Lake Atitlan in Guatemala is “Threatened Lake of the Year 2009”

(businesspress24) - Radolfzell, 2009-03-21: In the context of the 5th World Water Forum, which is currently taking place in Istanbul, the environmental foundation Global Nature Fund (GNF) will nominate the Lake Atitlán in Guatemala as the “Threatened Lake of the Year 2009“. GNF together with local organisations is demanding the implementation of sustainable measures to protect Lake Atitlán and the improvement of its water quality. Pollution from agriculture and households led to a large-area algal growth which was released by cyano bacteria and now covers up to 75% of the water surface of the lake. Lying in a volcanic crater the lake is an important drinking water reservoir, habitat for humans and animals as well as a point of attraction for national and international tourists.

The originally good water quality of the lake is exposed to rising pollution in particular in the shoreline sections located in the proximity of municipalities. Moreover e.g. in October 2005 the hurricane Stan destroyed the water treatment plant of the city Panajachel and has still not been repaired. Waste water is flowing directly and untreated into the lake. The increasing number of inhabitants and tourists in this region is intensifying this problem. Also, litter is stored either in „wild “dumping grounds without treatment measures for the conditioning of the leaching effluent or disposed of directly into the lake.

GNF supports its partner organisation, Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala, in requiring the implementation of concrete measures for the protection of nature and environment at Lake Atitlán. Therefore, the continuous and long-term acquisition of data is an important step, in order to analyse algal growth and successfully work to eradicate it. In campaigns, organised by the Guatemalan environmentalists, the inhabitants of Lake Atitlán are extensively and continuously informed about the water problem. The Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala asks the Guatemalan Authority for Sustainable Development and the Department of the Environment to provide necessary funds available for the implementation of urgently needed measures for the restoration of sewage and waste treatment.

74% of the people in Guatemala live in poverty, 34% even in extreme poverty. Therefore it is not surprising that other topics, like building of schools and the establishment of a health system often have higher priorities regarding the distribution of the existing budgetary funds. Although the occurrence of the algae carpet aroused large concern amongst the population. Eduardo Secaira, director of the Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala hopes that ”finally our demands for the implementation of sustainable measures of restoration are noticed and taken seriously by the national government.“

During the 5th World Water Forum, taking place in Istanbul from 16th to 22nd March, water experts, government delegations and representatives of different associations from the whole world will discuss new strategies, concepts and measures for finding solutions to global water problems. GNF is already acting while supporting its partner organisation Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala during the implementation of concrete measures for the preservation of Lake Atitlán. The official nomination of the „Threatened Lake of the Year “takes place on Saturday, 21st March at the World Water Forum.


Background:

Lake Atitlán is the third biggest fresh water lake in Guatemala and is located in the western highlands. Laying in a breath-taking landscape the lake is in a volcanic crater and has a surface of 130 sq km. In the area near by the volcano as well as in the lake there is a unique biodiversity of fauna and flora. Although the lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the county, the region is one of the poorest in Guatemala. Most of the population is living in poverty and predominantly make their living from agriculture.

Since November 2006, Lake Atitlán represented by the partner organisation Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala is associated member in the world-wide network Living Lakes, which has grown to 55 lakes.

Since 2004, GNF annually nominates the “Threatened Lake of the Year“, in the last years nominated lakes were the South American Pantanal, the African Lake Victoria and the Dead Sea in the Middle East.

Companyinformation / profile:
Global Nature Fund is a non-profit, private, independent international foundation for the protection of environment and nature. The headquarters are located in Radolfzell at Lake Constance, Germany. Since 2003, the Global Nature Fund has also an office in Bonn, Germany.

The Living Lakes network has been initiated in 1998, it is a global network of environmental partnership organisations striving for the protection of lakes and wetlands worldwide. The Living Lakes network, which is coordinated by the GNF, successfully and effectively supports the regions concerned. Several projects also are sponsored from a range of companies such as Daimler, Reckitt Benckiser, Deutsche Lufthansa, T-Mobile, Ziemann, Sika, Osram and C&A.


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Contact:
Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4
78315 Radolfzell, Germany Phone.: +49 - 77 32 - 99 95 – 0
Fax: + 49 - 77 32 - 99 95 – 88
E-Mail: office(at)globalnature.org
Webpage: www.globalnature.org
PressContact / Agency:
Contact:
Global Nature Fund (GNF)
Fritz-Reichle-Ring 4
78315 Radolfzell, Germany Phone.: +49 - 77 32 - 99 95 – 0
Fax: + 49 - 77 32 - 99 95 – 88
E-Mail: office(at)globalnature.org
Webpage: www.globalnature.org

contact information:
Company: Global Nature Fund


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