A study of the Lake Mai-Ndombe ecosystem for the protection of its biodiversity and the sustainable exploitation of its fishery resources (ECOSYM)

Summary

The project aims to study the biodiversity and ecosystem of Lake Mai-Ndombe (LMN), which is part of a large RAMSAR area in order to allow for the conservation and and sustainably exploitation of its fishery resources (FR). Indeed, no in-depth study has been done to understand the ecosysteml functioning of this lake. An important fishery, of key importance to the local population, has developed there, but its impact on the fish stocks is not known. It is therefore difficult to forward strategies for protection and their sustainable use without a basis of scientific knowledge. Hence, the project proposes to: (1) (a) acquire a reliable basic knowledge on the ecological functioning of the LMN, in order to describe and understand the processes underlying its productivity and (b) to propose possible solutions for a better conservation and exploitation of fisheries resources and (2) support (a) the training of research assistants to build up academic capacity and (b) the strengthening of the technical capacities of local research structures.

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