Sustainable management of water resources under climate change to alleviate poverty in the Lake Chad basin

Lake Chad is situated in the poverty stricken Sahel region of Africa. Its surface area has reduced about 90% its original size between 1963 and 2001. More than 30 million people depend on it for water supply for domestic use, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, infant industries and navigation. Implications of reducing water resources are varied regarding sustainable development and poverty reduction as the Lake itself supports a major fishery shared by all nations; a major livestock industry; among other activities. The purpose of this inter-disciplinary project is to formulate a sustainable approach to manage water resources in the Lake Chad basin in order to reduce poverty. This project will benefit the target population which consists mainly of farmers, graziers and fishermen.