One percent (1%) of the water on Earth's surface is liquid freshwater. The vast majority of all the liquid freshwater is contained in lakes and other lentic (pooled or static) waters. A comprehensive management framework for lakes and other lentic waters, however, is a major missing link in the Global Water Agenda and a weak link in the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM)/Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) arena because they do not adequately consider their unique features. ILEC and UNEP, in partnership with relevant UN agencies, national and local governments, international NGOs and scientific association and institutions, industrial sectors, and various other interested parties, initiated a call for action for mainstreaming lakes and other lentic waters in national and global environmental policy frameworks. Achievement of this mainstreaming initiative will facilitate their sustainable use for human health and wellbeing, for socio-economic development and poverty alleviation and for maintaining their integrity, biodiversity and their life-supporting ecosystem goods and services. This effort began with a colloquium at the 17th World Lake Conference and led to a series of activities, including the first ILEC-UNEP International Webinar on "Mainstreaming Lakes in the Global Water Agenda" and the UNEP-ILEC Special Session on Mainstreaming Lakes and Wetlands in the Global Water Agenda and SDGs" .
Sustainable Lake Management Resolution Adopted at UNEA5.2
Resolution on Sustainable Lake Management adopted at the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2 in Nairobi, Kenya, March 2022 ) is available. Click Here for the related article.
Overview of the 3rd ILEC-UNEP International Webinar, "Taking Major Step Toward Mainstreaming Lakes" held on May 18th, 2022 is available. Click here for the related article.
Overview of the UNEP-ILEC Special Session on “Mainstreaming Lakes and Wetlands in the Global Water Agenda and SDGs,” held jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the 18th World Lake Conference (WLC18) on November 10, 2021, is available.
Speaker | Country / Organization (Video) | Presentation Material |
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Dr. Jian Liu, |
UNEP ▶ | Opening Remarks |
Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, |
Opening Remarks | |
Dr. Walter Rast, |
ILEC ▶ | |
Mr. Seiji Tsutsui, |
Japan ▶ | |
Ms. Laksmi Dhewanthi, |
Indonesia ▶ | |
Ms. Amelita DJ. Ortiz, |
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Ms. Manju Pandey, |
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Dr. Zati Sharip, |
Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) initiatives towards transforming the Malaysian Water Sector |
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Ms. Prava Pandey, |
Nepal ▶ | |
Dr. Daniel O. Olago, |
Kenya ▶ | |
Dr. Salif Diop, |
Senegal ▶ |
Challenges for ILBM/Integrated Lake Basins Management implementation in West Africa |
Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, |
All members ▶ | Discussion Part |
Mainstreaming Lakes in the Global Water Agenda(Updated on Oct. 6. 2020 )

In association with the 17th World Lake Conference held in Ibaraki, Japan, ILEC convened an International Colloquium on October 14, 2018 to discuss the role and importance of lakes and reservoirs in the international water arena. The Colloquium comprised participants from governments, UN agencies and international organizations from around the world.<Related Article>
The following Statement is the draft output arising from discussions at the Colloquium as appropriately revised to increase appreciation and understanding of the important role of these waterbodies in the global water agenda, based on input from the ILEC Scientific Committee and the related participating organizations. PDF [194KB]
Upon reviewing the draft Statement, readers are cordially invited to provide active comments and feedback on the contents and its intended goals, which will increase its value to those responsible for assessing and managing these important waterbodies for their sustainable use. Please send your comments directly to ILEC (info@ilec.or.jp)