More than 200 world experts and officials gathered Wednesday in eastern China's Jiangxi Province to discuss sustainable lake management at the 11th International Living Lakes Conference.

 

The conference, the first of its kind in China, is a platform for participants to share success stories of how to balance agricultural development and lake protection, said Marion Hammerl, president of Global Nature Fund (GNF), the conference sponsor.

 

Participants will also discuss avian influenza and wildlife habitat conservation.

 

Despite big efforts to protect lakes, the current situation is still grim as more that half of the 25 lakes in the Living Lakes Network are facing serious problems caused by agricultural pollution. The safety of local water resources is threatened, according to Marion Hammerl.

 

In addition, increasing population, industrialization and urbanization have had a severe impact on the lakes' biodiversity.

 

The CNF president called for joint efforts by governments and international organizations to curb the "dangerous situation" of lake pollution and enhance protection of lakes and wetlands.

 

The Living Lakes Network, which has 43 members, was initiated by GNF in 1998 in order to enhance the protection, restoration and rehabilitation of lakes, wetlands, other world freshwater bodies.

 

Poyang Lake in Jiangxi, the largest freshwater lake in China, joined the Living Lakes Network in 2003.

 

The organization had twice before held meetings in Asian countries -- respectively in Japan and the Philippines.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2006)