Unesco: Lake Turkana is under threat from projects
A boy fetches water at Lake Turkana. Unesco says the lake is under threat. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- Ethiopia’s Gibe III Dam will disrupt the flow and the ecosystem of Lake Turkana.
The water levels of Lake Turkana has precipitously reduced threatening the livelihoods of the people
- This, according to International Rivers Africa Director Rudo Sanyanga, has jeopardised the viability of the lake.
Lake Turkana National parks are the latest to be inscribed in the list of endangered Unesco World Heritage sites.
The parks, which comprise Sibiloi National Park and the two islands of Lake Turkana, serve as a stopping point for migratory birds, a breeding ground for hippos, Nile crocodile and snakes. It also contains fossils - Koobi Fora deposits which are unique in the world.
During the 42nd session of the 2018 Unesco World Heritage Committee in Manama, the members reached a resolution to enlist it after expressing concerns over the disruptive effect of Ethiopia’s Gibe III Dam on the flow and the ecosystem of Lake Turkana and the Kuraz sugar development project, which pose a threat to the site.
GIBE III DAM
Gibe III Dam, which began producing power in 2015, is constructed on Ethiopia’s Omo River. This, according to International Rivers Africa Director Rudo Sanyanga, has jeopardised the viability of the lake.
Dr Rudo applauded the decision by the World Heritage Committee, saying the dam and the sugar plantations have severely restricted flows into Lake Turkana as Omo river supplies most of the lake’s water.
According to Ikal Ang’elei, director of Friends of Lake Turkana, the decision is timely because the construction of another dam at the site is underway.
“We started the campaign to have the construction stopped in 2009 and over the years, the water levels of Lake Turkana has precipitously reduced threatening the livelihoods of the people that subsist of the lake. Further developments of dams at the site could lead to the collapse of the sustenance,” she said.
RESOURCES
And added, This should be a wakeup call to both the Kenyan and Ethiopian Governments to ensure that further constructions plans are cancelled.
Dr Rudo noted that the listing requires the Kenyan Government to put into place resources to better manage the lake and hopes that the Ethiopian Government will respect the decision of WHC.
In 1997, Lake Turkana National Parks was inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site and proposed as a site in danger in 2011. It becomes the 54th property to be included in the list.
