15 Apr 2014

Authorities should ensure that the management of the Lake Ngami achieves the ideals of environmental conservation and sustainable development, the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Dr Mmasera Manthe-Tsuaneng, said over the weekend (April 12-13).

Speaking at the launch of the Lake Ngami Management Plan, Dr Manthe-Tsuaneng said the plan would facilitate prudent management of the Lake Ngami area. Among other things, the plan proposes tourism development initiatives that would help develop Ngamiland.

Dr Manthe-Tsuaneng said the engagement of the community through the Lake Ngami Conservation Trust would address some of the key management challenges that had been difficult to deal with in the past.

“I am therefore positive that these issues would be fully addressed during the implementation of the Lake Ngami Management Plan,” she said. Dr Manthe-Tsuaneng said in 2013, the Ngamiland district conservation committee toured Lake Ngami, and its report was alarming with its issues of waste management that led to water pollution resulting from illegal camping with no sanitary facilities.

She urged stakeholders to implement the management plan so as to produce the expected results. The management plan was developed for use by the area’s community-based trust to gain conservation and sustainable use of ecological resources for social and economic efficiency.

The plan proposes new and variety of ideas to help potential tourism businesses and the community to optimally tap benefits from this important conservation area, especially in birdlife. Business ideas include recreational fishing, avi-tourism (bird viewing), canoeing, horse trails, water skiing and camping. She reminded the communities that the tourism activities were proposed in cognizance of the sensitivity of the area to ensure that the existing biodiversity was conserved and protected.

She added that all the areas where proposed activities could take place had been assessed and zoned to ensure that each area was designated for the best suitable business option.

Dr Manthe-Tsuaneng applauded all stakeholders who had an input in the development of the management plan and in particular, the Southern African Regional Environment Program (SAREP), Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and reference group members who were instrumental in the final delivery of the plan.

Government has over the years demonstrated its commitment to sustainably manage the Okavango Delta. This has been shown through its declaration of the delta as a Ramsar Site and then the development of the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP).

The ODMP articulates the priority areas and the management actions to be implemented to secure the conservation and sustainable use of the Okavango Delta and its resources. The ODMP has been used to inform other resource management frameworks.

“I am happy today we added the Lake Ngami Management Plan to the list,” she said.

Lake Ngami area falls within the primary core of the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site and that it includes Controlled Hunting Area (CHA) NG 38 and part of NG 12. ENDS