Growing human pressures on lakes and aquifers

Background

11th largest lake in the world

A freshwater lake located at the junction of four countries: Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon

Problem

lost 90 percent of its surface area between 1963 and 1990

impacting fishing, farming, and grazing

Economic Growth Pressure

Expanding irrigated agriculture (especially for cotton, rice and vegetables) has diverted large volumes of river water that would otherwise reach the lake.​

Construction of multiple upstream dams and reservoirs for irrigation and hydropower has reduced river discharge; for example, in one sub‑basin, upstream earth dams cut annual flow from about 7 km³ to about 0.45 km³.

Population Migration Pressure

Rapid population growth in the Lake Chad Basin, combined with in‑migration of people fleeing drought and conflict in surrounding areas, has increased demand for water, grazing land and fuelwood around the lake. (Basin population grew from about 13 million in 1960 to roughly 40 million by 2022,)

About 60% of basin residents depend on agriculture; rising numbers intensify irrigation, overgrazing and fuelwood extraction on shrunken lake margin

Management

Irrigation adequately planned out

Member states of Lake Chad Basin Commission Investing in information institution and infrastructure

Request support from the international communities