Ecosystem Management in the Great Lakes Region of Africa

This is a book on management issues of the largest trans-boundary ecosystems of Eastern Africa namely, the Serengeti and Lake Victoria Basin. The book provides essential knowledge on ecosystems and environment management. On one hand, Lake Victoria has the highest species diversity of large herbivores in the world and a diversity of vegetation. It is the source of the White Nile and its waters and wetlands are home to numerous fish and bird species. Its ecological significance is heightened by the role it plays in shaping regional weather patterns. The Lake and Serengeti ecosystems have both been degraded by human activity and hence unstable. On the other hand, Wildlife of the Serengeti Ecosystem is a unique natural heritage and resource. However, the trans-boundary ecosystem lacks a unified management plan and has experienced a number of constraints to conservation. The agricultural based economies of the region, facing fertile land shortages, need good management frameworks to enable an efficient use of the available land resources, through land use planning and land reforms. The book is meant for a diverse readership that cares about the environment.