11 Nov 2019

The review of the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) is critical in maintaining the listing of the Delta as a World Heritage Site, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Dr Oduetse Koboto has said.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting organised by the National Museum and Monuments in Maun recently, Dr Koboto said the country had to honour recommendations to be compliant and get satisfactory results from the listing.

He noted that ‘the State of Conservation report’ must be submitted the first week of December to UNESCO as required to ensure the country remained compliant.

Dr Koboto therefore said Okavango Research Institute (ORI), which had been tasked with the review and strategy, must ensure completion of the project within time.

He said the listing of the Okavango Delta by UNESCO for its outstanding value was done with recommendations to be completed by the country overtime.

“The review of the ODMP is an important project that requires the commitment of those involved,” he said.

He said the strategy for conservation of the heritage site was critical as it would enhance community involvement and benefits, which were part of recommendations by the UNESCO.

“Some areas to be improved for the listing compliance include governance and improved community benefit from the listing of their site,” he said.

He said other issues to be taken into consideration involved are issues of developments that had taken place around the heritage site as developments in agriculture, mining and climate change.

He also noted the climatic change effects experienced in the North West District of recent as about 600 cattle died at Lake Ngami, a number of hippos stuck in a drying river at Nxaraga as well as decreased water levels in water sources.

He said the climatic change showed that there was pressure on natural resources.

Further, Dr Koboto said local communities must be involved throughout the stages of the review and strategies.

In her welcome remarks, North West District deputy commissioner Ms Goitseone Nkwe-Tabane said ODMP review was critical as the country was experiencing effects of drought.

Ms Nkwe-Tabane, therefore, said the review of the ODMP must formulate ways of dealing with effects of drought, saying the drought effects experienced must be a lesson towards building resilient communities.

The stakeholder meeting was for the follow up on the ODMP review by the Departments of National Museum and Monuments and Environmental Affairs, in collaboration with GEF Small Grants Programme at UNDP. ENDS