Presented by Michel DIMBELE-KOMBEPresented by Michel DIMBELE-KOMBEDirector of Water Resources and EnvironmentDirector of Water Resources and Environment

Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)

THE OPERATIONAL TOOLS THAT ALLOW ACHIEVING TRANSBOUNDARY

COOPERATION IN THE LAKE CHAD BASIN

HYDROGRAPHY OF LAKE CHADHYDROGRAPHY OF LAKE CHADIs composed of a fresh water spring Is composed of a fresh water spring

covering a Surface area of covering a Surface area of 2,4000,000 km2,4000,000 km22

Basin is vital for biodiversity and its main Basin is vital for biodiversity and its main rivers are Chari-Logone (95%) in rivers are Chari-Logone (95%) in CAR and Komadugu-Yobe (15%) in CAR and Komadugu-Yobe (15%) in NigeriaNigeria

TO MANAGE THIS RESOURCETO MANAGE THIS RESOURCEConvention of Fort Lamy and Convention of Fort Lamy and

Statute relating to theStatute relating to the

development of the Lake Chad development of the Lake Chad were signed on 22 May 1964 were signed on 22 May 1964 between Cameroon, Chad, Niger between Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.and Nigeria.

In 1994, Central African Republic In 1994, Central African Republic joined the Lac Chad Basin joined the Lac Chad Basin CommissionCommission

Libya joined to become the sixth Libya joined to become the sixth member at the 12th Summet of member at the 12th Summet of heads of State and Government on heads of State and Government on 27 March 200827 March 2008

Sudan and Algeria are expected to Sudan and Algeria are expected to join. Sudan’s application has join. Sudan’s application has already accepted at the 10th already accepted at the 10th Summet in July 2000.Summet in July 2000.

Environmental problems Environmental problems ::The transboundary The transboundary

Diagnistic Analysis (TDA) Diagnistic Analysis (TDA) pinpointed 7 major pinpointed 7 major

environmental problems in environmental problems in the basin: the basin:

1) variability hydrological 1) variability hydrological regime; 2) availability of regime; 2) availability of

fresh water; 3) water fresh water; 3) water pollution; 4) reduction of the pollution; 4) reduction of the

viability of biological viability of biological resources; 5) losses in resources; 5) losses in

biodiversity; 6) losses and biodiversity; 6) losses and modification of ecosystems, modification of ecosystems, sedimentation in rivers and sedimentation in rivers and

water bodies; 7) invasive water bodies; 7) invasive speciesspecies

Exemple1Exemple1::

““Water transfer from Water transfer from Oubangui to Lake Oubangui to Lake Chad was projected Chad was projected by 1997, as the by 1997, as the natural environment natural environment of the Lake Chad of the Lake Chad basin has basin has deteriorated deteriorated significantly and significantly and some pessimistic some pessimistic forecasts even forecasts even predicted Lake predicted Lake Chad’s Chad’s disappearance by disappearance by 2025 if no action is 2025 if no action is taken”taken”

Exemple 2Exemple 2: : To deal with the To deal with the situation LCBC has put in place situation LCBC has put in place the Strategic Action Programme the Strategic Action Programme in 2008, which is a political in 2008, which is a political document aiming to provide a document aiming to provide a strategic approach on the strategic approach on the environmental management and environmental management and conservation of resources in conservation of resources in Lake Chad BasinLake Chad Basin

This should encourageThis should encourage : :- - integrated management of river integrated management of river basinbasin- sustainable collection, reatment - sustainable collection, reatment and management o dataand management o data- sustainable restoration and - sustainable restoration and management of Lke Chad and its management of Lke Chad and its ecosystems, butecosystems, but

Financing remains a key Financing remains a key issue of the SAPissue of the SAP

SAP

Exemple3Exemple3:: An agreement An agreement of data exchange was of data exchange was signed in 2008 between signed in 2008 between the member states of the member states of LCBC to improve the LCBC to improve the Integrated Water Integrated Water Resource Management in Resource Management in the basinthe basin

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rainfall long-term average 5-year moving average

Exemple 4Exemple 4:: Water Charter for the Lake Chad Basin;Water Charter for the Lake Chad Basin;

The African Deveopment Bank The African Deveopment Bank (ADB) agreed to finance 890 (ADB) agreed to finance 890 000 Euros the study in the 000 Euros the study in the frame of African Water Facility frame of African Water Facility (AWF) (AWF)

The community of interests The community of interests that links the basin’s tributary that links the basin’s tributary states justifies the drawing up states justifies the drawing up and popularization of Charter, and popularization of Charter, which govern cooperation which govern cooperation between basin States on the between basin States on the reasonable and equitable use reasonable and equitable use of such a resource of such a resource