Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya’s largest expanses of freshwater, may soon disappear if solutions to counteract its rapidly falling water levels are not found.
The lake, north west of Nairobi, is an important source of industry for local fishermen and supports dozens of large scale flower farms in the region, many of which supply the UK’s supermarkets with cheap blooms. Unregulated use of lake water for irrigation is cited as the main reason behind falling water levels. In addition, the nearby Aberdares mountain range was once covered by thick forests that trapped moisture, kept temperatures cool and ensured plentiful rainfall in the area. Large scale commercial deforestation has destroyed many of the forests making water levels at Lake Naivasha fall further.
The Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has described the situation as an environmental disaster which threatens the water supply of 500,000 people in the area. The area is also home to many wildlife species including thousands of flamingos and hippopotami. Officials have warned that unless conservation methods are implemented soon the region will suffer widespread economic, environmental and humanitarian effects.
Prince Charles recently sent a team of environmental experts from the International Sustainability Unit to the lake in order to assess possible methods of restoring and conserving water levels. Other organisations such as Cambridge University and the World Bank have also expressed their interest in contributing to the project.
Mr Odinga has formed an emergency panel of specialists and civil servants designed to complement international sources of aid. The panel will specifically examine commercial activities in the region and how to counteract the devastating environmental effects they have on the lake.
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I agree with you about the imported fruit and veg situation Mike. I’ve tried to stop buying imported “fresh” produce altogether in a bid to feel more at ease with my carbon footprint. It’s proving much harder than I first imagined. Harder even than an Egyptian strawberry! In particular my conscience has forced me to curtail my melon intake: a favourite fruit of mine. Alas, try as I might, I just can’t defend flying a 10 kilogram watermelon halfway round the world once a week.
This sort of thing happens across the Middle East and North Africa as we have an insatiable habit for unseasonable fruit and vegetables. Notably I would like to point out strawberries from Egypt, which are full-bodied but taste pretty rubbish. However, they’re available all year round.
It’s called virtual water, a commodity that is unwittingly traded. When it gets Political there are some serious issues, notably from the River Jordan running into Israel through Lebanon and Palestine, or with the irrigation of rivers running into the Aral Sea (really a very similar issue to that which is being seen in Kenya, and with some other significant health impacts from pesticides and chemicals as well).
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