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space INSIGHT, Summer '96 Edition

Technology Transfer Project To Help Save Lake Erhai

IETC, the UNEP Office of Water and the UN Development Programme have joined forces with the Chinese International Centre for Economic Development and Technical Exchange (CICETE) in preparing a comprehensive management plan for Lake Erhai. The main objectives of the project include that of reversing serious pollution problems, restoring the water quality of the lake and saving the local tourism industry.

Lake Erhai is situated in the Western part of Yunnan Province in Southwestern China, near theborder with Myanmar, and sits at approximately 2,000 metres above sea-level. It is a typical Asian highland lake, both in terms of geomorphology and its general ecology. Lake Erhai has a surface area of 250km2, an average depth of 10.2 m and a water volume of 2.88km3. The watershed covers approximately 2,565km2 and includes nearly 120 rivers which empty into the Lake. Only one river, the Xier, drains Lake Erhai. The Xier subsequently flows into the upper Mekong drainage system.

In addition to providing water to the region's 1.4 million people, Lake Erhai is a major tourist magnet attracting an estimated 2 million tourists to the region. Water demand from the agriculture and industrial sectors has also increased. However, what has really attracted the attention of the tourism officials is the continued deterioration of water quality in the Lake, primarily a result of mismanagement of wastes from several wood pulp factories and sedimentation from increasing timber harvesting as well as the impact of marble quarrying activities on the aesthetics of the region. In addition, non-point concentrations of organic and inorganic-laden runoff from the agriculture, animal husbandry, and fish culture sectors have all impacted water quality during the last 10-15 years.

The combined impact of these uses has resulted in a downward spiral - lower water levels and structural changes in the aquatic organism communities in turn aggravating productive sectors such as tourism and fisheries, and forcing people into other destructive practices such as collecting of rare herbs and flowers, over harvesting of timber in order to survive.

The Planning/Technology Transfer Process

The Chinese counterparts have stressed the need to employ a comprehensive planning approach in the case of Lake Erhai. UNEP is contributing two important aspects to the study. First, the overall planning process is based on the UNEP Water programme EMINWA model (Environmentally Sound Management of Inland Waters) which includes not only preparation of an environmental profile, but also a complete analysis of socio-economic aspects affecting future management of the Lake and including local participation throughout the decision process. The results of this diagnostic phase will directly assist UNDP in its responsibilities of formulating the pre-feasibility studies aimed at addressing specific management problems. Secondly, UNEP, through IETC will be assisting the planning team to identify appropriate technologies, either by adapting existing practices or bringing in new technologies, to mitigate priority environmental problems.

Lake Erhai has many characteristics in common with Lake Biwa in central Japan. Therefore, the results of many years of research at the Lake Biwa Research Station as well as the Japanese experience in testing management practices and technologies will be an invaluable contribution to the planning team as they begin the process of developing alternative recommendations for their Chinese counterparts. Technologies that have had particular success in Japan which may be transferable to the Erhai situation include purifying agricultural run-off through the introduction of plants that feed on these chemicals, the creation of artificial ponds or wetlands as sediment and heavy metal traps, and reducing the amount and purifying domestic grey waters reaching the Lake body.

IETC, in close collaboration with the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) Foundation, is currently developing a database of technologies to improve the management of freshwater resources, and in particular lakes and reservoirs which will be of special importance to local officials and other decision-makers in the Lake Erhai region as they begin implementing recommendations of the management plan. First experiences in identifying technology needs to enable for sustainable utilization of this important resource will be presented as case study during IETC's pilot training workshop on adopting, applying and operating ESTs, to be held at the Dresden University of Technology, Germany, from 2 till 10 September 1996.

A Chance for Ecotourism

In addition to analyzing the results from the management of Lake Biwa, there are many other experiences from around the world which may have direct application to the situation in Lake Erhai. The Department of Regional Development and Environment of the Organization of American States, for example, has nearly 30 years of experience in integrated watershed management throughout the Americas, including substantive knowledge in rehabilitating lakes impacted from a variety of sectors. A group of Russian and American Scientists have recently completed a three year study of the Lake Baikal region and developed a comprehensive land use management and investment plan focusing on tourism and other low-impact investments to stimulate the local economy and reduce the impact of resource extraction industries.

Ecotourism is a particularly attractive development alternative also for the Lake Erhai region as it is a non-extractive and productive undertaking which can bring direct and immediate receipts to the community. These developments are not usually large-scale, they do not require large sums for investment, they are flexible in the long run, meeting demand as it changes, and they do not boom and bust in the same manner that many extractive resource industries do. In addition, many universities and NGOs also have accumulated a wealth of experience in water management technologies, the application of which will be examined by IETC and its partners.

Two IETC Technical Publications will emanate from the Lake Erhai project. The first one is a diagnostic study report assessing current state of the environment in the Lake Erhai and Xier River Basins. It will also assess environmental implications of future economic and social development planned under current regional development plans. The second report on environmentally sound technologies will contain:

  1. an assessment of the current technologies used for addressing biodiversity conservation, water resources supply and its quality, waste water management, solid waste management and non-point source of pollution;
  2. information on available alternative technologies; and
  3. an evaluation of the existing institutional arrangements for technology management in the basin.

Finally, 30 local government officials will be trained on environmental management as well as technology transfer issues. 




          		
          
          
	        
    
              

	
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