A biodiversity assessment of the Flamingo Lakes of eastern Africa

Abstract

The Flamingo Lakes are part of a chain of lakes found on the floor of the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley of Africa.The Eastern Rift Valley has three distinctive ecological types of lakes based on their physio-chemical constitution. These include (i) fresh water lakes with low ionic concentration (ii) moderately saline lakes with conductivity ranging from 600-6,000 mS/cm and (iii) hyper-saline “soda” lakes with conductivity ranging from 6,000-160,000 mS/cm. The Flamingo Lakes fall in the third category and they are the major feeding and nesting grounds of Flamingos. These lakes are all hyper-saline and highly alkaline hence the name “soda” lakes. The Flamingo Lakes are distinctively different from the other two types of Rift Valley lakes in that they have: a very high pH - above 9.6, hypersalinity with electrical conductivity ranging from 6,000-160,000 mS/cm, and high alkalinity caused by sodium carbonate salt called trone (Na2CO3.10H2O). The Flamingo Lakes in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania include Lakes Bogoria, Nakuru, Magadi and Elmenteita in Kenya; Manyara, Natron and Eyasi in Tanzania; Abijata, Shalla and Chitu in Ethiopia. The biodiversity value of the Flamingo Lakes can be viewed in three ways: (i) as a continuous resource system of lakes, wetlands, and savannah vegetation that is shared by riparian countries (ii) as part of a migratory pathway for water birds such as the palearctic flyers and (iii) as a framework for addressing shared natural resource management problems. The Flamingo Lakes and their associated environs in Eastern Africa are well known as the cradle of mankind. The area has a long history of human evolution and socio-cultural diversification. This has enabled the indigenous peoples of the Rift Valley, especially in Ethiopia, to domesticate wild plants which have become a major food source for modern day civilisation. Wild plants are used medicinally for both humans and domestic animals and there is a need to conserve these resources before they are lost altogether. The biodiversity of these lakes is threatened by both natural and anthropogenic activities. Climatic change has accelerated water stress in the lake catchment. Deforestation, agriculture, livestock, industries, mining, soil erosion, fertilisers, and conflict in resource use in the region have caused the deterioration of the lake environment. Information gaps do exist in the baseline biodiversity of these lakes. Regular ecological monitoring is required. It is proposed that in order to make an impact on the conservation of biodiversity values in the Flamingo Lakes, management-driven basic scientific research is needed. This research should be used to make informed decisions in the management, conservation, and wise use of the Flamingo Lakes. Advocacy, networking, the improvement and harmonisation of conservation policies and legal framework in the three Eastern Africa riparian countr ies should be facilitated. International collaboration in terms of financial assistance, expertise, and ratification of international treaties is also required.