WELCOME
The management and conservation of the world lakes and reservoirs are at crisis point. On the one hand, the human population is steadily increasing, with six billion people already inhabiting the planet. On the other hand, the ability of the world lakes and reservoirs to meet the needs of the world's population is rapidly decreasing. The problem is exacerbated by several phenomena, all of anthropogenic origin, which are lowering the quality of water in lakes and reservoirs. The most important of these are: lake acidification, eutrophication, siltation, salinisation, contamination with toxic chemicals and the introduction of animals and plants from elsewhere.
Unable to remain indifferent to such events, the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC) was formed in 1986 as an international non-governmental organization (NGO), and given legal status in 1987 by the Japanese Environment Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
ILEC was organized with the aim of promoting environmentally sound management of natural and man-made lakes and their environments consistent with sustainable development policies by promoting international research and investigation, and by facilitating the exchange of findings and knowledge among the experts throughout the world.
I hope you will find this web page useful in understanding how ILEC is attempting to achieve its aim. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information, should you need it.
Hironori Hamanaka
Director General
