20 
Bulletin of the FANHS29(|/2) 
employing biological, chemical or mechanical methods 
However, all and each one of them have pros and cons 
as regards the lake's ecology, which is the paramount 
factor to consider when deciding the method to be 
employed Generally it has been found that physical 
and chemical methods of water hyacinth control art 
useful only for a short time, since growth is rapid and 
these methods often have to be repeated Chemical 
methods, though useful, can lead to pollution and may 
affect non target species 
Biological control on the other hand docs provide 
an environmentally friendly, cost effective and 
permanent reduction of the hyacinth Host specific 
agents for biological control of water hyacinth have been 
found and their establishment in Lake Victoria may be 
a brcukihnwjgh in the control of the wved These controls 
include 2 weevil species Neochetina bruchl and 
Neochetina eichhomiae, and a moth Sam codes 
albiquttalis The two weevils have achieved a high level 
ol control in both USA and Sudan where the two species 
have been established for several years. 
Earlier attempts by the Kenya Agricultural Institute 
to employ these methods seem to have failed, or at Icasr 
a positive result has not been forthcoming. These effons 
were not only piecemeal and disjointed but seemed to 
have been influenced by publicity excitement rather than 
by objective ness Likewise earlier mechanical methods 
by a company supposedly awarded lender through the 
Kenya government also seem to have failed and ceased 
altogether Such lukewarm and superficial effons should 
be discouraged as they amount to nothing more than 
waste of resources 
On the positive side, there should he increased 
education and awareness raising, this should involve 
all the stakeholders, and more so at the grassroots level, 
because environmental issues affecting Lake Victoria 
have become very popular, while many people interested 
lack specific data and recent information It is also 
through education that people can learn, understand 
and appreciate the magnitude of the problems facing 
Lake Victoria and ihcir potential impacts The youth 
must be massively involved because it is in Ihcir hands 
that the future of this lake belongs, by so doing we arc 
not only building them for the future but also building 
a future for them. 
Environmental impact assessments should be 
conducted to develop sustainable ways of exploiting the 
resources of Lake Victoria with the aim of obtaining an 
acceptable balance between the needs of the environment 
and the interests of the beneficiaries; this should be in 
the form of a masterplan, or blueprint, detailing all the 
documented facts about the potentials and pitfalls of 
the exploitation of Lake Victoria. It should be constantly 
updated and reviewed to conform with the changing 
status of the lake to ensure overall sustainability. The 
master plan must involve a participatory' approach which 
must integrate and address the views, hopes and fears 
of all the stakeholders and should be undertaken by 
experts. 
Wfc may never eliminate completely the negative 
environmental repercussions of development but on the 
positive side we can live harmoniously with this 
ecosystem by putting in measures to curb excessive 
(abjusc of its resources. VVe. the peoples of Kenya. 
Uganda and Tanzania, now. more than ever before, need 
the courage to act collectively with the realisation that 
as a common resource. Lake Victoria and its problems 
do noi respect political boundaries and so the solutions 
must also transcend these boundaries 
It is encouraging to note that much effort has already 
been put in place to remedy the situation Awareness is 
fast approaching its zenith and action is going on at 
local, regional and international levels, involving the 
three East African governments, agencies and NGOs. 
like UNEP. VWarld Bank. KARI and OSIENALA. Lake 
Victoria Wetlands Team, to mention but a few Of 
particular importance is the establishment of the Lake 
Victoria Environmental Management Programme 
iLVEMPi charged with, among other responsibilities, 
the task of co-ordinating the involvement of all 
stakeholders with the eradication of problems affecting 
Lake Victoria. 
As the century comes to an end and a dawn ot a 
new century unfolds, my wish, and the wish of many 
people, is that these effons will translate into action 
that will secure the future of Lake Victoria as a common 
heritage and resource. The lesson has been learnt. Lake 
Victoria is actually not the Lake without termination 
flic task that Hes ahead is enormous indeed and it may 
not be achieved tomorrow, just as the problems did not 
start yesterday, but like a journey of a thousand miles, 
it must start with a single step. Should my wish be 
granted, then perhaps in die coming two decades, when 
I will grab my .pen and paper to scribble columns about 
ihc magnificent Lake Victoria, history will accord a 
chapter, if not two, to the successful restoration of the 
worlds second largest freshwater lake 
Philip Molo MeOsano, Egerton University. Department 
of Natural Resources, BSc Course: (Environmental 
Science) and Intern. Department of Ornithology, 
National Museums of Kenya. Box 40658. Nairobi. Tel. 
742131/61 Ext 242/3. Fax 741424, E-mail: 
Kbirds(8>afncaonlinc.co.kc 
EARTHWATCH 
THE MALLORCAN EXPEDITION 
My Earth watch fellowship was to the Spanish Island of 
Mallorca This is one of the Balearic Islands, situated 
in the Mediterranean Sea. The project area was the 
S'Albufera Natural Park I received the fellowship 
through the East Africa Natural History Society. 
Nairobi, Kenya. As a first lime visitor to Europe being 
given this opportunity to visit one of ihc world’s premier 
wildlife areas was most certainly a rewarding 
experience! 
