Robert Jellison

Abstract: Conservation and Management of the World’s Increasingly Threatened Salt Lakes

Salt lakes are widespread throughout the arid and sub-arid regions of the world and include a diverse array of aquatic ecosystems of considerable ecological value.  Changes in the size and salinity of salt lakes markedly affect their ecological values and throughout much of the 20th century most large salt lakes have shrunk or been desiccated due to water diversions for irrigated agriculture. During the past several decades their ecological importance, especially to migrating and breeding birds, has been widely recognized and conservation efforts have been initiated by international, national, and local non-governmental organizations. Improved agricultural practices, reallocations and restrictions on water rights, and large-scale engineering projects have all played a role in the conservation of salt lakes. However, economic development and population increases are causing ever-increasing demands for fresh water and salt lakes remain among the most imperiled natural habitats. Their fates will largely be decided by this generation.