As global demand for hydrocarbons increases, new areas for oil and gas fields are now being sought in remote areas previously made inaccessible by technological limitations. Practically unnoticed by the public, such activities are ongoing in the Great Lakes region of East Africa, threatening these ecosystems known for their extremely diverse biota, including the unique adaptive radiation of cichlid fish.

Countries in the region see the exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves as a vital economic opportunity. In the Lake Albert region of Uganda, for example, the government forecasts oil profits of $3.6 billion per year beginning in 2018, an amount almost as high as the country's current annual budget.

However, oil extraction in the Great Lakes region of East Africa poses serious risks to the environment and local communities