12th World Lake Conference calls for restoration of lakes and wetlands

The 12th World Lake Conference, TAAL 2007, ended with a call for governments and organisations to adopt appropriate research methodologies to apply and prepare data banks to facilitate execution of management and action plans to preserve lakes and wetlands .

The conference was organised by the ministry of environment and forests at Jaipur from 29 October to 2 November, 2007.

The conference has called for:

• Appropriate research methodologies be applied and data books be established to facilitate execution of management action plan
• Standards be developed for physical, chemical and biological promoters for lakes and wetlands
• Guidelines / protocols be developed on priority to control invasive aquatic species
• Innovative low-cost eco-friendly technologies be developed for enhancing the process of restoration of lakes and wetlands
• Active participation of all stakeholders including women and youth in local communities be encouraged through awareness programmes for the conservation and wise use of water bodies and traditional knowledge be blended with latest techniques for better results
• Rational public private partnership be promoted in conserving lakes and wetlands and maintaining their ecological services
• Scientific studies be undertaken on priority and the strategies for adaptation be developed to meet the challenges of climate change. Possibilities of linking CDM projects with lake sustainability be explored
• Strong institutional and financial mechanisms be developed for regional and international cooperation in management and restoration of lakes and wetlands
• An Asian Centre of Excellence be established with international assistance for promoting research, training and education, and development of appropriate technologies for sustainable management and restoration of lakes and wetlands.
• Restoration and management of lakes and wetlands be promoted through twining arrangements with international support

Over 600 delegates who participated in the five-day deliberations, adopted the “Draft Jaipur Declaration” which acknowledges the importance of lakes and wetlands for domestic, agricultural and recreational uses and improve habitats for conserving biodiversity. On the concluding day of the 12th World Lake Conference’s valedictory function at Jaipur yesterday, Dr Brij Gopal , secretary general, National Institute of Ecology, presented the recommendations, called the Draft Jaipur Declaration, were adopted .

About 50 topics of special interest to Indian conditions were discussed by over 50 eminent scientist from different countries.

The largest group was from Japan followed by China and Poland respectively. The Japanese delegation with 65 members followed by 13 from China and 12 from Poland attended the conference. Delegations from all neighbouring countries including an official delegation from Sindh and Karachi in Pakistan participated.

Scientist, environmentalists, policy makers, Non-government Organizations (NGOs and academicians from all over the world are participating in this conference.250 abstracts have been accepted for oral presentation and about 600 will give Poster presentation. The deliberations of the conference covered a wide range of issues going beyond confines of lakes and wetlands. The recommendations emerged from these deliberations ‘Jaipur Draft Declaration’ will be useful for researchers, planners and policy makers all over the world.

Union minister of state for environment and forests Namo Narain Meena said that the government has taken due note of these recommendations. He appealed all the participants to make efforts to implement the recommendations. Meena said civil societies, students, academicians, and non-government organisations should work in harmony for promoting awareness. The minister said, “Unless all of us share a common vision-mission approach, we cannot succeed in our noble intentions.”

Meena said the Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad has been given a project to map and prepare state-wise atlases and digital data-base of lakes. He also said that all the state governments have been asked to constitute lake and wetland conservation authority.

Wang Yuquig, minister of environment protection administration of China extended an invitation to the organisers to hold the next 13th World Lake Conference at Wuhan, which is the third biggest scientific and educational city among major Chinese cities, being home to 52 universities and is called the city of 100 lakes .

Yuqing said that Chinese government has intensified the protection dynamics for the lakes. “With the support from the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) and the scientific and technical work for lake research from the different countries, we will be able to hold a successful World Lake Conference and show the world the efforts and results made by China in the field of water environment protection”.

The conference covered a very vide range of topics related to the study, conservation and management of lakes and wetlands. Under science of lakes inventories and prioritization, bio-diversity and conservation lake eco system and processes and catchment interactions, fisheries, other resources and lake littoral zone well covered.

Under the thematic area of conservation and management, conservation, restoration, pollution control, constructed wetlands, weed control, reversal of eutrophication (the natural process by which lakes gradually age and become more fertile for the growth of water weeds). were included along with special sessions for participants to discuss the legal framework and economic valuation of environment.

Besides this, the conference discussed social and economics aspects such as alternative lively hoods, traditional communities participation, recreations, eco-tourism and health, sacred lakes and temple tanks, education and awareness, role of NGOs and need for research and training.

Wuhan in China will host the 13th World Lake Conference in 2009.

Draft Jaipur Declaration
The 12th World Lake Conference held at Jaipur stresses on need to restore, preserve and management of lakes and wetlands. The points covered in the declaration were:

• Acknowledging the importance of lakes and wetlands for domestic, agricultural and recreational uses and for improving habitats for conserving biodiversity
• Considering the critical contribution of lakes and wetlands in providing host of ecosystem goods and services
• Stressing the wise use of lakes and wetlands in terms of their values and functions including those of social, cultural and spiritual significance
• Expressing concern on the rapid deterioration of lakes and wetlands from developmental and anthropogenic pressures
• Taking note of the potential impacts of climate change on lakes and wetlands
• Noting that lakes and wetlands provide wide range of goods and services to human kind and that their economic value is not well-documented or understood
• Having discussed at length the state of science and available technologies, sharing experiences and practices for managing lakes and wetlands
• Appreciating the significant role of lake drainage basins in influencing the quantity of water in lakes and wetlands and their ecological health, and taking note of the emerging concept of integrated lake basin management (ILBM), and realising the urgency of action needed at national, regional and global level to prevent the degradation of lakes and wetlands.