LAKE MALAWI/NYASA/NIASSA INVASIVE AQUATIC WEEDS

UNCLAS GABORONE 001668 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S AND OES/PCI DEPT INTERIOR FOR USBR/INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - M. HOOD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EAID MI MZ TZ SUBJECT: LAKE MALAWI/NYASA/NIASSA INVASIVE AQUATIC WEEDS CONFERENCE PLANNED FOR MARCH 2006 REFS: (A) 04 LILONGWE 585; (B) 04 LILONGWE 45; (C) 03 GABORONE 2152; (D) 03 GABORONE 1504; (E) 03 LILONGWE 935; (F) 03 LILONGWE 534 Summary -------------- ¶1. The OES Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) have initiated a $200,000 project to promote collaborative management efforts on Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa (LMNN) among the three Lake nations -- Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. This initiative is designed to advance USG regional security goals by building trust and strengthening regional cooperation between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania concerning joint management of a shared water resource. It also addresses economically critical issues related to invasive aquatic weeds and their impact on electricity production and other income generation activities. The OES Southern Africa Hub Officer visited Malawi October 11-14 to plan a tri-nation invasive aquatic weeds conference with officials of the Government of Malawi and the American Mission. It is planned to hold the conference in late March in Malawi under the auspices of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). End summary. Background -------------- ¶2. In October 2003, the OES Southern Africa Hub Officer, Ted Pierce, who is based at the American Embassy in Gaborone, Botswana, met with officials of SADC's Water Division to discuss collaboration within the context of the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems. The Hub Officer, together with two officials from USBR (one a scientist with technical expertise in invasive aquatic weeds),then visited Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania to assess existing initiatives in cooperative management of LMNN and design follow-on activities. ¶3. In October 2004, the Hub Officer met with SADC and senior water officials of the Governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania in Gaborone. He informed the officials that the U.S. Government remained committed to promoting cooperation on key lake issues by funding a tri- nation conference designed to target the specific urgent technical need to control invasive aquatic weeds. It was agreed that a conference would be held, with Malawi taking the lead in organizing the endeavor. ¶4. It is important to note that the U.S.-sponsored LMNN project will be implemented in collaboration with SADC and in accordance with the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems, which was signed in August 1995 to avoid the threats of water scarcity through enhanced regional water governance. The project will support ongoing efforts of SADC and the three Lake countries to jointly manage critical issues affecting the Lake and will contribute to the overarching goal of the SADC Water Sector: "The attainment of sustainable, integrated planning, development, utilization and management of water resources that contribute to an integrated regional economy on the basis of balance, equity and mutual benefit for all member states." Government of Malawi Ready to Proceed -------------- ¶5. During the Hub Officer's October 2005 visit to Malawi, he met with top officials of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development and the Ministry of Mines, Natural Resources and Environment -- the two Ministries with the greatest responsibility for management of Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa. The Principal Secretary of each Ministry convened a senior staff meeting with the Hub Officer to discuss the initiative. ¶6. The Government of Malawi's response was outstanding. The senior officials expressed a clear recognition that the problem of invasive aquatic weeds needs to be urgently addressed and that the three nations need to start talking officially about the problem. Both Ministries welcomed the conference and expressed their willingness to handle logistical arrangements. SADC Involvement -------------- ¶7. The glue that will hold the initiative together is the SADC Water Division. The Malawian Government officials highlighted the need to hold the conference under the auspices of the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems and requested that SADC invite Mozambique and Tanzania to the conference. ¶8. During a subsequent meeting with SADC water officials on October 21, the Hub Officer verified SADC's interest in supporting this initiative, providing that the three nations are willing to participate and that the Malawi Government -- as the host -- requests SADC to become involved. ¶9. Discussions with the DCM in Embassy Lilongwe indicated strong support for this initiative as well as the willingness of the Embassy to facilitate fiscal transactions through USBR fund cites. Notional Program -------------- ¶10. It was agreed that a two-day conference would take place in late March 2006 at a conference center on the Lake around the theme: "Tripartite Management of Invasive Aquatic Weeds on Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa and the Shire River." ¶11. The objectives of the conference would be: A.) To review technical developments in the field of control of invasive aquatic weeds as well as relevant experiences in such control in the Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa and Shire River systems. B.) To develop and agree on a unified plan of action among the three Lake nations and other interested parties to guide future efforts to control invasive aquatic weeds. ¶12. The Principal Secretary of Mines, Natural Resources and Environment suggested that his Minister might open the conference. The first day would be devoted to scientific and "best practices" presentations that would set the stage for discussion. Presentations would be made by USBR, experts from the three countries, and other participants as appropriate. The second day would be devoted to group discussions of how best to address the problem, culminating in consensus on an action plan. ¶13. Careful selection of conference participants will be very important. About ten participants should attend from each country, and must include senior representatives of each Ministry responsible for water and environment, as well as any other Ministry that is regarded as a key stakeholder in the management of the Lake. In addition, university scientists and key NGOs from each country should be invited as well as active regional NGOs and interested donors. Recent Updates -------------- ¶14. Several developments were reported during the Hub Officer's visit to Lilongwe. -- According to the Department of Environment, salvinia has now overtaken water hyacinth as the biggest problem in the lake/river system. -- Currently, the Malawi electric company, Electric Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM),is undertaking mechanical removal on the Shire River upriver from the water intake pipes for their hydroelectricity generating plant (Ref A). There is also a small amount of community-based physical removal activity. -- The Department of Fisheries continues to maintain a water hyacinth bio-control unit at Mangochi, which produces a weevil that attacks the weed. However, though the unit has been in existence for many years, its activity is dormant due to lack of funding. -- The cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre have successfully removed weeds from small reservoirs using mechanical means. Comment -------------- ¶15. In addition to contributing to USG regional environmental goals, this initiative will enhance USG regional security goals thorough contributing to a mechanism for the nations of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania to discuss and negotiate issues concerning their shared water resource. The Hub Officer will work with SADC, the Government of Malawi, USBR and the Embassies in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania to finalize arrangements for the conference. AROIAN NNNN