The lakes of Africa provide outstanding examples of biodiversity. Some hundreds of species of aquatic fauna, especially fishes, have been created through evolution taking place in environments which became isolated from each other. The lakes also provide an outstanding example of the loss of biodiversity: in Lake Victoria at least 200 species of fish have almost certainly become extinct through human activities. These lakes have, since Mankind's origin in Africa, provided high-quality animal protein food and with improved management they could provide much more, which adds greatly to their scientific and economic interest.

A substantial proportion of the population in the area concerned depends on fuel-wood as its major source of fuel. As a result, forests around towns — as in the case of Upper Pokhara Valley — are undergoing degradation. Private forestry could be an attractive option to control or even to reverse this process. Besides providing employment and income opportunities to fanners, this would help to alleviate pressure on commonland forests and control erosion.