Explore Online Resources for Natural Resources and Conservation Research

Are you a researcher in the field of natural resources and conservation?

The Okavango Research Institute Library offers access to a wide range of online databases and information resources to support your research needs.

Visit the library to discover how we can help you access the latest scientific literature and data!

Young Conservatinists

In this month Issue of Peolwane dated  "17 January 2017', Pete Hancock interviewed two students: (Keitumetse (KT) Ngaka and Botilo Tshimologo, who completed their Masters in Natural Resource Management in Okavango Research Institute , and also Moses Seeeletso who is currently completing his PHD in Natural Resource management about the role they play in wildlife conservation as young upcoming researchers.

Read more about their experiences in this month issue of  Peolwane magazine in the library.

You are Invited - Annual Gala Dinner Dance

The Kalahari Conservation Society

ANNUAL GALA DINNER DANCE

“Celebrating Botswana’s 50th  Independence, reflecting on the landmarks of conservation over the  years”

Friday 14th  October 2016

Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC)

Dress code: National Colours (Formal) - P1 000 per person or P10 000 / table of 10 For bookings contact: 3974557 or publicrelations@kcs.org.bw

Guest of Honour

HE Lt. General Dr. S.K.I.Khama

President of the Republic of Botswana

Special Guest Speaker

Dr Richard W.S.Fynn – Renowned Range land and Grazing Ecosystem Ecologist

Okavango Research Institute

Research talks

The University of Botswana, in collaboration with Kwando Safaris, would like to present the first in a series of Research Talks

By researchers for everyone

First World Leaders’ Conservation Forum promotes peaceful co-existence with nature

The first World Leaders’ Conservation Forum that was held in the Republic of South Korea underscored the critical role of nature conservation in peace building and sustainable development. It called for bold leadership at the global and local levels to stop the devastating loss of biodiversity taking place today.

Under the theme Nature: a path to peace and coexistence, the Forum included technical Expert Sessions and a World Leaders’ Dialogue that covered a range of topics from the threats to biodiversity and co-existence between humans and wildlife to peace-building and sustainable development.

Hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of the Environment, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and IUCN, this inaugural event attracted more than 700 participants from 52 countries.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent a video message to Forum participants, commending the organisers for taking up these issues. Distinguished author and journalist Alan Weisman delivered an insightful keynote speech drawing on decades of research into human impacts on the environment, warning we were playing a game of “Russian roulette” with biodiversity.

“Human progress and nature conservation are complementary, and we must ensure that the two thrive together – not consume each other, said IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “There are credible and accessible political, economic and technological approaches that can promote human welfare in ways that support – and even enhance – our natural planet’s assets. We have a limited window of opportunity to act, before it will be too late.”

The Republic of Korea Minister of Environment Yoon Seongkyu noted that for too long nature conservation was considered a constraint to economic development. “But when we connect nature conservation and economic growth, and engage them with each other, they become one strong and powerful mechanism that will lead us toward a better future for all.”

The Governor of Jeju Self-Governing Province Won Heeryong noted that while there is a growing awareness that human survival ultimately depends on healthy, resilient ecosystems, “we urgently need a new concept of environmental peace, where we live in harmony with nature.”

Read more: https://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?21637/First-World-Leaders-Conservation-Forum-promotes-peaceful-co-existence-with-nature

Conservation successes overshadowed by more species declines – IUCN Red List update

Successful conservation action has boosted the populations of the Iberian Lynx and the Guadalupe Fur Seal, while the African Golden Cat, the New Zealand Sea Lion and the Lion are facing increasing threats to their survival, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Ninety-nine percent of tropical Asian slipper orchids – some of the most highly prized ornamental plants – are threatened with extinction.

Today’s update also shows that over-collection and habitat destruction are placing enormous pressure on many medicinal plants.

The IUCN Red List now includes 77,340 assessed species, of which 22,784 are threatened with extinction. The loss and degradation of habitat are identified as the main threat to 85% of all species described on the IUCN Red List, with illegal trade and invasive species also being key drivers of population decline.

“This IUCN Red List update confirms that effective conservation can yield outstanding results,” says Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General. “Saving the Iberian Lynx from the brink of extinction while securing the livelihoods of local communities is a perfect example."

“But this update is also a wake-up call, reminding us that our natural world is becoming increasingly vulnerable. The international community must urgently step up conservation efforts if we want to secure this fascinating diversity of life that sustains, inspires and amazes us every day.”

Continue reading:  http://www.iucn.org/news_homepage/?21561/Conservation-successes-overshadowed-by-more-species-declines--IUCN-Red-List-update

Building Capacity for Conservation & Resource Management in Africa

 An exchange of ideas, opportunities & best practice

Why this conference is needed: 

Conservation organizations and agencies in Africa are faced with a growing diversity of environmental issues. Sustainable solutions to these problems will require actions to be implemented by strong organisations and communities with the skills, knowledge and data to undertake a broad range of technical and process-based activities. There are already a broad range of capacity-related initiatives in Africa that are working to tackle capacity building issues. This meeting will provide an opportunity to review existing regional initiatives, exchange ideas, develop and enhance capacity networks, and formulate effective and lasting solutions to common capacity problems.

A regional approach: in 2013, ERT Conservation organised the first international conference to discuss capacity building for conservation, held in Colombia (South America). It became clear at that meeting that there are a number of key issues that are ‘universal’ across the entire global conservation sector. However, the importance of region-specific approaches was also recognised, and the pan-African conference has been structured to address specific issues affecting sub-Saharan Africa.

CONFERENCE THEMES & CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

Theme 1:  Protected areas
Theme 2:  Community engagement & rights-based governance
Theme 3:  Effective leadership and strong organisations
Theme 4:  Professional e-Learning

The key cross-cutting capacity issues are:

1. Conservation in politically unstable areas and 'disabling' environments
2. Solutions to internal organisation and community 'barriers'
3. Supporting skilled individuals
4. Effective pooling of resources across the conservation sector
5. Sustainable resource management within wider economic development 

For more information:  http://www.ert-conservation.co.uk/africa_introduction.php

Zim sends black rhinos to Moremi

Zimbabwe loaded five black rhinos onto a plane bound for Botswana on Wednesday, its first such exports since the 1990s, as part of conservation efforts amid an increase in poaching in southern Africa. The animals were secured in crates loaded onto a camouflaged Botswana Defence Force (BDF) plane at the Buffalo Range Airport near Chiredzi, a town about 430km southeast of the capital, Harare. The exports follow the relocation of rhinos to Botswana from South Africa.

“We agreed that we’d send 20 black rhinos to them as part of conservation efforts within the region,” Zimbabwean Environment Secretary Prince Mupazviriho said in an interview. The remaining rhinos will be transported at a later date. Botswana has become a safe haven from poachers for the animals.

Rhinos are killed for their horns, which are ground into powder and sold as a putative cancer cure in Vietnam and China. Zimbabwe last exported them in the early 1990s, with Australia the destination, according to official records from the Ministry of Environment. A black rhino bull was exported to Botswana in the early 2000s.

The animals will be relocated to the Moremi Game Reserve, which was found to be suitable and where “the rhinos would be adequately protected post-release,” said Mark Saunders, the executive director of the Malilangwe Trust, which supplied the rhinos. 

read more on :http://www.ngamitimes.com/2015/06/zim-sends-black-rhinos-to-moremi/

World Leaders' Conservation Forum 2015

The World Leaders' Conservation Forum (WLCF) will provide a platform for leaders from all sectors of society, including government, business, civil society and academia, to discuss and seek creative nature-based solutions to global environmental, economic, and social challenges. The main theme of this three-day event, organized by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is 'Nature: a path to peace and coexistence'. On Day 1, expert meetings will be held on: reduction of threats to biodiversity; nature conservation for sustainable development; co-existence between humans and nature; and facilitating transboundary conservation and peace building. On Day 2, dialogues will take place on: transboundary conservation and peace building; harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife; and resilient ecosystems and sustainable development. On Day 3, participants will be invited to visit one World Heritage site, two Ramsar Sites as well as their adjacent local communities.  

Dates: 7-9 July 2015  
Venue: International Convention Center Jeju, 2700 Jungmun-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea   Location: Jeju City, Jeju (Cheju-Do), Republic of Korea 
Contact: World Leaders Conservation Forum 2015 Secretariat 
Phone: +82 2 3475 2645   fax: +82 2 3475 2656  
E-mail: master@wlcf.kr  
www: http://www.wlcf.kr/eng/