SUSTAIN Eco: Community led water conservation at Lake Kwela, Tanzania
The restoration of Lake Kwela led by SUSTAIN Eco serves as a model for integrated landscape management. Faced with severe degradation from sedimentation, agricultural encroachment, and livestock pressure, the lake has been revived through a multi-stakeholder approach combining nature-based solutions, afforestation, buffer zone protection, and infrastructure for sustainable water access. Community engagement was central to the effort, with local committees involved in every stage—from tree planting to water quality monitoring.
SUSTAIN Ecosystem stewardship to balance sustainability and growth in Tanzania (SUSTAIN Eco) is a 10-year programme implemented by a consortium of partners—International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, consortium lead), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV). The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) funds the programme.
