HOORC seminars: palm conservation and stakeholder communication

Hyphaene petersiana

Two presentations were made by HOORC staff in the HOORC seminar series this past week: Impacts of palm wine tapping on Hyphaene petersiana population in Shorobe by Bongani Sethebe and Relative effects of visualized and verbal presentation methods in communicating environmental information among stakeholders: Okavango Delta, Botswana by Olekae Thakadu. Mr Sethebe, Herbarium Assistant, is proposing to look at the offtake from palm trees due to wine tapping and to explore sustainable methods for harvesting the trees, which are also used for basket making in the Ngamiland area.

Mr Thakadu, a Research Scholar in the area of environmental communication and education, is exploring communication and information diffusion processes among community stakeholders in the Okavango Delta. Guided by communication theoretical frameworks and processes, his research is assessing effective communication approaches and factors necessary to promote environmental knowledge sharing behaviors among Okavango Delta stakeholders.

New in HOORC's Library: International Wetlands Workshop proceedings

Proceedings of the international wetlands workshop held in Maun at the end of January 2008 have been published by the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs. Participants at the meeting discussed experience gained through the Okavango Delta Management Plan project, wetlands governance in the Okavango and in neighbouring basins, environmental flows in the context of wetlands, and collective management and benefit sharing in the Okavango River Basin. You can find Sharing lessons and experiences for better implementation of wetlands management plans : proceedings of the International Wetlands Conference held at Maun Lodge, Maun, Botswana, 31st January to 1st February 2008 in HOORC's Library.

ODMP process overview

Seasonal dwelling, Okavango Panhandle

Dr Kelebogile Mfundisi, HOORC ecologist, recently published an overview of the Okavango Delta Management Plan process in an article in the journal Wetlands. Note : overview of an integrated management plan for the Okavango Delta Ramsar site, Botswana, describes the three phases of the ODMP work, and concludes that the project was a demonstration of the Botswana government's capacity to carry out integrated planning for protected areas; the remaining challenge is to maintain the level of commitment for the plan's implementation. You can find the article in HOORC's Library.

“Whose Delta” Dialogue

On Thursday 31 January, the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Biokavango project sponsored a public discussion on the topic of, “Whose delta is it?” at Maun Lodge.

Ownership of the Okavango Delta was debated enthusiastically by a strong panel and a good variety of interested stakeholders. Some points of agreement emerged – the delta belongs to local people in terms of generating benefits for their well-being; to the nation in an economic sense (contribution to GDP); and to the world as part of our natural heritage and its contribution to global biodiversity conservation. Issues of jurisdictional scale and the delta’s natural “flux” are complex, and generated fodder for lively and good-natured debate of the question at hand for up to three hours.

World Wetlands Day 2008

Celebrations for this year's World Wetlands Day for the Okavango Delta Ramsar site are taking place this week in Maun. This year's activities include an international wetlands conference on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week, the Environment and Development Dialogue public meeting today, commemoration ceremonies at the Big Tree on the Thamalakane River on Saturday, and, on Saturday evening, the official launch of the OKACOM Secretariat. In time for the event in HOORC's Library is the newly published Okavango Delta Management Plan, the document representing the culmination of the ODMP planning process.

Whose Delta is it? Environment and Development Dialogue

BIOKAVANGO Project and the Department of Environmental Affairs (Okavango Delta Management Plan) will host the Environment and Development Dialogue to discuss environmental/biodiversity conservation and development issues surrounding the Okavango Delta wetland prior to the commemoration of the World Wetlands Day and to mark the completion of the Okavango Delta Managament Plan.

The meeting, free to the public, is scheduled for Thursday 31st January 2008 at Maun Lodge, Maun, at 1900hrs.

Facilitator: Dr Hillary Masundire, Head of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana and Chairperson of the Commission on Ecosystem Management, IUCN.

Panelists
1. Honourable Frank Ramsden, Member of Parliament for Maun East “Community Perspectives”
2. Ms Myra Sekgororoane, Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Tourism Board “Economic Opportunities - Tourism”
3. Dr Casper Bonyongo, Research Fellow, University of Botswana, Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre (UB - HOORC) “Ecological Dimensions”
4. Dr Pete Ashton, Principal Researcher & Divisional Fellow, Centre for Scientific International Research (CSIR) “Regional and International interests”

Discussants
1. Prof Lars Ramberg, Director, University of Botswana, Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre (UB - HOORC)
2. Dr Nkobi Moleele, National Project Coordinator, BIOKAVANGO Project, (UB - HOORC)
3. Dr Lapologang Magole, Research Fellow, University of Botswana, (UB - HOORC)
4. Mr Joseph Mbaiwa, Senior Research Fellow, University of Botswana, (UB - HOORC)
5. Mr Felix Monggae, Chief Executive Officer, Kalahari Conservation Society(KCS)
6. Ms Morongoe Ntloedibe-Disele, Chief Executive Officer – HATAB

Theme: Whose Delta is it?

ODMP news

The Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) implementation team at the the Maun office of the Botswana Department of Environmental Affairs has sent out its first newsletter this week. The team reports progress with the international peer review of the plan being carried out by members of the IUCN network of experts, upcoming release of an ODMP video that documents the planning process, ODMP pilot projects and preparations for the official launch of the Plan in February 2008. You can get a copy of the newsletter from Mokgadi Monamati, 267-680-1237, or read it in HOORC's Library.

Hannelore Bendsen receives first Moabi Wa Kitso award

HOORC staff gathered today to say goodbye to HOORC researcher and long time Ngamiland resident Hannelore Bendsen. Mrs Bendsen, a land use planner, had worked since 1979 for the Botswana government, then as a consultant and most recently as coordinator of HOORC's input for the Okavango Delta Management Plan.

Mrs Bendsen was awarded the first Moabi Wa Kitso Award for Knowledge Sharing for the Okavango Delta by HOORC's Library. The award has been created to annually recognize a person who has made a significant contribution to sharing of knowledge to the benefit of the Okavango community.

Government feedback to community leaders

Feedback to community leaders on the progress of the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) will be forthcoming from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) at two upcoming workshops. The events will be held in Shakawe at the Shakawe Sub Land Board Conference Room on 13 August 2007, and again in Maun on 20 August 2007 at Maun Senior Secondary School (Motsamai Mpho Hall), both kicking off at 08.30 HRS. The North West District Council will also be presenting the new Waste Management Strategy. For more information about this event or to set up an interview contact Ms Mokgadi Monamati, Deputy Environmental Coordinator, ODMP/DEA Office, Tel: 6801237, Email: mmonamati @ gov.bw.

Workshop on rare and endangered plants of the Okavango

Erlangea remifolia, one of Botswana’s rare endemics and classified as Vulnerable

A reminder of the workshop on rare and endangered plants of the Okavango Delta Ramsar site that will be held in Maun on 6-7 November. For more information and registration please contact B. Farrington, Cell: 71768265 E-mail: Farrington@info.bw. Please mark e-mails ODMP Seminar.

HOORC's new library extension

Painted murals lead HOORC library visitors to new space

The past weeks have kept HOORC Library staff fully engaged in getting ready to open the doors of its new portacabin extension. The building and fittings were provided by the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) project, so, on Friday October 27th, we held a launch of the new premises to thank the project managers who are wrapping up their work this month. The October sun beating down, Director of the University of Botswana Library Services Kay Raseroka and ODMP Coordinator Portia Segomelo stood under an acacia to talk about the library as a community resource. Local author Bontekanye Botumile presented a copy of her book, Tlou: the Elephant Story,to the library, and the youth group Diswammogo sang and danced during the unveiling of murals painted for the new building by Maun artists. Former colleague of the late Peter Smith, Mr Ronald Ridge Senior, planted a tree -- Ekebergia capensis -- in the library yard, and to wrap it all up, Terence McCarthy, who was visiting HOORC with another Okavango researcher, Thomas Gumbricht, presented the library with a copy of The Story of Earth & Life: a Southern African Perspective.

Seminar on the Rare and Endangered Plant Species of the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site

Ecosurv Environmental Consultants in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, have recently undertaken an assessment of the Rare and Endangered Plant Species within the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site (ODRS), under the Okavango Delta Management Plan. As a result, we now have a Red Data List for the Ramsar Site/Ngamiland which contains 20 plants species of which eight are considered under extremely high to high risk of extinction in the wild (locally, but some regionally and globally).

More data is needed to definitely confirm the status of these plants species and there is a general need for a long-term programme to monitor these plants and to implement individual Species Action Plans. A monitoring framework has been proposed which involves Department of Forestry and Range Resources as the Government institution responsible for coordination and funding and with HOORC as the data depository and technical support unit. Field data will be provided by field monitors from a range of organisations, and individuals who live and work in and around the ODRS.

The framework will be presented at a seminar at the Sedia Hotel, Maun on 6-7 November, Maun. Training in plant conservation assessment and monitoring of the Red Data Listed plants will be provided. Lecturers include: Dr Paul Smith, Head of Seed Conservation Department, RBG Kew, Ms Vicky Crook, Conservation Assessment Specialist, RBG Kew, Mr Erich Van Wyck, botanist, South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI), Dr Marty McFarlane, Geomorphologist and Ms B. Farrington, Project coordinator, Ecosurv.

We would like to welcome all those who have an interest in conserving the rare and endangered plants of the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site and who would be interested in participating as ad hoc field monitors in the forthcoming Monitoring Programme.

Please note that spaces are limited and early registration is therefore essential to secure a place.

For more information and registration please contact B. Farrington, Cell: 71768265 E-mail: Farrington@info.bw. Please mark e-mails ODMP Seminar.

New in HOORC's Library: ODMP wildlife component reports

Just arrived in HOORC's library are the Okavango Delta Management Plan Project's Wildlife Component reports, A baseline survey of the Slaty Egret in the Okavango Delta Ramsar site, Botswana : final report prepared by bird specialists Pete Hancock, Zenzele Mpofu and S.J. Tyler, and Leopard and cheetah baseline inventory in the Okavango Delta particularly in relation to areas of human wildlife conflict : final report prepared by the Centre for Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities and Land Use (CARACAL). The ODMP's Wildlife Component has been looking at management of rare species and ways of reducing human-wildlife conflicts in the Delta.

Draft ODMP workshop

Today, a consultative workshop on the draft Okavango Delta Management Plan was held at Maun Lodge. Stakeholders from various government departments, the private sector, and representatives of communities were present. In her official opening speech Ms Tsiang, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife, and Tourism, highlighted the importance of implementing the ODMP plan as opposed to adopting disaster recovery programs in the absence of such a plan. Project coordinator of ODMP Ms Segomelo gave an overview of the ODMP Project and took participants through the institutional, Biophysical and socio-economic thematic areas of ODMP. A detailed presentation on each of the three thematic areas was also provided. The workshop included a discussion forum through which participants had an opportunity to seek clarifications and give their inputs into the Draft ODMP. Participants voiced their concern on whether funds, willingness and skills will be available for the implementation of ODMP. The organizers of the Workshop assured everyone that funds will be available and efforts are underway to mainstream ODMP into the different government agencies plans and into the NDP Seven for Ngamiland.

Okavango contributions at World Water Week

HOORC Director Professor Lars Ramberg and Associate Professor Larry Swatuk represented HOORC at World Water Week in Stockhom. Dr Swatuk addressed the workshop, Tools for Benefit Sharing in Transboundary Settings with Mainstreaming Politics: the Bottom Line on Transboundary Benefit Sharing. Later, Dr Swatuk and ODMP Coordinator Portia Segomelo were among the 15 high level experts in an open forum Q and A session at the closing plenary. You can find information about World Water Week on the web.

Limits of acceptable change in the Delta

Birdwatchers on the Boteti River

Steve Johnson, consultant for the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) project, made a presentation at HOORC this week about his team’s work on the limits of acceptable change in relation to tourism in the Okavango Delta. The consultants are looking at methods to measure and monitor the impact of tourism on the Delta, and to build consensus among stakeholders as to the types and levels of intensity of use of Delta resources. An important question is, which agencies would implement this approach? The consultants will prepare a report of their findings and recommendations for ODMP. In HOORC’s library, you can find Joseph Mbaiwa’s earlier work, Limits of acceptable change for tourism in the Okavango Delta.

ODMP draft management plan

The draft Okavango Delta Management Plan arrived in HOORC’s Library this week. In two parts, an executive summary and main report, the document describes the plan’s management objectives, action plans, monitoring and evaluation plan, and implementation strategy. The plan is in its final stages of review, with the ODMP Project office closing in October 2006.

World Water Week events

A news release from IUCN highlights today’s Okavango workshop at the World Water Week meeting in Stockholm. IUCN, which has supported the Okavango Delta Management Plan Project (ODMP) through its Water and Nature Initiative, has also announced the launch of the Environmental Flow Network at the conference. The IUCN hopes that the Environmental Flow Network will be a key communication tool in spreading knowledge and understanding of environmental flows application and implementation in river basins.

ODMP community leader participation

Open air community meeting in the Delta

The Maun-based Ngami Times is full of stories about the Okavango Delta this Friday, reporting the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) Consultative Workshop for Community Leaders in the Ramsar Site held in Gumare this past week to discuss the draft management plan. HOORC Research Fellow Dr Lapolagang Magole participated as a facilitator at the workshop. Implementation of the plan will be coordinated by the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism over a six year period from an office in Maun.

Including HIV/AIDS in Okavango Delta planning

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently issued a press release about efforts to mainstream HIV/AIDS concerns in the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP). See the IUCN news archive for the story, and HOORC's Library for Seiko Watanabe's Consultation report on HIV/AIDS in north Okavango area, November 2003 - November 2004, submitted to TOCaDI, and HOORC researcher Barbara Ngwenya and B.M. Butales's HIV/AIDS, intra-family resource capacity and home care in Maun.