Management of water quality and quantity in lakes in Northern Ecuador using a catchment-based approach

The lakes in Northern Ecuador provide important ecosystem services to local communities, such as fisheries, acting as a tourist attraction pole, and providing drinking water to cities or irrigation water for agriculture. The quality and quantity of water in the lakes, however, is declining and there is a need for sustainbele management of these lakes. The aim of this project is to assess the ecological status of four major lakes in the region and to link water quality issues in these lakes with human activities in the catchment basis. This information will be used by stakeholders to provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of four major lakes in Northern Ecuador.