A multidisciplinary approach for the management of Lake Victoria Basin wetlands within the framework of cultural and natural heritage

Wetlands within the Lake Victoria drainage basin (LVDB) have great social and economic potential. Unsustainable exploitation of this potential may lead to adverse ecological impacts on the lake’s ecosystem. The many wetland production systems currently practised are unsustainable and bound to lead to destruction of this resource base. The author focuses on possible ways to explore and improve, in collaboration with adjacent local communities, the contribution of wetlands in maintaining food security and supporting rural livelihoods in the Lake Victoria region. A key element examined is the lack of interaction between local knowledge and government policies, which threatens to undermine sustainable use of the Lake Victoria Basin resources. There is an urgent need for a multidisciplinary research approach to gain a wider and holistic understanding of the various processes affecting wetland use and management. A triangulation of quantitative, qualitative and participatory methodologies is needed to harness and document diverse local knowledge, practices and management strategies by local communities regarding wetland resources. Critical cases which need urgent attention include the Nakivubo wetlands (Uganda), the Mwanza Gulf drainage system (Tanzania) and the Nzoia drainage basin (Kenya). Furthermore, the author stresses the need to recognize cultural heritage values alongside those of the natural heritage, and to develop closer contacts with relevant international and intergovernmental agencies, such as the Ramsar Convention and UNESCO. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]