Project: Sustainable Management of Lake Bosomtwe

Project: Sustainable Management of Lake Bosomtwe

Call for Proposals

1           Background

Lake Bosomtwe with a rim diameter of 10.5 km and a maximum depth of 78m is a natural freshwater lake that originated from a meteorite impact about 1.3 million years ago. Located in the Ashanti Region, It is the only natural lake in Ghana and one of the six major meteoritic lakes in the world.

The lake and its catchment have a rich biological diversity and is a habitat for fish predominantly tilapia and globally endangered commercial timber species such as Khaya senegalensis. Other ecologically sensitive sites include sacred groves and the Bosomtwe Range forest reserve.

2           Rationale

Existing traditional laws have helped to prevent overexploitation of resources in the lake and its catchment area by the 26 indigenous communities who depend on it economically. However given external challenges such as population growth and climate change, this traditional conservation regime needs to be buttressed with additional measures to safeguard the lake and its ecosystem for posterity.

For over three decades, UNESCO through the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) has promoted the management of ecosystems within the concept of biosphere reserves (BR). MAB combines natural and social sciences, economics and education to improve human livelihoods while safeguarding natural ecosystems. BRs are sites established to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science.

3           Call for Proposals

UNESCO with help from the Spanish Ministry of Environment Marine and Rural Affairs is over a 2 year period supporting sustainable management and conservation of the lake. Specific project objectives include:

1. To document dying cultures and what replaces them, if any, for the conservation of Lake Bosomtwe.
2. To identify and document sources of water to Lake Bosomtwe and their seasonality.
3. To promote soil and water conservation and good agricultural practices in the catchments.
4. To promote alternative sources of livelihood, such as fish farming and agroforestry practices.
5. To develop a comprehensive and long term lake water quality monitoring programme as a tool for water quality management.
6. To build capacity, especially at the community level for monitoring and protection of the lake and its basin resources.
7. To create community based water conservation approaches as integral part of water development projects and programmes.
8. To set up a management system made up of the relevant stakeholders with an appropriate organizational set up to help ensure sustainable management of the lake.
9. To enhance public awareness of the importance of water in all human development agenda.
10. To promote and support the creation of a biosphere reserve in the area.

Interested organisations / applicants are therefore invited to submit proposals to meet one or more of the above objectives.

4           Submission

Proposals must include the following sections:

·         Brief description of the proposed action

·         Problem to be solved, relevance to project objectives, target group and expected results

·         Main project activities and methodologies to be used

·         Operational capacity and experience with the issues to be addressed

·         Detailed work plan and budget with timelines

Proposals should be submitted to accra@unesco.org by 15th February 2012. Indicate “Lake Bosomtwe Project” in the subject line. All enquiries may also be directed to the same address

OR

directly to: UNESCO Accra Cluster Office, No. 4 Royal Palm Street, North Dzorwulu, Accra.