29 Dec 2013

The Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) received a donation of information and publicity material on the Okavango Delta from the Southern African Regional Environmental Programme (SAREP) on December 27.

The material, which is written in Setswana, English, Portuguese and French, would be used to raise awareness and gain support from countries and organisations affiliated to the World Heritage Committee for the nomination of the Okavango Delta listing as a world heritage site.

Speaking at the handover of the donation, MEWT permanent secretary, Mr Neil Fitt said the Okavango Delta was already a national monument and "one of the most unique deltas in the world with its outstanding natural beauty in our desert environment, supporting livelihoods and a large diversity of flora and fauna".

The Okavango Delta was nominated in 2010 for the World Heritage Listing, as part of Botswana’s obligations to the 1972 UNESCO convention.

The SAREP deputy chief of party, Mr Brian App said, “United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its SAREP activity is proud to support museums in this effort for the overdue World Heritage recognition of the Okavango Delta.”

He said their support was on the basis of the delta’s outstanding Universal Values shown through its natural beauty, ecological processes and most importantly the wildlife.

Mr App reiterated that SAREP began working with Museums earlier this year to strengthen the initial world heritage proposal through holding workshops to ensure that comments and concerns from Angola and Namibia were discussed.

The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas, with its pristine wilderness being home to a vast diversity of wildlife and ecosystems.

It originates from the highlands of Angola and spreads out over almost 50 per cent of Botswana’s Ngamiland District with the flood water arriving in the delta during the country’s dry season (between May and October).

According to Mr App, it is estimated that the delta hosts 122 species of mammals, 444 species of birds, 64 species of reptiles, 33 species of amphibians and 71 species of fish including endangered, threatened and vulnerable species such as the wild dog, black rhino and the African elephant. The Delta was declared one of the seven Wonders of Africa in February.

Reports show that the other rivals for the Okavango Delta have been diminished by poaching and war while Okavango Delta is protected with an investment to protect wildlife and its uniqueness.

SAREP, according to Mr App, has continuously worked with different stakeholders for sustainable management of the Delta’s resources.

He highlighted that the materials donated would also help to inform people about the importance of the declaration, ‘and raise the profile of the process to ensure that it is a well-known and widely supported application,” he said. ENDS