Lakeside
Vol. 1 No.1: Spring 1998
The Quarterly Newsletter of the
Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project
UNDP/GEF/RAF/92/G32
Table of Contents -
Editorial
2
Why Lake Tanganyika?
3
by Kelly West
Pollution Control & Other
4
Measures to Protect Biodiversity
in Lake Tanganyika
by Andrew Menz
The Kirando Socio-economics
6
Survey
by Steve Evison
What is Biodiversity and Why
7
are We Conserving It?
by Edward Allison
LTBP Dive Survey Training
8
by William Darwall
Sedimentation Cruise
9
by Andrew Cohen
Methods Workshop
10
by Kelly West
`Pollution Control & Other Measures to Protect Biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika' -
`Lutte Contre la Pollution et Autres Mesures Destinées à Préserver
UNDP/GEF/RAF/92/G32
la Diversité Biologique du Lac Tanganyika'
Editorial
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the first edition of "Lakeside", the newsletter of the Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project. Owing to the ever
increasing number and scope of project activities now in progress, we felt the time was ripe for a newsletter to keep
everyone who is involved or interested as up to date as possible with the work being done by the project.
The project has encountered a number of difficulties in implementation - some would say more than its fair share! There have, of
course, been the normal complications of implementing a project where the riparian member nations speak two different languages,
where three of the member nations have their capitals (with the collaborating ministries and communications and economic
infrastructure) located far from the resource of interest, i.e. The Lake, and where a wide range of institutions are involved with the
project in each country. In addition the project has had to tend with the civil conflict which swept the former Zaïre, by the UN `Phase
III' security rating which until recently prohibited work along the Burundian coast, and by the embargo against Burundi.
In spite of these difficulties, project activities are well underway in all four riparian member countries. Some recent project highlights
include: the 12-week dive training and underwater research methods course in Kigoma which graduated fully-certified divers from
each of the four riparian countries who are beginning to study the aquatic life of Lake Tanganyika's Parks and other areas of interest.
In January, the sedimentation special study sponsored a second cruise to collect cores of sediment from the heavily impacted and
relatively pristine catchments along the Burundian and Tanzanian coasts. The multinational team with participants from all four
riparian countries, collected these cores to assess the effect that humans have had upon sedimentation rates in the lake basin. In
February, lawyers and policy makers from the four riparian countries met in Lusaka to begin the vital process of drafting the legal
agreement to be signed by the four riparian countries so as to assure a common level of measures to safeguard the lake. In addition
to these multinational, co-operative events, the biodiversity, sedimentation, pollution, fishing practices and socio-economic work
programs are being started or are well underway in the individual countries.
As we mentioned at the start, this newsletter has been created to keep you, the scientist, policy-maker, government official, collaborating
NGO, riparian community member, or Tanganyika enthusiast, informed of project activities and project progress. As we were
anxious to complete this first edition and publicise our presence, most of the articles were contributed by the Project Coordination
Unit (PCU) or special studies coordinators. However, as LTBP is a project for Tanganyika's riparian countries, driven by nationals
from those countries, we intend that future editions will consist largely of contributions from African project members. We encourage
you to volunteer contributions to the PCU and to co-operate when the PCU may solicit contributions from you.
We look forward to working with you,
-Andy Menz
Project Coordinator
This Newsletter is published by the Project Coordination Unit of the Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project
UNDP/GEF/RAF/92/G32
`'Pollution Control and Other Measures to Protect Biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika'
P. O. Box 90, Kigoma, Tanzania
Tel: +255 695 2992
Fax: + 255 695 2993
Email: ltbp@twiga.com
Editors: Andrew Menz, Kelly West, Jerod Clabaugh
Layout: Jerod Clabaugh
The ideas represented herein do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations Development Programme or Global
Environmental Facility. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this newsletter do not imply the expression of
any opinion on the part of UNDP or GEF concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or concerning the
determination of its frontiers or borders.
Why Lake Tanganyika?
by Kelly West
Though the riparian communities must have ad-
mired Lake Tanganyika's beauty and depended
upon it for freshwater, protein (from a fish-based diet),
and regional transportation for centuries, the rest of the world
first heard news of Lake Tanganyika when Richard Burton and
John Speke set eyes upon it, on 13 February 1858. After travel-
ling from Zanzibar eight months by boat and by foot, and facing
Unlike most modern lakes which were formed by glaciers within
desertion by most of their porters, disastrous weather, attacks from
the last 12,000 years, Lake Tanganyika, at about 12 million years
hostile tribes, shortage of money, exhaustion, malaria, loss of an
in age, is geologically long-lived. During this long period of iso-
expedition member to crocodiles, and ill health, Speke being tem-
lation, the immigrants which invaded proto-Lake Tanganyika have
porarily blinded and Burton rendered mute and unable to eat owing
produced some spectacular evolutionary productions. Many of
to abcesses in his mouth, Burton, setting eyes upon the lake, wrote
the African Great Lakes host numerous species of cichlid fish,
in his diary, "Nothing, in sooth, could be more picturesque than
but in addition to its 185+ cichlid fish species, Lake Tanganyika
this first view of the Tanganyika Lake, as it lay in the lap of the
hosts more than 70 snail species, more than 70 ostracod species,
mountains, basking in the gorgeous tropical sunshine...Forgetting
12 endemic crab species, 16 copepod species, 9 species of leeches
toils, dangers, and the doubtfulness of return, I felt willing to
and 7 species of sponges. In fact Lake Tanganyika, with more
endure double what I had endured."
than 1,300 species of plants and animals, at least 500 of which
are found only in the Tanganyika basin, is the richest freshwater
Lake Tanganyika generated considerable scientific interest back
ecosystem in the world.
in Europe, even though it did not prove to be the source of the
Nile that Burton and Speke were seeking. During their visit to
Understanding, protecting and managing these valuable resources
the lake, Speke made the first scientific collection of Tanganyikan
are the goals of this project.
fauna, empty shells gathered from the beach at Ujiji, and sent
these collections back to the British Museum. These shells caught
the attention of the scientific community for quite unlike most
Kelly West is Scientific Liaison Officer for the Lake Tanganyika
freshwater shells, the Tanganyikan shells, with their heavy armor
Biodiversity Project.
and sculpture, were nearly indistinguishable from the shells of
marine species. Further exploration of the lake and notably the
discovery of jellyfish, sardines, and heavily-armored, marine-like
crustaceans, in addition to the mollusks, served to strengthen the
link between the Tanganyikan and marine faunas. Several au-
thors, led by J.E.S. Moore, considered the presence of these ma-
rine-like species in Lake Tanganyika as evidence that in historic
times, Tanganyika had once been connected to the sea. The pos-
sible marine origins and affinities of the Tanganyikan faunas was
the subject of considerable scientific debate in the late 1880s and
early 1900s, with more than 75 papers written on this subject.
With our current geologic models for the African Rift, however,
these hypotheses of marine origins of the Tanganyikan faunas
have been discredited. It is now generally accepted that the proto
Lukuga-Lualaba Rivers and Malagarasi Rivers were previously
connected in an ancient river system. Continental rifting in the
region subsequently cross-cut this system and formed the nested
set of basins that is Lake Tanganyika. Lake Tanganyika was prob-
ably colonized by multiple immigrations from the former river
system.
Pollution Control and Other Measures to Protect
nancing activities which generate global environmental benefits.
The GEF operates in four theme areas: Climate Change, Ozone
Biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika
Depletion, International Waters, and Biodiversity and was thus a
natural source of funding for the current project. Although origi-
nally conceived as primarily a biodiversity project, it corresponds
by Andrew Menz
to GEF interests in both biodiversity and international waters. In
terms of the new GEF operational programmes it corresponds to
P opularly known as the "Lake Tanganyika a "freshwater ecosystem" (biodiversity) programme, a "water
body based programme" (international waters), and since many
Biodiversity Project" this project has its origin
of the problems in the lake are associated with sedimentation from
at The First International Conference on the Conserva-
land runoff, it is considered to be an "integrated land and water
tion and Biodiversity of Lake Tanganyika held in Bujumbura on
multiple focal area" programme.
11-13 March 1991. At this meeting a large group of scientists
from the four riparian states of Burundi, D.R. Congo, Tanzania
By February 1995 a Project Document had been signed by all
and Zambia and their international colleagues identified and ex-
riparian countries, the funding agency UNDP/GEF and the
pressed concern at the increasing threats to the lake's unique and
executing agency United Nations Office for Project Services
economically important resources. The lake is vulnerable to
(UNOPS). In August of 1995, UNOPS selected a consortium
pollution because of its natural characteristics, and there are
comprising the Natural Resources Institute, the Marine Resource
presently few efforts to conserve its biodiversity. The most im-
Assessment Group and the Institute of Freshwater Ecology, all
mediate threats to the lake environment and biota are pollution
based in the UK as the Primary Implementing Subcontractor.
from excess loads of sediment and nutrients caused by erosion in
the watershed, industrial and urban pollution including boat
This 5 year, 10 million US dollar, project aims to improve under-
discharges, and intensive fishing with inappropriate methods.
standing of the ecosystem function and effects of stresses on the
These problems and their effects are increasing, and others such
lake system; to take action on all measures necessary to maintain
as oil exploration and transportation on the lake cause concern. It
the health and biodiversity of the ecosystem and to co-ordinate
was recognised therefore that immediate attention was required
the efforts of the four countries to control pollution and to
to assess and control pollution and protect biodiversity. Subse-
prevent the loss of the exceptional diversity of Lake Tanganyika.
quently, steps were taken to attract the interest of international
The ultimate objective of the project as stated in the Project Docu-
ment is:
"to demonstrate an effective regional approach to control pollu-
tion and to prevent the loss of the exceptional diversity of Lake
Tanganyika's international waters. For this purpose, the devel-
opment objective which has to be met is the creation of the ca-
pacity in the four participating countries to manage the lake on a
regional basis as a sound and sustainable environment."
More specifically, the project aims to:
·
establish a regional long term management
programme for pollution control, conservation and
maintenance of biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika.
·
formulate a regional legal framework for co-operative
management of the lake environment.
·
establish a programme of environmental education
and training for Lake Tanganyika and its basin.
·
establish tested mechanisms for regional co-ordination
in conservation management of the Lake Tanganyika
basin.
·
produce a comprehensive strategic plan for long-term
application to be based upon the results of a series of
special studies aimed at improving the understanding
of the lake as a whole.
·
implement sustainable activities within the Lake
Tanganyika Strategic Plan and incorporated environ
mental management proposals.
funding agencies in order to secure funding for a regional project
to address the problems identified.
These objectives are being achieved through establishing a
Funding was eventually secured through the UNDP/ Global
regional framework for co-operation, including endeavours to
Environmental Facility (GEF) which at the 1992 Rio environ-
develop a legal agreement for lake management; investigating
mental summit meeting, was endorsed as a mechanism for fi-
pollution including sources, effects and control; and
LEAD AGENCIES AND NATIONAL COORDINATORS
Lead agency in Burundi
Institute for the Environment and Conservation of Nature
National Coordinator
Jean-Berchmans MANIRAKIZA - Director General, INECN
Lead agency in D.R. Congo
Dept. for Management of Renewable Natural Resources.
National Coordinator
Mady AMULE - Director, GRNR
Lead agency in Tanzania
Division of Environment, Office of Vice-President
National Coordinator
Rawson YONAZI - Snr Environmental Officer
Lead agency in Zambia
Environmental Council for Zambia
National Coordinator
James S. PHIRI - Director, ECZ
investigating biodiversity and conservation measures leading to
the major stakeholder groups and institutions and provides a fo-
the setting up of protected areas as underwater parks. Project ac-
rum for exchange of information, resolving technical and imple-
tivities are implemented by government environmental ministries
mentation issues and latterly for the development of the Strategic
and agencies, and sectoral departments as a major objective to
Action Plan for the lake which will be the major output of the
strengthen national capabilities and community participation. The
project as it will define and establish the process by which all
scope of participation is broad and involves numerous institu-
future management interventions will be prioritised and co-
tions at all levels reflecting the need not only to study the lake
ordinated. As the project proceeds it is hoped to involve both
itself but to take account of the enormous catchment area of the
NGOs and the private sector as important stakeholders in the lake's
lake where, human activities influence the quantity and quality
resources and their management.
of the water that runs into the lake.
The special study investigations are largely carried out from a
The operational structure of the project is outlined in the figure
number of lake shore bases. These have been established in
(far left). At the highest level is the Project Steering Committee
Bujumbura in Burundi, Kigoma in Tanzania and Mpulungu in
(SC) comprising a small group of senior civil servants, princi-
Zambia , a further base will be established at Uvira in D.R. Congo.
pally from the lead agencies for the project in each country (see
The role of the Consortium is to help the riparian states achieve
Box). The Steering Committee is responsible for overall project
the project objectives through providing methodological advice,
direction and decision-making on matters of policy. Supporting
coordination and facilitation services to local institutions who
the SC is a Regional Technical Advisory Committee A recent
are responsible for carrying out the agreed work plan. Through-
project review recommended the formation of National Steer-
out there is a strong emphasis on training and institutional capac-
ing Committees, to bring together senior reps from other Minis-
ity building.
tries in each country that have an important role in the project in
order to enhance ownership and awareness at this level. Sup-
The Project Coordination Unit, based in Dar es Salaam, is the
porting the NSCs are the National Working Groups, (NWG).
principal regional focal point for the co-ordination of all project
These comprise approximately 10 members drawn from all
activities. It is intended to administer and facilitate project opera-
tions in the region and, most importantly, to act as a link and
information conduit between countries, institutions and other
related projects.
Finally it should be stressed that GEF support is intended to be a
catalyst to a continuing process - the problems facing Lake
Tanganyika and its basin cannot be resolved through a single,
time-bound intervention such as this project. The current GEF
project must, therefore, be seen as the first step in a long process
of developing regional capacity to provide sustained and effec-
tive environmental management and will therefore aim to
identify mechanisms through which appropriate activities may
continue into the future. The project must ensure that any
processes and mechanisms established are financially and socially,
as well as environmentally, sustainable. This will require (through
the Preliminary Strategic Planning process) establishing
mechanisms for early prioritisation of major existing and
potential threats to the integrity of the lake and formulating
viable strategies for future co-ordinated management.
Andrew Menz is Project Coordinator for the Lake Tanganyika
Biodiversity Project.
Lake Tanganyika Catchment Area
The Kirando Socio-economics Survey
everyone and to assess expertise and appropriate roles. A few
days in Kigoma prior to departure also gave time for the compi-
lation of a basic field manual for the survey and future training.
by Steve Evison
The Kigoma part of the team then traveled to the Kirando area on
the Liemba ferry which runs up and down the Tanzanian side of
During the last few weeks of August, a multi-disciplin Lake Tanganyika.
ary team worked in and around the village of Kirando
(Rukwa Region of Tanzania), looking at the fishing
During our time in the field our work would usually start in the
practices in the area, socio-economics and environmental im-
shade of a large Mango or Baobab tree. Here we sat on the benches
pacts of terrestrial land use practices on the aquatic system. This
and chairs until a full meeting had formed. We would introduce
survey was the seventh survey of its kind to be carried out by
ourselves and the project and then discuss issues of importance
the project, previous surveys having been already carried out in
in the village, usually ending up with analysis of the key prob-
other areas of the Tanzanian and Zambian coastal areas of Lake
lems and gaining some insight into the relative priorities that
Tanganyika. These surveys are designed to give a clearer pic-
people placed on them.
ture of how people live and consequently how they affect the
At this point we would then split into subject specific teams and
assisted by a number of people from the meeting, each team would
then start to focus in more detail on their particular subject. This
would involve us in a whole variety of activities from walking
around the fields and discussing cropping methods and seasonal
activities, to interviewing fishermen and even making model maps
of the village to discuss land use issues and locations. All of this
would help us understand in more detail the situation and the
lives of the people. The other aspect of all of this is that we would
try to involve groups of people and the discussions that devel-
oped would help to give us a better understanding of key issues,
points of conflict and consensus and levels of local knowledge.
They would also encourage local people to analyse their own
The long boat journey to Kirando, Tanzania
situation through the process of discussing among themselves
and explaining to us. This is the first step in the project process of
environment. This is the first stage in developing appropriate
raising awareness and building local understanding. On the foun-
project plans to sustain the environment and the lake's biodiversity
dations that we were laying here we hope that the local manage-
through methods appropriate to the area and its people, trying to
ment and environmental education can develop.
ensure that any restrictions do not impact negatively on the people,
such that there are always alternatives, local beneficiaries and
most importantly a local acceptance and motivation for the change.
This will obviously link very closely with the environmental edu-
cation component of the project and in fact, in many ways, they
will all continue concurrently.
We were fortunate enough to be joined by a number of key people
from the area including the Division Secretary, the Division Ag-
ricultural Extension Officer, Community Development Officer,
Fisheries Officer and a local women's representative. These people
joined us as part of the team during our time in the village and
also returned to Kigoma to help with the compilation of a de-
tailed report of our findings. The final step was to return with
The Village Meeting
them to debrief at the Regional Office in Sumbawanga before
they returned back to their usual work. This is a very important
During the week we were able spend 3 days in the village of
part of the project in that we are involving local people in the
Kirando and to visit a further 4 villages. By the time we had fin-
issues and the development of appropriate plans. We hope that
ished the team felt quite confident that they had collected good
through this involvement and training that their awareness of the
information about the lives of the people, the place and the key
issues will be raised and they will become key local contacts and
environmental impacts. More importantly, we had sufficient de-
facilitators for the project in the future.
tail to be able to make clear practical proposals based on the needs
of the area and the proposal. Probably the most exciting thing of
Some of the team has been involved in the past surveys and most
all, however, was the level of discussion and awareness that we
are based in Kigoma, working with the government services and
had started to raise, and we feel that we now have some firm
local projects. We were therefore able to have a pre-departure
local partners among those who joined the team, as well as a few
meeting to discuss the general form of the survey and discuss
others who helped us along the way.
appropriate techniques and logistics. In addition to this, it gave
the two outside consultants (Dr. Claude Mong'ong'o from Dar es
Steve Evison was contracted by the Lake Tanganyika
Salaam and myself from the UK) an opportunity to get to know
Biodiversity Project for the Kirando PRA.
What is Biodiversity and Why Should We Con-
port such diverse fish production. Thus, biodiversity is of direct
serve It?
use to us. Ornamental fishes bring tourists to Lake Tanganyika,
tourists spend money, this is one indirect use of biodiversity.
None of these benefits, direct or indirect, will accrue to us if the
by Edward Allison
Lake Tanganyika ecosystem collapses through overfishing, sedi-
mentation or pollution.
What is Biodiversity? If you asked three people this
question, you would probably get three different
answers. We are all aware that it refers broadly to the
"The survival of Lake Tanganyika and its
variety of living things: we look at a catch of fish from a gillnet in
biodiversity is very important to many of us around
Lake Tanganyika and we see that it consists of many species.
the world--that is one of the reasons for GEF's
Those who know the fishes in the lake soon realise that the same
species may look different in the waters off Mpulungu to those
interests."
off Uvira. These visible, or phenotypic, differences reflect
genetic differences within species. If you are really curious and
decide to look inside the stomachs of some of the fishes then you
What if we lose some, but not all, of the diversity of the lake?
will see the diversity of small plants and animals that the fishes
Our lake will continue to produce plenty of fish won't it? Ecolo-
have been feeding on. And while you are busy with your dissec-
gists are currently arguing that ecosystem `functions', such as
tions, an otter may eat some of your catch. The fishes are part of
the ability of Lake Tanganyika to support fish production, are
a diverse community of plants and animals that live together in
related to biodiversity (including genetic diversity within popu-
the various ecosystems in the lake, competing for food and space
lations). They argue that if biodiversity is reduced, so too, will
to live; eating or being eaten.
fish production be reduced. It is not yet certain how biodiversity
and ecosystem function are related and it will probably be some
Biodiversity can thus be measured at three levels; the genetic, the
time before definitive relationships are worked out. Given the
taxonomic (e.g., species) and the ecological. This does not mean
uncertainty, it is probably wise to be cautious and seek to minimise
you need to measure diversity at all three levels--the levels you
any losses.
choose depend on what you want to do with the information. The
question of how much you need to know about biodiversity in
So far I have argued for biodiversity conservation on the basis of
order to conserve it is a topic much debated by scientists and
its usefulness to us; I have used an economic argument that we
resource managers, and will be addressed in a future article.
would be poorer if biodiversity were reduced. Many feel that the
Before we begin to work out the best way to measure biodiversity;
preservation of a species has a value independent of any mon-
etary considerations. Loss of biodiversity would make us poorer
in terms of the satisfaction we get from life--from eating diverse
"Do you want to eat only one or two types of fish
foods, from the loss of knowledge about our surroundings. These
for the rest of your life?"
`non-use' arguments may seem irrelevant to those with more
immediate troubles, but I remember how, on our trip with the
Kigoma Workshop participants to Gombe Stream NP, everyone
in that beautiful, diverse forest forgot their concerns for a short
however, there is a more fundamental question to be asked: Why
time. I also recall those who were snorkeling or diving in the
is it important to even think about conserving biodiversity?
lake for the first time, marveling at the diversity they saw.
We know that Lake Tanganyika is a `biodiversity hotspot'. But
If you are still not convinced, you could say that all species are
if you ask anyone why we should be so concerned with conserv-
God's creation and so must have a role to play!
ing this diversity, again, each of us will have a different answer.
Scientists who spend their careers studying the variety of plants
The survival of Lake Tanganyika and its biodiversity is very im-
and animals--how they evolved and differentiated, their
portant to many of us around the world--that is one of the rea-
complex ecological relationships--do not seek justification; their
sons for GEF's interests. If you are from the lake shore area, and
scientific interest provides enough reason. But in today's world,
are not a scientist, then I hope this article has given you some
where the interests of conservation must be balanced with the
`food for thought' as to why conserving biodiversity in Lake
need for development, we have to think more carefully about why
Tanganyika is relevant to you.
we should be so concerned with `Biodiversity'. We must recognise
that our scientific interest is a minority one. We need to ask why
Edward Allison is a Lecturer at the University of East Anglia and
the rest of society should be so concerned with the loss of
is LTBP's Field Team Leader for the Biodiversity Special Study.
diversity.
Do you want to eat only on or two types of fish for the rest of
your life? The diversity of fishes in the lake support a diversity
of fishing techniques, and the fish markets around the lake allow
us a choice of fish species to eat, depending on our budget and
our tastes. As I have explained above, the fishes do not live in
isolation from other plants and animals in the lake. To ensure
that productive and diverse fisheries continue, both for food and
ornamental fishes, we need to conserve the ecosystems that sup-
LTBP Dive Survey Training
by William Darwall
In July - October of last year, the Biodiversity Special Study
(BIOSS) held the first training course in diving and under
water survey techniques. The course was held in Kigoma,
Tanzania and scientists participated from all four riparian coun-
tries. Fifteen individuals successfully completed the course leav-
ing dive survey teams in place in Burundi, Democratic Republic
of Congo, and Zambia. Unavoidable circumstances have unfor-
tunately left the Tanzanian team only two strong, but additional
team members will be trained in a second course this Spring.
The course was run over a three month period with five weeks of
swimming and dive training to BSAC Sport Diver level, four
weeks training in a range of underwater survey techniques, and
two weeks of field survey. The field surveys, conducted in Gombe
The LTBP Dive Survey Team
Stream National Park and later in Nsumbu National Park for the
Zambian team, provided opportunities for the teams to plan,
underwater habitats along the entire 16km of lake shore adjacent
conduct, and analyse results from habitat and
to Gombe Stream NP in one day, using the manta board.
biodiversity surveys.
Three short survey expeditions were mounted to conduct pre-
liminary surveys in Gombe and Nsumbu NP. The two Gombe
surveys were a great success, despite a few dramatic storms and
a few worried faces in the boats, and the results will be available
shortly in a BIOSS Technical Report. Paul Tierney has just
reported back from a successful preliminary survey of Nsumbu
with the Zambian team with all body parts still intact despite the
large numbers of crocodiles and hippos disrupting the survey.
Even Reuben Shapola refused to be towed behind the boat in
most areas! The results of this survey will be available shortly
as a technical report to LTBP.
A second training course is planned for 1998 and will specifi-
cally target training of national park staff for underwater survey-
ing. It is planned that those already trained will join the new
trainees in conducting further survey expeditions to national parks
bordering the lake. Following this additional training and expe-
rience, the teams will be more self-perpetuating with current team
members able to help train new recruits as necessary in the fu-
ture. These teams will be a great asset to future management and
should be seen as a regional resource available to all those work-
ing on the lake.
`No Fatalities'
Participants in the training course: From Zambia: Charles
The course proved a great success and the instructors, Will
Lukwesa, Godfrey Milindi, Maybin Mwenda, and Reuben
Darwall, Paul Tierney, and Christian Furrer, were most impressed
Shapola; From Burundi: Felix Nicayenzi, Libere Ndayisenga,
by the determination of all participants, especially those who
Alberic Rugirabirori, and Bernard Sinunguka; From DR Congo:
managed to progress from being only able to swim underwater
Constantin Amundula, Alexis Bashonga, Patrick Kukiye Buda,
(in a downwards direction!) to BSAC Sport Diver level.
and Donatien Muzumani; From Tanzania: Kimambo Fadhili,
Congratulations to them all! Some members of the course were
Robert Wakafumbe, and Deonatus Chitamwebwa.
already able to dive, BUT they benefitted greatly from the
additional training in diver rescue techniques and diving theory.
William Darwall is a FRONTIER dive instructor and was
contracted by LTBP to teach diving and underwater survey
Following the dive training, we were able to leave the confines
techniques.
of Kigoma Bay--fortunately before the massive input of diesel
oil from TANESCO--and training was initiated in underwater
survey techniques. The survey training was divided into `habitat
mapping' and `fish censusing' with the manta board technique
("water skiing face down") proving very effective and most
enjoyable. The teams were able to map the coarse distribution of
Sedimentation Cruise
by Andrew Cohen
The Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project sponsered a
sedimentation research cruise on board the R/V
Tanganyika Explorer in January, 1998. This cruise was
directed by the University of Arizona, under contract to LTBP.
The purpose of the cruise was to collect bathymetric data, sedi-
ment cores and water samples as part of an investigation of the
long term changes in sedimentation rates resulting from water-
shed deforestation and subsequent soil erosion, and the effects
those changes may have had on the ecology of Lake Tanganyika.
The cruise targeted both pristine and heavily impacted catchments.
Cruise operations were divided into 3 legs of varying duration,
working in both Tanzanian and Burundian waters of the lake. It
was a truly international expedition, with participants from all
four riparian nations, Malawi, UK, USA, and France. The dates
and participant lists for each leg are listed below.
Cruise Team Members
Extracting a core for processing and shipment
Leg 1 (6-16 Jan, 1998)
Andrew Cohen - University of Arizona
Leg 2 (19-24 Jan, 1998)
Manuel Palacios Fest - University of Arizona
Andrew Cohen - University of Arizona
Jeffrey Houser - University of Wisconsin
Manuel Palacios Fest - University of Arizona
James McGill - Embangweni Hospital, Malawi
David Dettman - University of Arizona
Emma Msaky - Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation
Jeffrey Houser - University of Wisconsin
Catherine O'Reilly - University of Arizona
Kiram Lezzar - Univ. of West Brittany
Graeme Patterson - LTBP sediment study co-ordinator
James McGill - Embangweni Hospital, Malawi
Robert Sinyinza - Zambia Dept. of Fisheries
Catherine O'Reilly - University of Arizona
Peter Swarzenski - U.S. Geological Survey
Robert Sinyinza - Zambia Dept. of Fisheries
Mutanga Syampila - Zambia Dept. of Fisheries
Mutanga Syampila - Zambia Dept. of Fisheries
Dirk Verschuren - University of Ghent
Leg 3 (24-28 Jan, 1998)
Manuel Palacios Fest-University of Arizona
Gaspard Bikwemu - University of Burundi
David Dettman - University of Arizona
Jeffrey Houser - University of Wisconsin
Bombi Kakagozo - CRH/Uvira, DR Congo
Kiram Lezzar - Univ. of West Brittany
Louis Nahimana - Univ. of Burundi
Gerard Ntungumburanye - IGEBU, Burundi
Catherine O'Reilly - University of Arizona
Tharcisse Songori - GEOMINES, Burundi
Kelly West - LTBP Scientific Liaison Officer
Cruise operations, logistics and scientific activities all ran
extremely smoothly on this cruise, thanks to the hard work of the
many team members involved as well as the excellent crew. The
productivity of the cruise can be judged by the fact that our origi-
nal coring plan was vastly exceeded - successful and timely
completion of the planned coring targets during all legs of the
cruise allowed us to obtain cores from two additional deltas (the
Luiche and Gatorongoro) which were not originally planned for
study. Also the number of cores obtained significantly exceeded
our expectations. A full cruise report has been completed.
Andrew Cohen is a professor at the University of Arizona. He is
contracted by LTBP to supervise the collection and analysis of
cores from Lake Tanganyika for the Sedimentation Special Study.
Our team putting in a gravity corer.
LTBP Field and Laboratory Methods
Training Workshop
by Kelly West
From 22 September to 3 October 1997, LTBP's Kigoma
station hosted a Field and Laboratory Methods Training
Workshop. Twenty-nine participants from Tanzanian and
Zambian institutions concerned with fisheries, water resources
and national parks attended the workshop.
Morning lectures covered a diverse array of topics, including:
Introductions to the Biology and Geology of Lake Tanganyika,
`What is Biodiversity and Why Conserve it?' `Sediment Discharge
and its Consequences,' `Pollution and its Effect on Biodiversity,'
`The Relationship of Stable Isotopes to Water Provenance and
D. Chitamwebwa instructing on
History' and `Geographical Information Systems as a Tool for
biodiversity indices.
Integrating Diverse Data Sets.' In the afternoons, participants
Kiliho, T. Mpyalimi and C. Rubabwa from Kigoma Regional
dispersed into field and laboratory sessions for biodiversity, sedi-
Water Department; F. Kimambo, D. Sellanyika, and J. Wakibara
mentation or pollution. In these practical sessions, participants
learned the specific tools necessary for their studies. Biodiversity
from Tanzania National Parks Association; K. Mbwambo of the
Tanzania Bureau of Standards;
technicians aquainted themselves with the different techniques
for collecting aquatic organisms and practised keying-out their
samples and calculating biodiversity indices. The pollution team
L. Mwape, K. Kaweme, C. Lukwesa, K. Kaoma, I. Zulu, R.
Shapola, G. Milindi, M. Mwenda, and R. Sinyinza from Zam-
collected water samples from Kigoma Bay and from Gombe
bian Department of Fisheries; B. Kasonde of Zambia's Depart-
Stream National Park and learned to conduct basic water-quality
analyses. The delegates for sedimentation studied the fundamental
ment of Water Affairs; and K. Mununga of Nsumbu National Park
in Zambia.
properties of sediments and practised collecting, sieving, and
weighing samples as a precursor to describing sediments and in-
terpreting their history. Dattomax Sellanyika, the Park Warden
In Charge at Gombe Stream National Park, hosted the entire work-
shop delegation for discussions of conservation and a tour of the
park.
`Lake Tanganyika International Football League'
The workshop concluded with a football match between the
Tanzanian and Zambian delegations. Evenly-matched teams with
strong performances from both sides resulted in a 1-1 tie.
Thus, the determination of the Tanganyikan International
A. Kirika instructs participants on water analysis techniques
Football Power must await future workshops!
Workshops are currently being planned for the francophone coun-
The workshop was organized by Chris Foxall and led by teams
tries. However, the current security situation and early stages of
of trainers, with Eddie Allison, Roger Bills and Koen Martens
LTBP infrastructure in Burundi and D.R. Congo neccessitate a
leading the Biodiversity module; Rob Duck, Graeme Patterson
different workshop design. For the francophone countries, we
and Hudson Nkotagu representing the Sedimentation Special
are planning individual workshops for each special study to take
Study; and Tony Bailey-Watts, Chris Foxall, and Alex Kirika
place over the course of the next few months.
guiding the Pollution Special Study.
Kelly West is the Scientific Liaison Officer for the Lake Tanganyika
Participants included: D. Chitamwebwa, I. Katonda, E. Kadula,
Biodiversity Project.
U. Kisisiwe, D. Lyoba, S. Muhoza, G. Bwathondi, O. Kashushu,
R. Wakafumbe, C. Mbinduka and M. Kajelelo from TAFIRI; P.