Dear Reader,

While living in East Africa over the past few years, I have travelled throughout the Great Lakes region and witnessed the importance these lakes hold for the communities that depend on them. I have also seen how each lake has its own story when it comes to the impacts of climate change.

Lake Victoria, the largest of the Great Lakes, drew my attention. I became interested in investigating the story behind its rising waters and the consequences for the people and ecosystems surrounding it. Because of the many Sunday afternoons I spent along the lakeshore, I had become familiar with the landscapes of the lake’s typical wetlands. Yet I realised I knew very little about their ecological role, their influence on the surrounding environment, or their potential to be part of a solution to the challenges posed by rising water levels.

While investigating this story, I was once again confronted with the complex challenge at the heart of climate action and nature conservation: finding a balance between protecting fragile ecosystems and providing sustainable solutions for the most vulnerable communities, many of whom depend directly on their environment for their livelihoods and survival.

Experiencing both perspectives was incredibly enriching. I attended the Venice Agreement workshop in June, where scientists, artists, and experts from around the world came together to share knowledge on protecting wetlands, offering a global view of the challenges ahead. I visited the local communities that depend on these wetlands and experienced the consequences of climate change firsthand.

It was an honor to feel welcomed into the Lake Victoria region and to portray its extraordinary biodiversity, from vast papyrus wetlands to fishing communities whose lives are deeply intertwined with the lake.

Take a look at some of the unseen photographs that we couldn’t include in the story:

Warmly,
Michiel Robberecht
Contributor, The Xylom

🌞 NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

• 📸 Malaysian readers, mark your calendars! Our Editor-at-Large KC Cheng is participating in the Radical Tenderness exhibition at Blank Canvas in Georgetown, Penang, from Thursday, August 13th to Sunday, August 16th.

• 🥵 Exactly one year ago, we published a feature on why rooftop solar power failed to take off in Hong Kong, which paradoxically has one of the most fossil-fuel-dependent electricity grids among developed regions despite being one of the densest, wealthiest, and transit-friendly cities in the world.

  One year later, the city has dismantled its only commercial wind turbine — and today, sweltered through its hottest day on record. It’s a good day to take a refresher on where the city’s energy policy falls short.

• 🐆 Last week, we syndicated Saugat Bolakhe’s reporting on Nepal’s leopard conservation challenges. Check out more behind-the-scenes tidbits on Saugat’s blog The Curious Biome.

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