Professor Oluwatoyin Kolawole was presented with the National Research Excellence award in the category of Indigenous Knowledge Systems at the 2023 excellence awards hosted by the Ministry of Communications Knowledge and Technology.
Prof. Kolawole's research focused on engaging farmers and climatologist in adaptation to climate variability and change in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.
Congrats on your achievement Prof, we celebrate with you.
Vera Pfannerstill, Johannes Signer, Michael Fitt, Kyle Burger, Niko Balkenhol, Emily Bennitt
Abstract
Evaluating translocation success is essential for wildlife management and conservation; short-term success can be evaluated by analysing settlement behaviour after release. We analysed GPS collar data from 47 white (Ceratotherimum simum simum, Burchell, 1817) and 25 black (Diceros bicornis minor, Drummond, 1876) rhinoceros translocated to the Okavango Delta in Botswana between 2014 and 2018. We tested for effects of age and sex on site fidelity and compared movement ranges after translocations between different release sites and between newly released and established individuals. White rhinoceros adults displayed higher site fidelity than subadults and males higher than females. Adults may therefore be better translocation candidates. Site fidelity of black rhinoceros did not differ between sexes or ages. Established rhinoceros movement ranges were smaller than those of newly released ones, pointing towards extended post-translocation exploratory movements and later settlement in smaller home ranges. Movement ranges of white rhinoceros released on an island were significantly smaller than others, which shows together with annual home range sizes compared with the literature that reserve size and rhinoceros density affect home range size. All rhinoceros in this study survived for more than 1-year post-translocation, so these translocations can be deemed successful in the short term.
Full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aje.13011
The application for undergraduate admission has been extended to close on the 31 July 2022.
For more information visit: https://www.ub.bw/study
The book is authored by six editors, and captures 21 experiences from development experts on the “Development Practice in Eastern and Southern Africa”.
For more details on the books, it is available in ORI library. It is available for borrowing.
Click here to view book details: https://bit.ly/3n89me0
Abstract
The Okavango Research Institute (ORI), a branch of the University of Botswana (UB), located in the North western region of Botswana, serves researchers in the natural and social sciences. ORI researchers need information to support research that contributes towards sustainable use of Botswana’s wetlands, which includes the Okavango Delta and other related wetlands. This study investigated the information seeking behaviour of ORI’s researchers. The aim of the study was to understand how they seek information, the information sources they use, and the problems they encounter when seeking information. Since ORI is a small institution, all the organization’s researchers were included in this study, which used a quantitative research method in the form of a survey. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The results showed that researchers in ORI seek information that is closely aligned to their research fields. Most researchers seek information to conduct research, write articles for publication, and to update their knowledge. Most of the researchers indicated that they prefer searching the internet and accessing the library remotely to satisfy their information needs. They reported poor internet connectivity, outdated library materials, and lack of time and skills to search for information as some of the challenges to successful information seeking. The study therefore recommends that acquisition of relevant and current information sources in appropriate formats be prioritised, and that library staff undertake information literacy skills sessions for researchers.
Olebogeng Phaladze , Mosepele Mabutho
University of Botswana, Okavango Research Institute
Abstract
This paper describes eff orts to preserve long-term priceless archival resources by making them accessible while ensuring that they are preserved in their original format, using Okavango Research Institute (ORI) Library’s special collections as a case study. The depth of these collections, their acquisition and appraisal processes to determine their significance to the library are described, as well as steps that were followed in integrating them in the library’s collections. Special collections are often produced informally and stored in environments determined by the personal resources of the collectors. In ORI library, the collections were sourced mainly from researchers or enthusiasts who worked in different capacities in Ngamiland region and had interest in Okavango Delta and the people who live in the region. The special collections provide unique information of historic value that has the potential to support biodiversity conservation in this protected area. The materials form an essential part of the library’s resources. The longevity of these materials is often threatened because they are prone to damage due to their fragility and their previous varying physical environments. Caretakers normally restrict access to such collections to preserve them, which is counterproductive to the intent of the collectors and the mandate of the library. It is therefore the responsibility of libraries to ensure that beyond identification, processing and preservation, such collections are made accessible to users. There are, however, numerous challenges that are encountered in the process of integrating personal collections into the library’s resources.
Readmore:https://www.scecsal.org/publications/papers2021/scecsal_papers2021_phaladze.pdf
