Mainstreaming Lakes in the Global Water Agenda | International Lake Environment Committee

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" .

You can see the statement for mainstreaming lakes and other lentic waters within the global water agenda from here.

Sustainable Lake Management Resolution Adopted at UNEA5.2

Resolution on Sustainable Lake Management adopted at the 5^th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2 in Nairobi, Kenya, March 2022 ) is available. Click Here for the related article.

New!International Symposium 2022 “Fostering the Value of Lakes for Future Generations”

Summary and videos of the International Symposium 2022 “Fostering the Value of Lakes for Future Generations” are available.

Click here for the related article.

UNEP-ILEC International Webinar 3

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.

UNEP-ILEC Special Session

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.

UNEP-ILEC International Webinar

Overview of the ILEC-UNEP International Webinar, "Mainstreaming Lakes in the Global Water Agenda" held on October 27th, 2020 is available.

Each Speaker

Speaker	Country / Organization (Video)	Presentation Material
Dr. Jian Liu, Director, Science Division, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)	UNEP ▶	Opening Remarks
Dr. Kazuhiko Takemoto, President, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC)	ILEC ▶	Opening Remarks
Dr. Walter Rast, Chairman, Scientific Committee, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC)	ILEC ▶	Mainstreaming Lakes in Global Water Agenda Abstract_Dr. Walter Rast
Mr. Seiji Tsutsui, Director, Water Environment Division, Ministry of Environment	Japan ▶	Water Environment Administration of Lakes in Japan Abstract_Mr. Seiji Tsutsui
Ms. Laksmi Dhewanthi, Senior Adviser to Minister of Environment and Forestry for Industry and International Trade	Indonesia ▶	Sustainable Lake Management in Indonesia Abstract_Ms. Laksmi Dhewanthi
Ms. Amelita DJ. Ortiz, Assistant Director, Representing Mr. Ricardo Calderon, Assistant Secretary, Biodiversity Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources	The Philippines ▶	Lake Basin Management Initiatives in the Philippines Abstract_Ms. Amelita DJ. Ortiz
Ms. Manju Pandey, Joint Secretary, Forest and Climate Change Department, Ministry of Environment	India ▶	Wetland Conservation Program in India Abstract_Ms. Manju Pandey
Dr. Zati Sharip, Senior Researcher, National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Ministry of Environment and Water	Malaysia ▶	Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) initiatives towards transforming the Malaysian Water Sector Abstract_Dr. Zati Sharip
Ms. Prava Pandey, Program Officer, Representing Mr. Raju Sapkota, Under Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Environment, and Executive Director of NLCDC	Nepal ▶	Overview of Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) Approach for Sustainability of Lakes and Wetlands in Nepal Abstract_Ms. Prava Pandey
Dr. Daniel O. Olago, Professor, Institute for Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi	Kenya ▶	The Status of Lake Basin Management in “Kenya and the Prospect for East African Collaboration on ILBM” Abstract_Dr. Daniel Olago
Dr. Salif Diop, Professor, University Cheikh Anta Diop, and Member of Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal	Senegal ▶	Challenges for ILBM/Integrated Lake Basins Management implementation in West Africa Abstract_Dr. Salif Diop
Dr. Masahisa Nakamura, Executive Director and Vice President, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), and Professor of Shiga University	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)