09 Oct 2016

An expert from Okavango Research Institute, Dr Richard Fynn has emphasised the need to maintain the Savuti-Mababe-Linyanti Ecosystem (SMLE) to ensure sustainability.

He said SMLE was one of the remaining few pristine savanna ecosystems in Africa, hence the need to ensure its long term survival.

Dr Fynn who is a rangeland ecologist informed the gathering during his presentation about the ecology of the Savuti-Mababe-Linyanti ecosystem of Northern Botswana.

He said the SMLE is most important area for tourism, biodiversity, different species and good soils and vegetation, adding that there is need for the government to make well informed decision at the highest level on how the area could be maintained.

In addition, he said the soils have the highest clay and calcium contents of all habitats in the ecosystem.

He said scientifically, the area is very important and careful planning need to be considered to ensure that the area is not destroyed. He said the area is beautiful during wet season, hence the need to maintain and promote it so that people could appreciate how they could also protect it in future.

He suggested that no artificial water points should be allowed in the Savuti-Mababe-Linyanti ecosystem other than at the only existing camp in the back country woodlands.

He explained that SMLE is one of the few remaining relatively unmodified and pristine savanna ecosystems in Africa and it is critical that it should be conserved in this pristine state without fences and artificial water points.

Dr Fynn revealed that placement of artificial water points in the back country woodlands of the SMLE will result in homogenisation of woodland structure across large landscapes; overgrazing and loss of high-quality tall grasses and a decline in wildlife of the SMLE and consequent damage to the tourist industry.

He said there is need to learn from other studies not to make mistakes, citing the Kruger National Park which he said it is closing 60 per cent of its artificial water points.

Regarding the impact of elephant and other large herbivores on vegetation in the SMLE, Dr Fynn stated that northern Botswana has the world’s largest elephant population at approximately 130 000.

He further indicated that there is much concern that high-densities of elephant may have a negative effect on biodiversity by damaging habitats and depleting resources for other herbivores.

But Dr Fynn revealed that during their research, they did not find evidence to support the notion that a massive elephant population is negatively affecting biodiversity or ecological integrity in the two most extensive vegetation types of the region, but rather is promoting heterogeneity. ENDS