World Wetlands Day

Botswana will join other countries to commemorate World Wetlands Day on the 2nd, February 2017. The event will be held at Shakawe.

The Standing Committee of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands approved Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction as the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2017, during its 52nd meeting held in Gland, Switzerland from 13 – 17 June 2016.

This theme is selected to raise awareness and to highlight the vital roles of healthy wetlands in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, droughts and cyclones on communities, and in helping to build resilience.

Wetlands

The fifth edition of Wetlands by Mitsch, William J. & Goosselink,  James G. is now available in the library.

Spectral reflectance of floodplain vegetation communities of the Okavango Delta

K. Thito • P. Wolski • M. Murray-Hudson

Knowledge of wetland vegetation spectral reflectance signatures can assist in spectral classification of remotely sensed images for monitoring of wetland hydroperiod. This study aimed at assessing the differences between wetland vegetation communities of varying species composition and density in terms of spectral reflectance. The investigation was carried out in floodplains at Nxaraga and Seronga in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Spectral measurements were conducted during rising and receding flood stages. In each study area, 2 transects were located in homogeneous macrophyte stands, and in each transect 5–10 1 m2 quadrats were randomly set. In each quadrat, water depth and cover percentages (green leaved and senescent) of macrophyte vegetation were recorded, and a full reflectance spectrum between 325 and 1,075 nm  wavelengths captured using a handheld spectroradiometer. 

Multiple regression analysis with stepwise selection of significant variables based on AIC was performed to determine the influence of various stand characteristics on spectral reflectance and vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI). The results showed that stand characteristics explained a large proportion of variance in spectral vegetation indices with r2 = 0.67 for NDVI and r2 = 0.75 for EVI. For NDVI, the significant explanatory variables were percentage green cover, senescent cover and water depth, while for EVI it was the total vegetation cover.
 

Analysis of regression residuals for the various vegetation community classes showed significant differences between the classes in their NDVI, but no differences in EVI, with the exception of the Panicum repens class. Reflectance in visible wavelengths did not vary significantly between sites and seasons, but the NIR reflectance differed across sites and seasons. The results indicate that the simple vegetation indices in the Okavango Delta respond strongly to stand characteristics and thus can be used to derive these from remote sensing imagery. The scope for determination of vegetation communities from these indices is limited,however

Read the article Online: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11273-014-9403-1#/page-1

Keep it Fresh or Salty

Governments, international actors and local communities around the world are now increasingly engaging in wetland restoration or avoiding wetland degradation activities for climate change mitigation.

Despite this rapidly growing attention, finding the appropriate funding sources to set up a wetland carbon project or develop a national wetland carbon program is often a challenge.

This report provides guidance for program and project developers from, or working in, developing countries on the numerous funds and finance mechanisms that can provide carbon finance for wetland carbon conservation and restoration. It also highlights ways to access and link carbon activities with non-carbon based sources of financing.

Read Online: http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/keep_it_fresh_or_salty_1.pdf

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/

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

World Wetlands Day 2014

2nd February each year is World Wetlands Day.The theme for the 2014 World Wetlands Day is 'Wetlands and Agriculture' as 2014 is the UN International Year of Family Farming. The slogan for the Day is 'Wetlands and Agriculture: Partners for Growth,' placing a focus on the need for the wetland, water and agricultural sectors to work together for the best shared outcomes.  

read more: http://africasd.iisd.org/events/world-wetlands-day-2014/

Responses by Households to Resource Scarcity and Human–Wildlife Conflict

In conserved areas like parks and forest regions which are surrounded by dense agricultural settlements,land use and resource extraction is severely limited. Local people are forced to turn to resource pools outside these areas for survival. The authors of this article combine remote sensing techniques and household surveys to examine landscape change and the implications for securing rural livelihoods. Forests and wetlands outside the park provide important resources such as fuel wood,building poles, and water, but they are also problematic for local farmers since crop raids by primates and elephants emanate from these fragments. Their analysis shows that since 1984 forests and wetlands have decreased in size and number and those that remain have become increasingly isolated within the agricultural mosaic. Farmers have adapted to resource shortages and human–wildlife conflict in different ways.This article is available at:http://pubpages.unh.edu/~jnz6/Professional/Publications/Hartter%20et%20al.,%202010.pdf

“The Okavango Delta and its place in the geomorphological evolution of Southern Africa".

The Alex du Toit Memorial lecture is a bi-annual event in honour of Dr Alex
du Toit, an internationally-recognised geologist who is probably one of the
strongest contenders for Africa’s greatest geologist of the 20th Century. He
is best remembered for his books on continental drift and the geology of southern Africa. Less well known are his important scientific contributions to our understanding of the geomorphological evolution of southern Africa, including the Okavango Delta. It was here that he conducted detailed surveys in 1925, including what was possibly the first-ever photo-geological survey in southern Africa. This year’s lecture will be delivered by Professor Terence McCarthy from the School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. It will review our present understanding of the geomorphological evolution of southern Africa from the time of the break-up of Gondwana to the present, highlighting du Toit’s contributions to the subject. The lecture will focus on the Okavango Delta, examining how it formed, how it works and how processes currently in place will ultimately destroy it. The lecture will be presented in a non-technical style and is aimed at those with a general interest in science and the world around us. The lecture will be held at the University of KwaZulu Natal School of Geological Sciences on Thursday, 30 September 2010 at 5.30 pm.

Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan

The Department of Environmental Affairs is developing a management plan for the Makgadikgadi wetland site in terms of its current status, its potential land use patterns and to determine opportunities for future planning aspects. This plan is being developed through participatory approach involving all stakeholders such as local communities, non-governmental organisations and the private and public sector. The Plan has been broken down into the following components namely: ecology and hydrology, wildlife resource management, economic valuation and land use planning and zoning. The full article is available in Conservation News Botswana in the HOORC Library.

Introduction to research on wetlands presentation

Yesterday 18 HOORC winter students made their first proposal presentations in order to get feedback from the audience on the work done so far. Topics covered included an analysis of the water quality in the Thamalakane Rivers, youth entrepreneurship in the tourism industry, benefits of local tourism to local communities, house economy patterns in certain communities, and an analysis of population distribution and trends of roan and sable antelopes in one part of Botswana.

Wetlands International Symposium: Day 3

The plenary session of the third day of the symposium began with a presentation on wetland management in China by Cui lijuan from the Chinese Academy of Forestry. According to her flooding has caused more than 30% of natural disaster damage in China. Government has been swift in her response: vegetation restoration and the introduction of national guidelines on wetland management.In the same session, two projects in biodiversity in the Okavango were presented, namely BIOKAVANGO and the Okavango Environmental Flows Assessment: the former focusing mostly on mainstreaming biodiversity. The presenter concluded that this exercise is drawn out and difficult, and more planning at national level should be undertaken. According to him, the involvement of local players in contributing to policy formulation at international levels has been unacceptably low and should be looked into seriously. In a study of Flooding tolerance of Brazilian Coastal Plain Forest (Restinga) tree, the speaker maintained that the sea level increase caused by global warming will result in changes in the flooding regime, increasing the period that Restingas will stay waterlogged. The lack of dissemination of research findings to local communities was one of the main challenges identified by Mary Seely from Desert Research Foundation of Namibia in her paper, Challenges for sustained management of flood-pulsed ephemeral rivers.

World Wetland Day Commemmoration: 2nd February

The second day of the Flood Pulsed International Symposium marked the commemoration of World Wetlands day, (2nd February)with an event characterised by song and dance and attended by members of the community, school children, and Government dignitaries. The speakers echoed sentiments from previous speakers on the importance of wetlands, as a source of livelihood for the Okavango rural communities. Against this background, there is a growing need to sensitise communities on the importance of preserving them given global threats like climate change.The guest of honour, Professor Max Finlayson, delivered a message from the president of the International Ramsar Conversion in which he delivered sobering facts on the fast denigration of wetlands.i.e. 41% of water birds , 38% of wetland mammals are under threat. He concluded that the scientific community should ensure that most of the information generated from research should reach the ordinary people on the ground so that they can appreciate some of these developments and can assist in combatting some of these effects. Two books, were launched at the event namely: Okavango Delta: Floods of life by John Mendelson, Cornelis vander Post, Lars Ramberg, Mike Murray-Hudson, Piotr Wolski and Keta Mosepele, and Field guide to the plants of Northern Botswana: including the Okavango Delta by Alison and Roger Heath. The Okavango Delta Management Plan also took this ooportunity to launch its booklet, "An introduction to the Okavango Delta Management Plan.

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 .

Waternet students at HOORC

Six students from Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe began a two month course at HOORC this month. The course, sponsored by the Waternet programme, will build the participants' understanding of agricultural water management, wetlands ecology and management and planning for droughts and floods. WaterNet, together with Cap-Net and GWP-SA, are supporting the Global Water Partnership Country Water Partnerships in an initiative to build capacity at national level to enable the development of national IWRM plans (as part of the implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development plan of action on water). The WaterNet professional training programme facilitates competency training to meet the needs of SADC, Country Water Partnerships, River Basin Organisations, Community Based Organisations, and various actors and practicing professionals in the water and related sectors.

HOORC Seminars

At HOORC seminar presentations this week, three researchers shared their findings of recent studies. The first presentation, Fire, wealth and access to wetland resources in the panhandle of Botswana's Okavango Delta by Dr. Lin Cassidy, focused on understanding the contribution of of wildfires and wealth on people's access to wetland resources, and looked at which types of households are seen to control and benefit most from burning wetland resources. Her findings showed that fires in the Okavango panhandle spread quickly due to the underpopulated nature and remoteness of areas like Nxamasere and Sekondomboro.

In his presentation, Building research capacity in Africa through research methodology training : introduction to EDULINK, Professor Moses Chimbari ,who leads one of EDULINK's funded project partnerships of universities in Botswana, Sudan and Zimbabwe, gave an outline of EDULINK activities. EDULINK's main aim is to fund cooperative projects between higher education institutions and promote capacity building and regional integration in higher education.

The last presentation, coauthored by Professors Vanderpost, Ringrose and Schuran, titled Landcover changes along the Boteti River, Botswana, aimed at finding the causes of riparian cover changes along the Boteti River and establishing biophysical and socio-economic baselines. This project aims to contribute to a long term equitable use of water along the river.

Climate change, forests and wetlands

ELDIS has alerted us to a paper that summarises the importance of wetlands in relation to climate change and examines their potential role in the measures for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) under the Kyoto Protocol. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD) - the link with wetlands, published by the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development, concludes that there is significant scope for synergy and mutual reinforcement of REDD proposals and other international conventions such as the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Biodiversity. You can find the full text of the report online.

Ugandan wetlands and poverty

A new report by the World Resources Institute provides a detailed examination of the links between ecosystem services and the location of poor communities and presents practical lessons for policy-makers in Uganda. Mapping a Better Future: How Spatial Analysis Can Benefit Wetlands and Reduce Poverty in Uganda combines information from a wetlands database with pioneering poverty location maps developed by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. The new maps and accompanying analyses will help policy-makers classify wetlands by their main uses, conditions, and poverty profile and identify areas with the greatest need of pro-poor wetland management interventions. The information generated can also be fed into national poverty reduction strategies and resource management plans. You can find the resource online (5.4 megabyte download).

Benefits to African Ramsar wetlands

A recent issue of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review featured an article based on the findings of a survey carried out by Gardner, Connolly and Bamba: African wetlands of international importance : assessment of benefits associated with designations under the Ramsar Convention. The article offers a brief description of Ramsar sites surveyed in 18 African countries, findings about the perceived benefits of Ramsar status, and recommendations for strengthening the convention in Africa. The authors found that Ramsar designation in the African context has led to improved protection and management, increased scientific study, increased access to funding, increased ecotourism and more alleviation of poverty. To build on these benefits, they recommend better promotion of the Ramsar designation, more emphasis on the links between wetland conservation and poverty alleviation, and more support for local management plans. You can find the article online on the Ramsar Secretariat's Wise Use of Wetlands page and in HOORC's Library.

High water

View from the front seat of the Heaths' truck en route to Chief's Camp

This year's Okavango flood continues to be the talk of the region. Roger and Alison Heath of plantsandpeopleafrica, reported that their drive several weeks ago from Maun to their new survey camp at Chief's Camp involved 16 water crossings -- with water reaching the windscreen of their truck eight times. And HOORC governance researcher Dr Lin Cassidy came back from an Easter weekend canoeing trip at the base of the Panhandle with scratches from passing thorny trees now in deep water.

In HOORC's Library you can read the novel, Okavango Gods by Anthony Fleisher, a fictional account of survival during a great flood in the the Delta.




Lin Cassidy's friends canoeing among the thorn trees in Ikoga dryland forest

Ramsar Small Grants Fund call for nominations 2009

Each year the Ramsar Small Grants Fund provides funding support of up to 40,000 Swiss francs (US$ 35,000) for a number of small projects for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Parties from eligible developing countries are encouraged to submit proposals for the 2009 period, and NGOs and others may also apply if their proposals have the endorsement of the Ramsar Administrative Authorities (i.e., national focal points) in their countries.

The forms in English, French, and Spanish and the current OECD eligibility list can be found on the Ramsar web site. The last deadline for submission of proposals is 30 June 2009, but the deadline for sending draft proposals to receive advice from the Convention’s Senior Regional Advisors is 30 April 2009. The portfolio of 2008 project proposals that is presently being circulated amongst donor organizations seeking their direct support is also available.