02 Mar 2020

Makgadikgadi has been recommended as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site.

This was revealed by Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng at an event to promote research in Makgadikgadi held in Maun recently.

Ms Kereng said it was hoped Makgadikgadi would be listed as a biosphere (a place where organisms live) like the Okavango Delta which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 for its uniqueness.

She observed that Makgadikgadi was home to wildlife species with annual animal migrations as well as unique features of Baobab trees named after some European travelers, Lekhubu Island and the three pans of Ntwetwe, Nxai and Sua.

Ms Kereng further expressed the hope that researches carried out at Makgadikgadi by local and international researchers would  positively influence the listing of Makgadikgadi.

In his remarks, the ministry’s acting permanent secretary, Dr Oldman Koboto said it was critical for Makgadikgadi to be protected due to its rich resources and uniqueness.

Dr Koboto also said it was important to nurture research and cultural tourism in Makgadikgadi and develop products that would benefit Batswana.

Another speaker, the University of Botswana’s Okavango Research Institute director, Professor Joseph Mbaiwa, said the institution was underutilised by the public.

He therefore encouraged Batswana and Makgadikgadi residents to make use of the institution which was formed for research purposes for protection of the Okavango Delta and other wetlands.

The 33-year-olde institution,  he said,  was established to undertake research on areas such as sustainable eco-tourism, climate change and water resource management.

 

Prof Mbaiwa also observed that research was significant for Botswana’s transition to a knowledge-based economy. ENDS