ABSTRACT
Section Four focuses on African Great Lakes and brings out some comparative analysis of the Great Lakes in both continents. In the first chapter in this section, “A Holistic Approach to Natural Resource Management: A Case of Lake Victoria Basin” Tom O. Okurut and Doreen M. Othero discuss the challenges related to the largest freshwater lake, Lake Victoria, in Africa. In order to realize maximum benefi ts from the lake and its basin, a paradigm shift in its management, from the Traditional Chiefdoms to a Holistic Approach was gradually introduced starting from 1997. As described by the authors, the adoption of a holistic approach for management of Lake Victoria Basin was driven mainly by: (i) increases in population density (ii) environmental decline; (iii) a multiplicity of stakeholders with different interests, and (iv) duplication of eff ort in the projects and programs. In order to deal with these threats, a specialized institution of the East African Community (EAC); the Lake Victoria Basin Commission was established in July 2005 to coordinate holistically the initiatives by Governments, Civil Society Organizations and the private sector. National Focal Points were established at the national level in each Partner State to support the Commission. In the chapter, the authors describe how these management approaches have yielded positive impacts in areas of confl ict prevention and resolution, investment, projects development, harmonization of relevant laws, networking and sharing of information and research. Th e experiences from the EAC activities in the Lake Victoria and its Basin indicate that the management and coordination of a trans-boundary Lake System requires a holistic approach anchored on a committed and focused management body to coordinate all initiatives therein with a view to building synergies among diff erent stakeholders.
