FRESHWATER DEMAND AND ECOSYSTEM STABILITY OF DRY LANDS

The book examines the dilemmas that confront the achievement of sustainable development in dry lands. At the heart of this condominium is increasing water needs to satisfy economic development pursuits. This is countered by rapidly changing meteorological conditions associated with climate change that pose significant water supply risks. The result is a clash between capitalist development processes as we have known them through the years, and the objective well-being interests of the present and posterity. Located at center of the great Rift Valley Lake Naivasha is an ideal auditorium for the setting the drama of unbridled economic growth and ecological crises seriously compromise the future. Located in a sub-Saharan African country, Lake Naivasha is a mesh of contrasts. In its vicinity resides poverty amidst wealth, large scale irrigation sharing borders with rain fed agriculture, sedentary lifestyle amidst nomads , human settlement within wildlife. It offers opportunities for immense wealth and sadly poses severe challenges to development. This book reports on the water crises that faces the Naivasha and offers lessons for similar places worldwide.