The Integrated River Basin Management - Challenges of the Lake Chad Basin - Vision 2025 sheds light on the common guidelines of member states to preserve the Lake. By the year 2025, the Lake Chad Region would like to see Lake Chad - a common heritage - and other wetlands maintained at sustainable levels to ensure the economic security of the freshwater ecosystem resources, sustained biodiversity and aquatic resources of the basin, the use of which should be equitable to serve the needs of the population of the basin thereby reducing the poverty level. A Lake Chad Region where the regional and national authorities accept responsibilities for freshwater, ecosystem and biodiversity conservation and judicious integrated river basin management to achieve sustainable development. A Lake Chad Region where every member state has equitable access to safe and adequate water resources to meet its needs and rights and maintain its freshwater, ecosystem and biodiversity resources. The Elements to achieve the Vision 2025 are two: 1) Strengthening of sub‐regional co‐operation. Address issues related to transboundary and shared natura resources including continuing drought, desertification, persistent poverty, food insecurity and serious degradation of water, soil and forest resources; Harmonize macro‐economic policies and eliminated externalities with competitions. Synchronize national programmes with efforts at sub‐regional and regional levels. Strengthen existing partnerships and networking and promote continuous dialogue. 2) Development of practical national and sub‐basin strategies and programmes based on shared and transboundary natural resources wildlife and animal resources, common forest, and pasture lands, etc. Actions include: a) Establish thematic groups for consultations and for formulation of joint programmes of actions and projects recognizing the NGO’s role in raising awareness at local, national and international levels, promoting community participation and application of indigenous knowledge; and fostering synergies among organizations; b) Greater national and sub‐regional, efforts at conflict prevention and resolutions; c) Encouragement of strong public and private sector participation; d) Better recognition of the close linkages between economic growth and trade, investment, employment generation, poverty reduction and the use and management of land and water resources at the national level; e) Strengthen role of LCBC in collection and dissemination of data and information on projects, available natural resources, good practices, models and to guide the region on needed development needs strategies financing, and programme promotion; f) Use of economic instruments, such as pricing, for water, including the “polluter pays principle” to ensure water quality standards; g) Concerted efforts should be made at the national level on providing the basic needs of life (particularly water) as a priority for all.
2000-01-01