05 May 2019

The Peter Smith University of Botswana (PSUB) herbarium at Okavango Research Institute Representative has appreciated financial support from Desert and Delta Safaris (DDS) in Maun towards a Data Mobilisation Project.

Speaking at an event that marked the second donation of P50 000 in Maun recently PSUB Data Mobilisation Project Assistant, Ms Frances Murray-Mudson said the funds would help in finalising the project.

Ms Murray-Mudson observed that the PSUB Project housed unique collection of dried plants that were collected by the late Mr Peter Alexander Smith from the 1970 to 1999.

The collection, she said was a rich reference material on flora biodiversity found in the northern Botswana especially the Okavango Delta.

Ms Murray-Mudson said the PSUB herbarium had imported about 2610 botanical data records of plant specimens as well as 1500 digital images to date.

She noted that DDS had initially donated towards the implementation of the Data Mobilization Project through the then Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management project which had elapsed.

With the additional P50 000 donation, Ms Murray-Mudson said the herbarium would further expand by migrating data and digital images to be linked to other data permanently so that the public could have easy access.

Ms Murray-Mudson said the PSUB Data Mobilisation Project would also prepare other botanical specimens for data entry.

In his remarks, a representative from DDS, Mr John Gibson said their company was honoured to be part of the Data Mobilisation Project which would make the Ngamiland flora species known around the world.

Mr Gibson also assured PSUB that  DDS would continue to support the project. ENDS