31 Mar 2015

Following inscription of the Okavango Delta on the World Heritage list, the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) is planning to provide feedback to stakeholders on the expectations and requirements of listing.

It is expected that a state of conservation report about the status of the site would be provided and issues that were raised by the World Heritage Committee in its recommendations following inscription of the site would be responded to.

The council chairman, Mr Reaboka Mbulawa, told the councillors that the listing of the delta as a World Heritage Site that the State Party was also expected to commemorate the inscription and place plagues at the site to inform stakeholders about its status as the World Heritage site.

In addition, he stated that the ministry was planning to have celebrations in Maun and Shakawe in April and also placed plagues at strategic places of the Okavango Delta.

The celebrations started last year in Gaborone with a cocktail dinner in which President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama received the certificate of inscription, unveiled a plaque symbolising listing of Okavango Delta as a world heritage site and also received a message from the director general of UNESCO.

Mr Mbulawa said consultations were ongoing with all stakeholders regarding the coming activities.  Furthermore, he said the ministry was planning a series of activities to further raise awareness on the implications of listing of the delta to promote proper management of the site.

Meanwhile, in a District Development Committee (DDC) meeting recently, the principal curator, Ms Gertrude Matswiri from department of national museum and monuments explained that there were certain requirements and expectations from the government on how the site would be looked after. 

Ms Matswiri said celebrations had to be conducted to ensure appreciation of the listing, noting that  since the delta was big, the department had started putting signage at entry points and some information which would be helpful to tourists.

During the meeting, Ngamiland District commissioner, Ms Nkabo Kefhilwe urged heads of departments to own the event and ensure that it was a success.

She said the event would sell Ngamiland district and encouraged the communities to preserve, as well as maintaining the integrity of the Okavango Delta. Okavango delta is situated in northwest of Botswana, comprising permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. 

It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with a wetland system that is almost intact.

One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the river Okavango occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronised their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods.

 It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes.

The delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lions. ENDS