Need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring of African Great Lakes

Harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring is essential for understanding and sustaining African Great Lakes (AGL), including Lake Turkana, due to their shared limnological cycles despite unique characteristics. Climate variability and anthropogenic pressures significantly impact these lakes, but inconsistent or short-term monitoring hinders comprehensive data collection. The study proposes a unified approach requiring political support, community collaboration, and sufficient resources to address key drivers like climate change and regional human activities. Key parameters for monitoring are outlined, emphasizing the need for cross-border cooperation among national and regional authorities.

Plisnier, P.-D., Kayanda, R., MacIntyre, S., Obiero, K., Okello, W., Vodacek, A., Cocquyt, C., Abegaz, H., Achieng, A., Akonkwa, B., Albrecht, C., Balagizi, C., Barasa, J., Abel Bashonga, R., Bashonga Bishobibiri, A., Bootsma, H., Borges, A. V., Chavula, G., Dadi, T., et al. (2023). Need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring of African Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 49(6), 101988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2022.01.016