Sediments and nutrients hotspot areas dynamics in selected micro-catchments of the Lake Tanganyika basin in Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract: 
This study aims at mapping changes in landuse in the Lake Tanganyika micro-catchments in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also aimed at assessing the level of pollution of L. Tanganyika resulting from offloaded material and nutrients from these rivers draining into the lake from the mico-catchments. Preliminary results showed that forest cover decreased significantly over time in favour of grasslands with scattered trees. The three micro-catchments loose considerable amount of sediments and nutrients annually. These unfortunately end up into the lake and may compromise the quality of its water and aquatic life therein. This therefore calls for establishment of means to maintain adequate forest cover in the microcatchment, create awareness within communities in the microcatchment about the risk of environmental degradation and its mitigation measures.
This study aims at mapping changes in landuse in the Lake Tanganyika micro-catchments in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also aimed at assessing the level of pollution of L. Tanganyika resulting from offloaded material and nutrients from these rivers draining into the lake from the mico-catchments. Preliminary results showed that forest cover decreased significantly over time in favour of grasslands with scattered trees. The three micro-catchments loose considerable amount of sediments and nutrients annually. These unfortunately end up into the lake and may compromise the quality of its water and aquatic life therein. This therefore calls for establishment of means to maintain adequate forest cover in the microcatchment, create awareness within communities in the microcatchment about the risk of environmental degradation and its mitigation measures. vivant dans le micro-bassin sur le risque de dégradation de l’environnement et de ses mesures d’atténuation.
Language: 
English
Date of publication: 
2010
Region Focus: 
Central Africa
University/affiliation: 
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
ISSN: 
E_ISSN: 
Edition: 
Extent: 
579-584
Notes: 

About the RUFORUM 2010 Biennal Conference
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholders in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Natural Resource Management"