A Tale of Two Lakes

Lakes Haramaya in Ethiopia has dried up, literally leaving dependent communities high and dry. The once-saline Lake Hora-Kilole has also shrunk drastically, following the diversion of the Mojo River into it. Results of a long-running study carried out over 1986 and 2006 reveal that their demise resulted from a combination of ecological changes and hydro-geological factors, exacerbated by Climate Change and ill-planned human interventions.

Dr. Brooke Lemma (Addis Ababa University), who carried out the study, takes us through the chain of events. While it might be difficult to rejuvenate the two lakes, we can draw some valuable lessons from their story: (a) These are times that demand rational/ budgeted use of water from such lakes; (b) we need to realize the economic value of aquatic eco-systems, and be ready to pay towards their conservation and (c) it is imperative that end-users are engaged in working towards (a) and (b).

More Info:
Produced by: TheWaterChannel
Language: English
Year: 2011

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Dossier
Is the world getting saltier?  
Tags
Haramaya Ababa Hora Addis hydrology budgeted Kilole change rational use climate salinity disappear University eco-system vanish eth2011 Ethiopia EthLectures  
Date
May 15, 2020  
Views
 
Language
 
Region
 
Produced by