Lake Tanganyika is one of the “hot spots” of global biodiversity. Its biodiversity is threatened by the impact of human activity on the lake and its watershed. The Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project (PBLT) was designed as a means to provide a regional framework for the management of the lake and the protection of its biodiversity. The Special Biodiversity Study (ESBIO) provided technical advice to the project on techniques for designing biodiversity exploration and on current management approaches used for biodiversity conservation. We have also undertaken a range of training and skills building activities to support the goals of the PBLT.