out-flows of the lake, and disruption in fishing activities and lake transport in late 1990s. OSIENALA assessed the spread of water hyacinth and advocated for its appropriate control.
The Living Lakes partner organisation is OSIENALA (Friends of Lake Victoria), a non-profit membership organisation registered in Kenya but operating also to some extent in Uganda and Tanzania. The 150 members comprise of organised women and men groups, fisher folk communities, farmers, cooperative societies, environmental clubs, relevant NGOs and research institutions in the region.
Presently, this organisation is concerned with the plight of nearly 4 million indigenous people of Kenya, and aims to strengthen the capacities of these communities and augment their abilities to organise themselves as custodians of their own environment. An international partner organisation was currently being formed by OSIENALA under the name of ECOVIC (East African Communities Organisation for the management of the Lake Victoria Resources), an NGO involving not only Kenya but also Uganda and Tanzania.
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