In News:

• The countries bordering Lake Tanganyika—Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia—have launched a five-year biodiversity conservation project.
• The initiative, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), aims to tackle transboundary threats to the lake’s biodiversity.

About Lake Tanganyika:

Feature                                      Details

Location                                       East Africa

Bordering Countries           Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, Zambia

Length                                           Over 400 miles (Longest freshwater lake in the world by length)

Depth                                             One of the world’s deepest lakes

Geological Setting                 Located in the Western Rift Valley

Major Inflows                            Malagarasi, Ruzizi, Kalambo Rivers

Outflow                                          Lukuga River (into the Lualaba River)

Flora                                                 Located at the floral transition zone of eastern and western Africa; oil palms found along shores

Livelihood                                     Agriculture (rice, subsistence crops) and fishing are common

Key Features of the Conservation Project:

• Project Title:Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Land Management and Enhanced Water Security in Lake Tanganyika Basin
• Budget: USD 14.5 million
• Implementing Agency: UNOPS
• Strategic Partner: Lake Tanganyika Authority
• Framework Basis: Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika (2003)

Project Objectives:

• Transboundary Cooperation: Foster collaboration among the four bordering nations
• Sustainable Fisheries: Establish fishing standards, including gear type, mesh sizes, and quotas
• Critical Habitat Protection: Secure core conservation zones in three protected areas and ensure sustainable use in buffer zones
• Community Involvement: Promote local participation in fisheries management and livelihood alternatives
• Land Restoration: Rehabilitate degraded landscapes and reduce environmental stressors
• Biodiversity Protection: Align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework goals

Why It Matters:

• Biodiversity Hotspot: The basin supports over 10 million people and is home to rich and unique freshwater biodiversity
• Threats: Habitat destruction, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, climate change, and uncoordinated lake management
• Alarming Trend: Global freshwater biodiversity has declined by 84% in the last century, faster than terrestrial or marine biomes
• Economic Risk: The global value of lake ecosystem services (~USD 3 trillion) could drop by 20% by 2050 if degradation continues