Okavango Delta Management Plan PRESENTED AT THE LAND BOARDWORKSHOPS - DEA 11 – 12 th September, 2008 Gumare and Shakawe

PRESENTATION OUTLINE ODMP Rationale (Goal and objective) The three thematic Areas Implementation strategy Specific issues for Land Boards Challenges Conclusions

ODMP - Project Rationale Long-term goal: “…to integrate resource management that will ensure the Delta’s long-term conservation and provide benefits for the present and future well being of people through sustainable use of natural resources” Objective: “ … to develop a comprehensive integrated management plan for the conservation and sustainable use of the Okavango Delta and surrounding areas” Serve as an overall integrated management plan, which provides the framework and contextual guidelines for existing and future individual area and sector plans

ODMP - Project Rationale cont. SADC Shared Water Courses Protocol Feed development options into OKACOM’s GEF funded integrated river basin management planning exercise Fulfill the obligations under the Ramsar Convention Premised on Ramsar Planning Guidelines and the Ecosystem Approach

DRAFT VISION: A carefully managed well functioning ecosystem that equitably and sustainably provides benefits to local, national and international stakeholders OKAVANGO DELTA ECOSYSTEM OVERALL GOAL INSTITUTIONAL To establish viable management infrastructure and tools to sustainably manage the delta resources at local, district level, national level and international (River Basin) level BIO-PHYSICAL To integrate resource management for the Okavango Delta that will ensure its long-term conservation and that will provide benefits for the present and future well being of the people, through sustainable use of its natural resources To ensure that the Okavango Delta (and its associated dry lands) will continue to deliver present-day ecosystem products and services for the benefit of all the organisms depending on it To sustainably use the delta resources for improvement of livelihoods of all stakeholders that are directly and indirectly dependent on the ecosystem products and services of the Okavango Delta (and associated dry lands) in an equitable way SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRATEGIC GOALS

STRATEGIC GOAL To establish viable management infrastructure and tools to sustainably manage the delta resources at local, district level, national level and international (River Basin) level INSTITUTIONAL THEMATIC AREA To establish viable management institutions for sustainable management of the Okavango Delta ecosystem. To improve the regulatory framework for sustainable management of the Okavango Delta ecosystem To raise public awareness, enhance knowledge and create a platform for information exchange and learning about the Okavango Delta ecosystem. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT PLANNING AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIC GOAL To ensure that the Okavango delta (and its associated dry lands) continues to deliver present-day ecosystem products and services for the benefit of all organisms dependant on it BIO-PHYSICAL THEMATIC AREA To maintain and conserve the biotic and abiotic status of the Okavango Delta as well as their interaction To maintain and restore the Okavango Delta wetland habitats and ecosystem BIO-PHYSICAL CONSERVATION BIO-PHYSICAL RESTORATION STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

STRATEGIC GOAL To sustainably use the delta resources for improvement of livelihoods of all stakeholders that are directly and indirectly dependent on the ecosystem products and services of the Okavango Delta (and associated dry lands) in an equitable way SOCIO-ECONOMIC THEMATIC AREA To sustainably use the Okavango Delta wetland resources for the long term benefit of stakeholders dependant on it. To Improve livelihoods of the Delta stakeholders through improved socio-economic opportunities SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE LIVELIHOODS IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

PLANNING HORIZON 6 YEAR PLANNING CYCLE IN LINE WITH DDP AND NDP PROCESSES PLAN IMPLEMENTATION FINANCIAL RESOURCING ODMP TO BE MAINSTREAMED IN THE NORMAL DDP AND NDP FINANCIAL RESOURCING THROUGH NORMAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETARY PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATING AUTHORITY DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES SECTORAL DEPARTMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS PLAN REVIEW ALIGNED WITH REVIEW OF DDP AND NDP IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Specific Issues for Land Board Implementation of the ILUP Implementation of Development Plans – eg Shakawe Devt Plan Understanding and application of the buffer zones Limited compliance with lease agreements Poor Land application and allocation record keeping

Challenges Competing land uses for scarce resources Lack of resources (manpower and financial) Accessibility into the Delta – difficult and expensive Communication and networking =integrated planning

Conclusions/ Way forward Need for subjecting different projects to a full Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) Improve skills through training (GIS), Apply cost recovery measures to argument scarce resources Improve networks and communication among stakeholders – researchers, Government Departments, Utility providers and community