Chobe Elephants March To Gaborone?

Chobe elephants have been trying to find an ancient route to their former habitat in Gaborone over the past week. About 12 elephants were sighted less than 80km from the capital, as wildlife officers’ battle to drive the elephants from Chobe National Park into the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) and Khutse Game Reserve.

Missionary records show that the area around Kolobeng and Gaborone used to be populated with elephants that white travellers killed for the ivory trade. Gaborone is about 1,000km from the Chobe National Park. On Tuesday, two elephants were seen two kilometres from Molepolole or 52km from Gaborone, in Suping village, before they were driven away by wildlife officers. Now they are reported to be in the village of Ditshukudung, as wildlife officers attempt to drive them into the Khutse Game Reserve and the CKGR.

Kweneng regional wildlife coordinator, Dimakatso Ntsebe said 12 elephants have been seen in the area in separate groups over the last week.  The largest group of seven elephants were sighted in Khudumelajwe.

Meanwhile, it looks like wildlife officers are struggling to drive back the elephants. Two of the wild animals spotted outside Molepolole were close to reaching Lentswe-le-tau village on Wednesday, before the army intervened to help wildlife officers.

On Friday some of the animals were reported to be 8km from Ditshukudu. Ntsebe says the Chobe elephants have been marching into the CKGR and the Khutse Game Reserve in high numbers lately in search of pasture and watering holes.

For more read http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=11515&fb_action_ids=826505854030259&fb_action_types=og.comments

Huge rains that have fallen over many parts of Ngamiland

Huge rains that have fallen over many parts of Ngamiland, Ghanzi District and the Central District have left roads underwater and flooded out hotels, lodges and other properties. These dramatic pictures show the damage to parts of the Nata area – the flooded entrance to upmarket Nata Lodge, a truck ploughing through the rain and the Nata River almost at the top of the main bridge which was increased in height several years ago after a similar flood. The lodge has
been closed for business as a result of the flooding. The rainwater has also resulted in a rise of the level of the Thamalakane River.http://www.ngamitimes.com/2014/03/huge-rains-fallen-many-parts-ngamiland/

Poaching and illegal wildlife trade threaten tourism and development options in Africa

Panelists at an event held in Berlin, Germany, during ITB — the world’s largest tourism fair concurred  that record poaching levels of rhinos and elephants are not only threatening the basis of tourism but also tourism-based development options in Africa.

 

In his opening remarks, Hon. Moses Kalongashawa, Minister of Tourism and Culture in Malawi, and Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Tourism noted that the issue of poaching is of huge concern and Africa is losing wildlife at record rates each year to poachers and illegal trade. He said this was because of the involvement of organized criminal syndicates in elephant and rhino poaching, with criminals now deploying advanced technologies ranging from night vision scopes, silenced weapons, darting equipment and helicopters, to carry out their missions.

For more information visit: http://www.traffic.org/home/2014/3/7/poaching-and-illegal-wildlife-trade-threaten-tourism-and-dev.html

Rain to continue

The Department of Meteorological Services wishes to advice the public that the torrential rains that have been prevailing over most parts of the country in the past couple of days are expected to continue up to the end of the week.
Given that the recent rains have resulted in a lot of water on the ground there is a high possibility of increased flash flood events/incidents occurring in some parts of the areas affected by the current rains.
The public is therefore adviced to exercise utmost caution as they go about their daily chores or businesses to lessen risks of accidents related to the flooding occurring.

The department will keep watch over the developing weather situation and will update the public accordingly. For information, contact the director at 3612272 or forecasting office at 3612282.

Visiting elephant causes concern!

THE lone bull elephant that has been making its way across commercial and game farms in the Hochfeld and Omitara areas of Namibia for the past two weeks is causing increased concern.

While some farmers in the area were thrilled at the sight of the pachyderm on their land, several people have pointed out that the elephant’s life could be in danger as a result of human-animal conflict.
The concern rises from the fact that the elephant will “inevitably” cause some type of damage to farm infrastructure such as fences or water installations, and as a result, farmers and government could deem it a ‘problem animal’, with fatal consequences.
The backlash could be severe. As a result of complaints, the elephant could be marked as a problem animal, and killed.
However, Colgar Sikopo, head of the Directorate of Regional Services and Parks Management yesterday dismissed these concerns, and said that the ministry has no reason for now to take steps against the elephant’s presence there.
He said that ministry officials are closely monitoring the movement of the elephant, and that thus far, he has caused minimal damage and there is no reason to interfere with his passage.
Sikopo admitted that last week a farmer in the area lodged a complaint, claiming that the elephant had damaged his boundary fence. An MET team was dispatched and reported back that the elephant had caused only “minor damage”, Sikopo said.
Sikopo said that as far as the ministry is concerned, the elephant is moving in its natural habitat and there is no reason for the MET or the farmers to be concerned about its well being or right to be there.

Read more at http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=9165&page_type=story_detail

Invitation: First Seminar of ORI Series (Thursday 6th March 2014)

You are invited to a presentation by Dr Moseki Motsholapheko on Thursday, 6th March 2014 at 3pm in the student room. The presentation is titled “Social capital and household adaptation to flood variability in the Okavango Delta, Botswana”.

 

OKAVANGO RESEARCH INSTITUTE - CALL FOR PAPERS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

SUSTAINABLE USE OF WETLANDS: challenges of conservation and management in dynamic socio-ecological systems 

Dates   :           28^th July – 1^st August 2014

Venue  :           Maun Lodge, Maun, Botswana.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 30 April 2014

Background

Wetlands are dynamic and productive ecosystems that support the livelihoods of millions of rural people in the world through their ecosystem functions and services. They also act as basis for a rich cultural tradition. In addition, they contribute to important ecosystem processes on a larger scale through their biogeochemical functions and their impact on the hydrological cycle and climate.  However, the geographical extent of wetlands is decreasing as a result of their transformation and economic development. There is a risk that the valuable ecosystem services of wetlands will be degraded or even be lost in future.  It is therefore important for research and planning to draw attention to the importance and the sustainable use of wetlands.  The symposium aims at improving our understanding of wetland dynamics by exploring all facets of variability and change in wetland systems. Furthermore, the Symposium will review existing knowledge and present the most recent research findings on wetlands dynamics and management options.

 

Objectives of the Symposium

The general objective of the Symposium is to provide an open forum for the exchange of views among wetland academics, policy makers, planners, community members, and nature conservation professionals.

Specific objectives are:

·         To understand flora and fauna responses to the dynamics and heterogeneity of biogeochemical processes and primary production in wetlands.
·         To determine appropriate management regimes of wetland flora and fauna (including fish) for sustainable utilisation.
·         To assess the economic and ecological value of wetlands to inform policy and planning.
·         To assess the linkages between the dynamics of ecosystem services and human well-being in wetlands
·         To discuss the effects of hydrological processes on the functioning of wetlands, particularly in relation to climate change,
·         To assess the socio-cultural, economic and environmental impacts of tourism on wetlands.
·         To examine how human activities (e.g. mining, agriculture, water diversion/ abstraction) affect wetland ecosystem functioning.
·         To analyse contemporary issues, opportunities and challenges (such as climate change, policy needs) in wetland sustainability and governance
·         To explore how research findings can be effectively communicated to stakeholders for sustainable management of wetlands.

Papers are invited on the subthemes outlined and others falling within the scope of the Conference.

1.      Wetlands Ecosystem Services and Human well-being:
2.      Economic valuation of Wetlands
3.      Wetlands hydrology: Biogeochemical cycling
4.      Wetlands ecological dynamics (macrophytes and macro-fauna)
5.      Biogeochemical cycling
6.      Anthropogenic transformation of wetland landscapes
7.      Management and conservation of wetlands fisheries
8.      Sustainable Tourism
9.      Wetland governance
10.  Knowledge translation, research communication, environmental education and extension in wetlands

PRACTICAL DETAILS

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES OF ABSTRACTS

1.      Abstracts should be in English(UK), no more than 200-250 words using Times New Roman 12 point font, one inch margins (top, bottom, and sides), and single spacing (demonstrating your adherence to the conference title).

2.      Abstracts should be written and formatted according to the guidelines of the APA Publication Manual (6th Edition).

3.      The following information should be included: abstract title, names and affiliations of all authors, and contact information (including phone and email) of the principal author

4.      Documents should be saved in Microsoft Word format.

5.      Abstracts should be submitted online or by email to kmosepele@ori.ub.bw

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR FULL PAPERS

1. Length: maximum 6000 - 7000 words (1.5) spaced typed pages with a font size of 12 (Times New Roman).
2. Content and structure: (1) Introduction, (2) Methods, (3) Results, (4) Conclusions and (5) References, with the aspects mentioned in the first paragraph included.
3. The following information should be included: abstract title, names and affiliations of all authors, and contact information (including phone and email) of the principal author
4. Documents should be saved in Microsoft Word format.
5. Full Papers should be submitted online or by email to: kmosepele@ori.ub.bw

COST OF PARTICIPATION

World Early Registration:      US$400           Students:                      US$200 Late Registration:       US$ 500     Students:                    US$250

SADC Early Registration:      $300 Late Registration:       $400

Botswana Based: Participants                                             Early Registration ALL=$90              Students=$60 Late Registration ALL=$100             Students=$80

Organizations Early Registration : $230 Late Registration :  $290

Special sessions Early Registration:      $700 Late Registration:       $900

Display stalls Early Registration:      $150 Late Registration:       $ 200

 

TIMELINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS & FULL PAPERS

ITEM	DUE DATE
Abstract submission	30 April 2014
Notification of acceptance to authors	15 May 2014
Submission of full manuscripts	30 June 2014

For Conference details visit :  www.ori.ub.bw/wetlands-symposium-2014

http://www.ub.bw/eventdet/tid/2235/Symposium-on-Sustainable-Use-of-Wetlands:-Challenges-of-Conservation-and-Management-in-Dynamic-Socio-Ecological-Systems/