Lake Tanganyika is the second largest lake in Africa.
It is a valuable lifeline that supplies water and food to the people of Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Burundi.
Lake Tanganyika is now at risk from water pollution, overfishing, and other human threats.
In addition to illegal fishing practices and excessive deforestation without regard to sustainability, soil erosion is a problem due to the influx of sediment from populous Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Burundi, in particular, has a large population and many coffee farmers.
Because of coffee cultivation and other agricultural development, the soil drains into the lake.
In order to protect the rich ecosystem, there is a movement to implement eco-tourism by establishing no-take zones and strengthening protection of the surrounding areas, thereby increasing tourism and promoting more environmental protection.
The key will be to strike a balance with the original purpose of environmental conservation without using more natural resources than necessary for tourism.
Learn more about the countries surrounding Lake Tanganyika → "A Tragedy Unknown to the World: The Democratic Republic of the Congo"
(Photo: giulio napolitano/Shutterstock.com)