Development support Monitor: Africa in our hands

This report attempts to understand the extent in which people's voices are heard in the commitment and allocation of resources by donors and African governments. Indicators used to measure this are: poverty, food security, agricultural development, resources for grassroots development, regional integration, education, health, water and sanitation. For more on the report you can visit:

http://www.africanmonitor.org/

New book at HOORC Library: soil mineral organic matter-microorganism interactions and ecosystem health

This book is a collection of papers presented at a symposium on "Soil Mineral Organic Matter Microorganism Interactions and Ecosystem Health" held in Italy. Some of the titles discussed include the interaction of soil minerals and organic matter and microorganisms, the dynamics and transformation of metals, metalloids and natural and anthropogenic organics, and metabolic processes growth and ecology of microbes. You can find the book at the HOORC Library.

Natural disasters and development in Botswana: what can communities do to cushion themselves against the adverse effects of floods?

This paper written by K.Maripe and T.Maundeni from the University of Botswana , explores how communities in Botswana can be cushioned against the adverse effects of floods. The authors' argument largely supported by their extensive research in the area of disasters in Botswana as well as existing literature, maintain that communities in Botswana are less resilient to survive the effects of floods because they are not adequately empowered. The paper therefore highlights several ways in which communities could be made resilient to the effects of floods." For more on this paper, you can visit: http://www.preventionweb.net/files/10643_MaripeandMaundenispaper.pdf

Sustainability of Biofuels

The Wageningen University and Research Centre, Ecofys, Environmental Change Network (ECN) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) recently conducted a study on the sustainability of biofuels. Their findings showed that not all sustainability criteria set by the Dutch Cramer Committee for biofuels, will be met if the Netherlands aims at a 10% blending by 2020. This analysis, however, does not take into consideration additional policies to mitigate these negative aspects of biofuels or to stimulate biofuels that are meeting the sustainability criteria. For more on this report visit the CTA site.

UNDP Annual Report 2009

As one of its mandate , the UNDP continues to support developing countries undergoing economic and financial crisis, and upholding its values stated in the Millennium Declaration. UNDP’s commitment to capacity development is spread over 166 countries, working in consultation with national governments and various local and international development partners in drawing up a plan of action for capacity development. In this way, it empowers people, governments, institutions and communities with the the tools and training required to address their own needs in a sustainable way. This demand from developing countries for capacity development support, especially in the area of developing local services increased dramatically in 2008 as countries faced the fallout from the food, fuel and financial crises. As a result, UNDP responded to requests to facilitate capacity assessments and diagnostics in 65 programme countries in 2008. For more on the report you can visit the UNDP site.

Biosciences eastern and central Africa Technical/research paper writing workshop

The Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub is seeking ways to empower the African scientific community to lead the coming agricultural revolution. In its effort to enhance the impact of African science, BecA, has received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to host a workshop on technical research paper writing. The five-day journal article writing workshop will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15 – 21 November, 2009. We are seeking applicants with a strong interest in improving their writing skills. Selected participants will benefit from intensive, hands-on training by professionals from Scriptoria (http://www.scriptoria.co.uk/), a UK-based company that provides development-related communications services. We hope to include scientists from a range of disciplines with varying levels of research experience. Funding for travel and accommodation will be provided. Successful applicants will be notified by 15 October 2009, and provided with information on travel and other logistics. For more information visit the FARA website.

HOORC Seminar Series

In their paper titled, Potential impacts of the production of liquid biofuels on food security, Prof Kgathi and Dr. K.Mfundisi, confirmed an earlier study done in 2003, that there is potential in growing biofuel crops in Botswana. According to them, it is imperative that the country finalises its biofuel policy and proceed with the implementation of the production of fuels. The second paper, Potential impacts on the production of liquid biofuels on ecosystems and social sustainability : the case of Botswana , also by Kgathi and Mfundisi, cited some of the advantages in the production of biofuels for Botswana.These include, access to energy in remote areas outside the electric grid, enhancement of agricultural production and the restoration of degraded areas as drought resistant crops are grown on these lands. Lesego Stone in her presentation, The successes and challenges of community based tourism enterprises, Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust (KRST), remarked that community based tourism enterprises generally expand tourism activities and boost the informal sector in both goods and services . Lately, however, they have been dogged by poor management skills, marketing and lack of community involvement and participation.

New at HOORC's Library: The archaelogy of dry lands

The Archaelogy of drylands by Graeme Barker and David Gilbertson descibes the archaelogy of different kinds of drylands found in various parts of the world, different periods of the past and different kinds of societies. The book also examines the complexities involved in their interactions with each other, given the way in which changing political agendas have tended to demonise or sentimentalise them. You can find the book in HOORC's Library.

Africa Birds and Birding

In the latest issue of Africa Birds and Birding, Birdlife International 's latest evaluation of the world's birds has revealed that more species than ever are threatened with extinction. It has reported that one thousand two hundred and twenty seven species (1227) or 12%, are now classsified as globally threatened, but can be saved when conservation programmes like Birdlife Preventing Extinction Programme are put in place. Birdlife's Global Species programme, states that in Africa, widespread birds of prey are disappearing at an alarming rate, and emblemic species like the Martial Eagle Polemaetus have been uplisted as a result. For more on this article, visit the HOORC Library.

BIOKAVANGO COP meeting

In his presentation, at the BIOKAVANGO community of practice meeting, Mr. Modise from Civil Aviation gave an interesting and informative talk on current developments in the aviation industry in Botswana. He talked about major extensions to the four main airports of Maun, Francistown, Kasane and Ghanzi. These works include construction and extension to runways, construction of new terminal buildings and new control towers. The impact of these developments would mean job creation, face lifts to old buildings, increased traffic, more belly cargo space on the air crafts and the liberalisation of airspace with bigger planes coming in. However, on the downside, people living on the outskirts of the airport would have to be relocated and in the case of Maun airport, there is a big hole that had been created by previous excavation and need to be filled as it has become a health hazard. Where there has been concerns of noise emanating from the bigger planes, he concluded that more and more airlines are retiring old fleet due to noise pollution.

New staff member at HOORC

Dr. Sorcha Diskin has joined HOORC, from the XRD laboratory main campus. She has worked extensively in Scotland and has spent the last two years on main campus running the XRD laboratory. Her research interests include :sedimentary geochemistry, detrial heavy minerals and clay mineralogy. Currently, she is involved in a number of research projects with the Geology Department of UB, and their study involves looking at the Karoo succession in Botswana as well as geological applications in archaelogy.She holds a Phd in Geochemistry from Oxford Brookes University . Welcome Dr. Diskin!

University of Guelph visit to HOORC

This week a group of 12 people (one faculty and eleven students) from the University of Guelph visited HOORC as part of their field course. In the Library, they were taken through the digitisation work done on the legacy collections. Of particular interest to them ,was Doc Heinz's colour slides of bushman life. Later, Mieke Vanderpost gave a presentation on the San people, chronicling their history, unique cultural practices, and their dialect easily identifiable by the click sounds. It was in keeping with the preservation of their culture and to assist them integrate into society that the Kuru Development Trust was established in 1985, for which Meike Vanderpost has been a part of since its establishment. Part of the Trust's activities include the organisation of yearly art cultural music festivals which attract the various San groups. However, she lamented the gradual disappearance of the San culture, notably their rock paintings, for which they are renowed for.

Seminar presentation: Waternet Students

The six Waternet students at HOORC made their first seminar presentations last week Thursday. Floodplain wetlands, by Sifiso Ncube highlighted the importance of floodplain wetlands as both floodbusters (helping reduce the height and speed of floodwaters and filters (improving water quality by trapping sediments ). Violet Kisakye 's presentation "Microorganisms and their significance in wetland ecosystems, talked about the important role microorganism play in wetland ecosystem notably decomposition, nutrient cycles and the removal of toxicants. Rice paddies as wetlands by Victor Kaluba stated that the increasing demand for rice, has resulted in more land under rice paddies, leading to an increase of methane gas emissions. He concluded that alternative methods that inhibit methanogen population rise should be used. Sekela Twisa in her presentation, Mangrove Wetlands, observed that reduction in mangrove area increases the threat of human safety and shoreline developments from hazards such as flooding, storm waves and surges. As a result, this reduces coastal water quality and reduces biodiversity. In his presentation, Wetlands as sources or sinks , Joseph Mwale identified the following attributes that render them either sources or sinks, namely high primary productivity which ensures abundant organic carbon available for sequestration , reduced decomposition due to the anaerobic nature of wetland sediments and low nitrous oxide emissions due to continually water-logged soils and low nitrate levels in many wetlands. Taking a country perspective, in Peatlands: Focus on Mozambique, Susartino Palege described the characteristics of the "machongos" in Mozambique, their functions and values. He concluded that although they have many uses for humankind, they are not only highly susceptible to fires, but can pose major difficulties in the construction of roads and railways as they are highly compressible under even small loads .

State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Food and Agriculture Fisheries and Aquaculture Department has published the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) its flagship publication. This document is published every two years to provide policy-makers, civil society and those whose livelihoods depend on the sector a comprehensive, objective and global view of capture fisheries and aquaculture, including associated policy issues. Each edition of SOFIA also includes an updated version of the FAO World Fisheries and Aquaculture Atlas CD-ROM. You can access the full report on The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA).

New staff member at HOORC

Dr. Richard Fynn has just joined the Ecosystem Unit at HOORC from the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN). A graduate of UKZN university, he has been involved in collaborative research drawing on intercontinental comparisons of the effects of grazing and fire on plant community organisation between Kanza Biological Station in Kansas, the Kruger National Park as well as the Ukulinga Research Farm in Pietermaritzburg. His most recent work has been directed towards developing a general theory of the determinants of habitat quality and herbivore population performance in grazing ecosystems. Welcome Dr Flynn!

Zambezi fish disease

According to the Food And agriculture Organisation, (FAO) , a killer disease is decimating fish stocks in the Zambezi River Valley, threatening the food security and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people in an area shared by seven southern African countries. The most affected country is Zambia, where two thirds of the Zambezi River Basin lies. This has put over 2,000 villages and some 700,000 people at risk of food insecurity as fish is a part of their staple diet. The disease, known as Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, causes lesions on fish and has a high mortality rate. FAO has warned that if not properly contained, the disease could spread to other countries surrounding the Zambezi River as well as river systems in the region. The 1.39 million-square-kilometre Zambezi River Basin is home to some 32 million people, of whom 80 per cent are dependent on agriculture or fishing and fish farming. The Zambezi River Basin also includes Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

New at HOORC's Library: sustainable forestry management and wood production in a global economy

Sustainable Forestry Management and Wood Production in a Global Economy edited by Robert L.Deal, Rachel White and Gary L.Benson, examines emerging issues and key strategies for sustaining wood production while maintaining other forest resources. The book explores a broad range of topics on sustainable forestry at the local and global levels around the world. Achieving a constant flow of forest goods and services to meet the world's needs takes socially and environmentally acceptable solutions and the book offers a diverse set of learned viewpoints integrating production issues within sustainable forest management. You can find the book in HOORC's Library.

Government notices of interest to the Okavango Community

From the Botswana Government Gazette, Vol. XLVII, no. 42 31st
July, 2009

Tender: North West District Council-Gravelling of 2km on Nokaneng internal roads and gravelling of 2km on Gumare internal roads. Tender No. NW/OK/RDS/01/2009

Tender: North West District Council-Gravelling of 2km on Nxamasere internal roads . Tender No. NW/OK/RDS/02/2009

Tender: North West District Council-Dry-grading, sand cushioning and spot improvement of 30km on Nokaneng-Qangwa Xaixai Road.Tender No. NW/OK/RDS/04/2009

Tender: North West District Council-Dry-grading, sand cushioning and spot improvement of 10km on Mohembo-Gani Road. Tender No. NW/OK/RDS/05/2009


Tender announcements and documents may also be found on the Government of Botswana web site. The entire issue of the Government Gazette may be read in HOORC’s Library.

New staff member at HOORC

Dr. D.T. Fanta has just joined HOORC from the Forest Stewardship Council, (FSC) Africa Regional Office in Ghana, where he served as Regional Director from 2003. Originally from Ethiopia, Dr. Fanta has contributed immensely to forest research, education and development not only in Ethiopia but in Africa and to the global community as a whole He has also been instrumental in promoting responsible forest management through the facilitation and certification of FSC national initiatives in Africa. Prior to his appointment as Regional Director (FCS) , he held several powerful positions in his home country including Director General of the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation (EARO). He holds a Phd in Forest Vegetation Ecology . Welcome Dr Fanta !

UNESCO- Water Management Course

UNESCO-IHP, UNESCO-IHE and International Water History Association is offering a course on World History of Water Management, to be held in September in the Netherlands. Speakers will be drawn from different parts of the world to share their experiences. The course aims to provide an overview of historical development in water management including water supply, water harvesting, ecology and governance in different parts of the world. Furthermore, it hopes to develop an appreciation of the role of cultural factors that affect the management of water resources especially during times of scarcity. For more information on the course, you can visit the Unesco Water Portal Site.

Fisheries Training courses at HOORC

The Biokavango Project facilitated a three day GPS training course for Fisheries Division field officers which was undertaken at the HOORC GIS lab between July 28 -30. The aim of the course, conducted by the HOORC senior GIS technician, was to arm these officers with the critical tools needed to enhance their data collection process, especially in mapping data such as data needed to map fishing grounds by the different fishers groups (i.e. recreational, commercial and subsistence). This is one in a series of courses that the Biokavango Project has facilitated this year for the Fisheries Division. One of the most recent courses (May 11 - 15), also conducted by HOORC, was in database management whose aim was to empower the Fisheries Division in database management skills.