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Problem Overview of the Lake Tana Basin

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Social and Ecological System Dynamics

Abstract

Lake Tana Basin is the second largest sub-basin of the Blue Nile which covers an area of 15,114 km2. Lake Tana is a tropical Lake with surface area of 3111 Km2. It is the largest fresh water resource of Ethiopia (50%). It is the source of the Blue Nile(Abay) River. Lake Tana basin and Blue Nile river provide economic, social, political, environmental, ecological and religious benefits also for downstream eastern Nile countries. The basin problems have also influence in downstream eastern Nile countries. Food security and environmental sustainability are grand challenges in the basin. Ensuring adequate supply and quality of water for water user sectors in the basin remains a challenge. The sanitation and hygiene coverage remains not significantly improved compared to the unprecedented population growth. The basin suffers from easily perceivable land, soil and water degradation which are manifested in different forms: Sedimentation, clearing of wetland, canalization of the tributaries, increased trend of eutrophication , toxigenic cyano bacteria, occurrence of invasive species like water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), stakeholders conflict , improper damming, construction of buildings in the Lake shore areas that are natural breeding and feeding grounds for some fish and bird species , poor waste management , increased prevalence of waterborne diseases especially in the riparian community which largely depend on raw water for drinking and recreation are major problems of the Basin. Climate change is also having its impact. Though the problems and challenges are known in the area, effective measures proportion to the magnitude of the problem are not yet taken sufficiently.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blue Nile Water Institute and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1701 (private) or 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Goraw Goshu

  2. Blue Nile Water Institute and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 2205 (private), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Shimelis Aynalem

  3. College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Shimelis Aynalem

  4. Research Associate of International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, USA

    Shimelis Aynalem

Authors
  1. Goraw Goshu
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  2. Shimelis Aynalem
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Correspondence to Goraw Goshu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Policy and Leadership, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

    Krystyna Stave

  2. Blue Nile Water Institute and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Goraw Goshu

  3. Blue Nile Water Institute and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Shimelis Aynalem

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Goshu, G., Aynalem, S. (2017). Problem Overview of the Lake Tana Basin. In: Stave, K., Goshu, G., Aynalem, S. (eds) Social and Ecological System Dynamics. AESS Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies and Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45755-0_2

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