06 Sep 2020

An official from the department of National Museum and Monuments (DNMM) in Maun, Mr Vasco Baitsiseng, has hailed stakeholders for contributing towards updating of Ramsar Site Information Sheet (RSIS).

He was speaking at a meeting where stakeholders in the management of the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site (ODRS) met to submit their reports, validate provided information as per request by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), which was the national administrative authority for the Ramsar Convention. 

Mr Baitsiseng said RSIS was an international assignment, which called for provision of relevant and authentic information.

“We need to do quality job as a country as Okavango Delta is not only a Ramsar site but also a world heritage site. We should conduct a thorough research to fill up the gaps in the site,” he added.

Earlier on, DEA coordinator in Maun, Mr Jobe Manga, explained that stakeholders input was critical in updating and maintaining the system. 

The RSIS, he said, must be updated every six years and also underscored the need to authenticate sources of information as they had a lot of contributors.

He stressed the need to update the site as per the Ramsar Convention. 

Botswana became part of the convention in 1997 following designation of the delta in 1996.

Mr Manga explained that the convention was necessitated by the destruction of wetlands being experienced noting that the situation was becoming a problem especially for migrating birds hence countries agreeing to come up with a tool to protect and conserve the wetlands.

In Botswana, he said, they were compelled to have another instrument being the Okavango Management Development Plan (ODMP) that managed the delta. 

Meanwhile, stakeholders made contributions focusing on four areas of data and location; why the site was important, what is the site like considering ecological characteristics, wetlands types, biological and physical components, ecosystem services and ecological processes among others.

Other areas interrogated include how the site was managed taking into account land tenure, threats and responses. Ends