Integrated Lake Management

Themes

Decentralised and integrated natural resource management: promoting participation and ownership

Co-ordination essential for effective lake management

Lakes and basins cannot be effectively managed without a co-ordinated management approach, that includes institutions through which stakeholders can come together to plan for lake wide management. A forum is needed for policies, programmes and activities to be harmonised between co-operating local governments and BMUs. Such a forum provides stakeholders with the opportunity to share experience and information. This ensures that natural resources are managed in the most sustainable and effective way, contributing to food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods.

Lake Management Organisations

ILM supported the local governments and fisheries communities, in collaboration with national government, in the formation of Lake Management Organisations (LMOs) on lakes George and Kyoga. Working first on Lake George, and with the need for replicability in mind, a model was developed that enabled stakeholders on Kyoga to learn lessons both on the structure and functions of a LMO, and also on the process of developing such an institution. This model can be adapted to other lake management situations.

The Lake George Basin Integrated Management Organisation (LAGBIMO) was formed in April 2003 and the Lake Kyoga Integrated Management Organisation (LAKIMO) in March 2004. The foundation of these organisations is the network of legally empowered Beach Management Units (BMUs), responsible for fisheries co-management at gazetted landing sites. This chapter described how these organisations were formed and the key ingredients for the success of the institutional development process. The activities of the LMOs are discussed in Planning for integrated lake management, as their activities are guided by their lake management plans.

Essential ingredients for the successful formation of an LMO include

• Clear understanding of the nature of the shared resource
• Demand driven process, with a shared vision amongst stakeholders
• Institutional development led by stakeholders
• Legal mandate
• An agreed structure and constitution
• Funding opportunities identified
• Representation of all stakeholder groups, especially the marginalised