THEME: Natural Resource Research: Implication for management and conservation
Dates: 17th – 19th March 2015
Venue: Botswana Wildlife Training Institute, Maun,
Botswana.
Background
Natural resources research should inform action, conservation and
management, and as such studies should seek to produce knowledge that is
applicable outside of the research setting, with
implications for policy and project implementation. Botswana is a
large country with low human population densities. Extensive wilderness areas
support high densities of natural resources, and Botswana is one of the last
refuges of species requiring open range. As a result Botswana still remains a
stronghold for some of the world’s globally threatened species, such as the
African elephant, wild dog and others. While the distribution of natural
resources in Botswana is fairly well documented, there are still knowledge gaps
in their management and conservation status, including threats and challenges. It is therefore important for research and planning, in
Botswana and other countries with similar conditions, to draw attention to the
importance. and the sustainable use, of natural resources. The symposium
aims at improving our understanding of natural resources dynamics by exploring
all facets of variability and change in ecosystems as well as their management
and conservation around the world. Furthermore, the Symposium will review
existing knowledge and present the most recent research findings on ecosystem
dynamics and management options.
The general
objective of the Symposium is to provide an open
forum for the exchange of views among natural resources professionals,
academics and practitioners regarding the implication of research findings on
management and conservation of natural resources.
Specific objectives are:
·
To understand flora and fauna responses to the dynamics and
heterogeneity of biogeochemical processes and primary production.
·
To determine appropriate
management and conservation regimes of natural resources for sustainable
utilisation.
·
To assess the economic and
ecological value of natural resources to inform policy and planning.
·
To assess the
linkages between the dynamics of ecosystem services and human well-being
·
To examine how human activities (e.g. mining, agriculture, water
diversion/ abstraction) affect ecosystem processes and functions.
·
To
explore how research findings can effectively influence management and
conservation of natural resources
Papers
are invited on the sub-themes outlined and others falling within the scope of
the Conference.
Sub-theme
1: Ecosystem Dynamics
Ecological
processes occur at landscape scale and it is increasingly apparent that these
processes determine the health and status of the landscapes and their dependant
wildlife populations. The resulting
mosaic of high and low herbivore densities and the associated seasonal
movements shape the carnivore guild. Here the focus is on the vegetation and
wildlife ecology of wetlands, including material and energy flows, productive
functions, interactions and variation. Within this sub-theme, then, we are
looking for contributions which deal with ecological processes from succession
in plant communities through to migrations of animals and birds. This sub-theme
includes a variety of topics including: Wetlands Hydrology, Biogeochemical
cycling, vegetation and wildlife ecology, and Energy flow and how these
processes and functions are affected by climate change.
Sub-them
2: Managing Ecosystems
This
theme addresses issues and debates related to management of natural resources
which are generally characterized by diverse exploitation gears, have various
(and sometimes competing) uses, and diverse species assemblages in a highly
variable environment. One of the key questions facing these is to determine the
most appropriate management regime of natural resources in order to derive
maximum benefits from them. The theme
will include topics such as Trans Frontier conservation, Managing natural
resources, Governance of natural resources, Monitoring of natural resources,
evaluation of management practices (e.g. translocation, compensations, fire,
waterholes)
Sub-theme
3: People and Ecosystems
Ecosystem
services (ESS) are defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment as the
benefits obtained by people from ecosystems. These services are categorized
into four main types of provisioning, cultural, regulating, and supporting
services. As a result of human activities, wetlands ESS are being depleted at
an alarming rate, worldwide. Changes in ESS adversely affect human well-being
through reduced supply of the basic needs. The adverse impacts on ESS tend to
affect the poor more than the rich as they are more vulnerable. In sub-Saharan
Africa, the well-being of the poor is adversely affected by the depletion of
provisioning services as they are more dependent on them for their survival.
The depletion of regulating and supporting services may also increase the
transmission of diseases. This sub-theme will therefore address the linkages
between the dynamics of ESS and well-being in wetland areas. The subtheme will
include topics like ecosystem services and human well-being, economic values of
ecosystem services, Community Based Natural Resources management (CBNRM),
sustainable Tourism, human Wildlife Interactions and anthropogenic impacts on
ecosystems.
Sub-theme 4: Game Ranching: A conservation tool or threat?
Game
farming grew to a multi-million rand industry in South Africa. In the process
large tracts of land converted from livestock to wildlife. It provides
potential for conservation but at the same time pose conservation challenges as
well. A key question is what lessons did South Africa learn that can benefit
Botswana? In this sub-theme we are
looking at contributions to elucidate both sides of the coin. From a genetic
viewpoint the challenge ranges from inbreeding of small populations to mixing
of gene pools and interbreeding of species (e.g. black wildebeest and blue
wildebeest). Topics include: the challenges to manage wildlife populations on
game farms, contribution to endangered species conservations, Conservation
risks, genetics, and distribution of species beyond their ecological range,
balancing economic and ecological costs and benefits, role of game ranching to
tourism
In addition to the sub-themes above there will be five round table
discussions on selected critical management issues and one special event.
Round table discussion topics
1. Game ranching
2. Human wildlife
Co-existence
3. Translocation
4. Okavango Delta as a
world heritage site – Implication for management and conservation
Special event
1. Launch of the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks Research Strategy
Conference outputs
The
conference will produce the following outputs
1.
A book of abstracts
2.
A published conference proceedings through a peer reviewed process
available to the international community
3.
A policy brief summarizing key research-based recommendations for policy
and decision-making for addressing key natural resource management issues and
related challenges
4.
A journal special issue on Natural Resources Research: Implication for management
and conservation
For
more details Contact:
Ms.
Chimbi Leutlwetse
Okavango
Research Institute
P/bag
285
Maun
Tel:
+267 6817275/7220
Email: cleutlwetse@ori.ub.bw
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