While there is much discussion about the ways and means of managing international river systems, there has been less awareness of the nature of lakes as international water systems. Even though many of the world's large lake systems are shared by two countries or more, lakes have been discussed mainly in terms of water quality, wetland ecosystems, fauna and flora, and catchment management. One objective of the 14 November workshop will be to provide conference participants an opportunity to appreciate how international lake systems should be managed to achieve harmonization of the environment and socio-economic development.

Another objective of the workshop will be to contribute to development of the World Lake Vision, which is being led by the International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC) in Shiga, Japan. The World Lake Vision will be a guiding document for the future management of lakes. The UNU will make best use of previous experience and knowledge in international water system management by taking responsibility for the international water system part of the World Lake Vision development. The workshop will serve as an initial step toward UNU participation in the World Lake Vision development.

Workshop speakers will be globally renowned leading experts in the field of international water system management, including Prof. Jose Galizia Tundisi, International Institute of Ecology, Brazil; Prof. Chris H.D. Magadza, Lake Kariba Research Institute, Zimbabwe; Prof. Genady N. Golubev, Moscow State University, Russia; Dr. Libor Jansky, UNU; Prof. Mikiyasu Nakayama, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology; and Dr. Juha I. Uitto, Global Environment Facility Secretariat, USA.

The workshop will start at 7 p.m. on November 14 in the Convention Hall OHMI of the Otsu Prince Hotel. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. A copy of the tentative program is attached for your reference.

For more information, or to reserve a place at the workshop, please contact the UNU Public Affairs Section.