1. Olivia Stewart & Mia DeRobertis
Lake Chad
Olivia Stewart & Mia DeRobertis

2. Lake Chad Was once the second largest lake in the world
Located in Central North Africa
Shares its shores with Niger, Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon
Provides water for 20 million people
Very important for irrigation and fishing
Started shrinking in the past 50 years

3. Why It Is Shrinking
Drought of the 1970s dried up the northern region of the lake
People constantly fighting over its resources is taking away from it
Desertification; land too dry to support life
Bad management of irrigation systems going out of the lake
Pollution is causing the climate change that is causing Lake Chad's shrinking
Dry climate evaporates water
Major overgrazing of animals

4. How Much It Has Shrunk Over Time
Has been shrinking for the past 50 years
About 1/20th of its normal size
Has shrunk by 90% of its original size
In early 1960s was larger than Vermont,
now smaller than Rhode Island

5. Impacts and Effects Loss of fisheries
Less water for irrigation or drinking water
Causes tension between countries because sharing limited resources
The overgrazing causing loss of vegetation and drier climate
Conflict between farmers and fishers on who gets to use the lakes resources/water
Farmers and cattle herders moving
away to greener areas

6. Prevention
Plans of building a dam and 60 miles of canals that will pump water up the Congo River, then the Chari River into Lake Chad
World Bank provides 10.6 million dollars towards a project that will reverse water and land degradation
Livestock herders are being educated on gaining access to grazing and water areas to prevent overgrazing