A study of the Lake Mai-Ndombe ecosystem for the protection of its biodiversity and the sustainableexploitation of its fishery resources (ECOSYM) (ECOSYM)

The project aims to study the biodiversity and ecosystem of Lake Mai-Ndombe (LMN), which is part of a largeRAMSAR area in order to allow for the conservation and sustainably exploitation of its fishery resources(FR). Indeed, no in-depth study has been done to understand the ecosysteml functioning of this lake. Animportant fishery, of key importance to the local population, has developed there, but its impact on the fishstocks is not known. It is therefore difficult to forward strategies for protection and their sustainable usewithout a basis of scientific knowledge. Hence, the project proposes to: (1) (a) acquire a reliable basicknowledge on the ecological functioning of the LMN, in order to describe and understand the processesunderlying its productivity and (b) to propose possible solutions for a better conservation and exploitation offisheries resources and (2) support (a) the training of research assistants to build up academic capacity and (b)the strengthening of the technical capacities of local research structures.