The European Union supports the protection of Lake Tanganyika and the sustainable management of its resources

The second largest lake in Africa, Lake Tanganyika, contains 17% of the world's available surface freshwater. Endowed with an exceptional biodiversity, its basin is nevertheless subject to numerous pressures: demographic (growing urbanization), environmental (overexploitation of fishing stocks, deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices) and climatic (rising waters).

The LATAWAMA program, funded with 6.9 million euros by the European Union, and implemented by ENABEL, the Belgian Development Agency, and the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA), aims to preserve the biodiversity and integrity of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of Lake Tanganyika.

To this end, a Lake Tanganyika Water Monitoring Network, involving laboratories in the riparian countries, will provide a database of information accessible to various stakeholders. In addition, the program will implement pollution control actions in Bujumbura, Uvira, Kigoma, Rusizi and Mpulungu, mainly related to solid waste management and sanitation.

For more information, visit www.latawama.org