the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

ministries most closely involved in natural resource management. There is no
permanent OKACOM office, as the leaders of the delegation originate from the water
institutions in each country. The Commissioners meet to direct the activities of
OKACOM and each country takes it in turn to organise and host meetings. The
percentages of the Okavango catchment in each country are as follows: Angola (28
percent), Namibia (30 percent), Botswana (39 percent), and Zimbabwe (4 percent)
(OKACOM, 2004).
OKACOM was established to oversee the management and development of the
water resources of the Okavango River system, which is a complex task as the
individual rights of each country must be considered, and the existing instruments of
international water law regarding the use of water resources must be observed. The
Commission monitors existing activities along the river, plans for future
developments, and advises their respective governments on these issues
(OKACOM,2004).
8.5.1 An Integrated Management Plan for the Okavango Basin
OKACOM's next major task is to develop and implement a management plan for the
whole river to ensure that:
• Each country receives a reasonable and equitable share of the benefits of
the water and other natural resources in the Basin;
• All river resources are used sustainably and not over-used or polluted; and
• River stakeholders are aware of their rights and responsibilities in managing
the Okavango River (OKACOM, 2004).
OKACOM negotiated funds with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to carry out
an Environmental Assessment (EA) in the Basin. This will lead to the development of
an integrated management plan for the Basin. A Project Management Unit (PMU)
under the guidance of the Okavango Basin Steering Committee (OBSC), OKACOM
and other co-operating partners, will be set up in Luanda, Angola, to manage the
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