HIPE

Ondertitel:human impacts on ecosystem health and resources of Lake Edward": final report

The aim of HIPE was to test the causal relationship between the recent environmental changes and the drastic reduction of fisheries productivity. Our working hypothesis was that several environmental pressures in the watershed of Lake Edward have disrupted the biogeochemical, structural and functional links between the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, leading to a collapse of the main ecosystem service provided by Lake Edward. The fishing effort has dramatically increased since the 1960s. This in combination with a relaxed enforcement, resulted in an overexploitation of the fish stock and a spread of the use of damaging fishing techniques around the lake. Other potential causes are changes in the hydrological cycle, which could have also modified the transfer of nutrients from the watershed to the lake, and climate variability affecting nutrient cycling and availability in the Great Lakes.

Jaar van publicatie:2021

Trefwoorden:Minutes and reports

Toegankelijkheid:Open