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Value of water purification
The value of purification of domestic effluent could be around P1 million. Assuming the same value for
government and institution, the water purification value could be around P2 million excluding camps.
Using a high cost estimate of water treatment in the camps of P20/m 3 and assuming that most effluent
will end up in the Okavango, the purification value would not exceed P200 000.
Even if all domestic effluent would filter into the wetland, the mitigation costs would be estimated at
only P 4.0 million (assuming no irreversible damage was done to the wetland). Clearly, the water
purification value is currently modest in comparison to other indirect use values.
6.3.6 Scientific and educational value
The wetland and the ODRC are frequently used for research and educational purposes. The
establishment of the Harry Oppenheimer Research Station (HOORC), the Wildlife Training Centre
(WTC) and the large number of international research projects concentrated on the wetland
demonstrate the research and information value of the delta. Moreover, a range of films have been
produced about the delta.
The scientific and educational value is estimated by valuing the research, filming and educational
activities associated with the delta. These are gross values as they reflect the budget of the activities,
and costs are not intermediate costs deducted. An inventory was made of the Okavango activities of
HOORC, DWNP, ODMP, private sector and NGOs. The results are summarised in Table 6-11.
These figures are conservative as no figures could be obtained for some of the activities.
The annual scientific and educational value is estimated to be P24 million for the Ramsar site and
P18 million for the wetland. Even without ODMP, the S & E value would be P17 million for the Ramsar
site and P13 million for the wetland. The private sector (research and films) and NGOs account for
the largest value.
Table 6-11. Scientific and educational value (in P million)
Category ODRC Wetland
HOORC 6.4 6.2
DWNP 0.5 0.5
ODMP 6.9 5.7
Private/ NGOs 10.1 6.1
Total 24 18.5
Sources: HOORC Annual report 2004/05; ODMP inception report and data provided by researchers.
Research is the most important component, accounting for around eighty percent of the estimated
value. Education, including films, makes up the remainder.
An effort was made to establish whether international or national funding was used. The inventory
shows that around two-thirds of the funding is international and one third domestic.
6.4 Overall estimate of indirect use values
The results of the estimated indirect use values are brought together in Table 6-12. The indirect use
value of the wetland is estimated to be P199 million, compared to P230 million for the entire Ramsar
site. Carbon sequestration accounts for the largest component of the indirect use value followed by
wildlife refuge, scientific and educational value, groundwater recharge and water purification. The
wetland is critical to the indirect use value, as can be seen from the much higher indirect use value:
the average IUV per ha is about P69 for the wetland and P41 for the Ramsar site as a whole.
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