The Living Lakes project
by Udo Gattenlöhner
Up to now, the protection of lakes on an international level has almost exclusively been left to national and governmental initiatives. The overall intent of the Living Lakes International Lake Network is to prepare the ground for an ongoing and sustainable international dialogue that will exchange know-how, technologies (e.g. water conservation systems or solar cell technology for boat engines), and experiences between environmental, lake-based NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) that are effectively moving Agenda 21 objectives from paper to practice.On June 11 1998, the Global Nature Fund, in cooperation with the Mono Lake Committee, organized an international press conference in Los Angeles to introduce the "Living Lakes" project to the public. Our project will be presented next year in Hanover at Expo2000 in the both "Thematic Area" and in the "House of World Wide Projects".
The international Lake Network consists of seven NGOs from four European and three non-European countries in co-operation with authorities (especially communities), businesses, local population and media on both regional and national levels.
The initial members of the Lake Network are: Mono Lake (USA); Lake Constance (Germany, Switzerland, Austria); St. Lucia Lake (South Africa); and Lake Biwa (Japan).
More recently Spain’s La Nava Lake, Nestos Lakes in Greece, and Lake Baikal in Russia were admitted into the partnership. Additional Lakes will be integrated into the project up to the year 2000.
The Living Lakes Network supports activities and campaigns including competent government authorities and local businesses in the process. Annual "Living Lakes" meetings will be held, thereby promoting the exchange of experiences and mutual help and assistance, if necessary. The Internet will be used extensively to exchange information as well. The Living Lakes Website (www.livinglakes.org) has information available for the public and press about all member lakes.
The members of the project meet regularly, exchange information, formulate statements, and coordinate single activities and agree on further steps for common work. Our major objectives are to provide financial support of international conservation programs and the exchange of information for conservationists all over the world.
On the occasion of the Second International Living Lakes Conference with the topic "Nature Conservation and Tourism" held at St. Lucia (South Africa), the First World Lake Day was proclaimed on November 15, 1998 to emphasize the global ecological importance of lakes and put forward a program for the preservation and saving of threatened lakes. We look forward with enthusiasm to announcing the Second World Lake Day at our upcoming meeting at Mono Lake this fall!
Udo Gattenlöhner is the Living Lakes project director for the Global Nature Fund. He’s traveling from Germany to make his first visit to Mono Lake this October.
Return to Fall 1999
Newsletter
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