Reversal of Land and Water Degradation Trends in the Lake Chad Basin Ecosystem

The extensive Lake Chad Basin is experiencing progressive degradation as processes of desertification and environmental change are accelerated by human demands for the natural resources of the Basin - principally land and water. The riparian countries are unable to overcome the barriers preventing the joint management of the water and environemntal resources of the basin and to address the aggregate impacts of conflicting demands. The stated long term objective of this project is to achieve global environmental benefits through improved management of the basin. Existing barriers will be overcome by enhancing collaboration and capacity building, by improving the knowledge of the natural systems, by testing solutions and new participatory approaches through on the ground demonstrations, and by identifying, and agreeing on, the main transboundary problems and related remediation/preventive actions (TDA/SAP). The project foresees a second stage, or follow up project, dedicated to the implementation of agreed measures (SAP). This program will concentrate on the transboundary elements of the long term Lake Chad Basin Strategic Plan already developed and agreed upon by the riparian countries, member states of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.