Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

However, there are indications that the authorities responsible for issuing licenses and
monitoring adherence to the agreed environmental practices suffer from lack of resources to
carry out the required inspections.
3.2.3.6 Pesticides
A major pollution issue is the spraying of tsetse flies. These flies occur widely in tropical
Africa from where they extend to their most southerly limits in the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong>. The
biting flies transmit blood parasites called Trypanosoma, which affect cattle and people
(sleeping sickness). A variety of control methods has been used, including the killing of
wildlife hosts, clearing of bush, and ground and aerial spraying with DDT and
endosulphan. The application of insecticides from the air was first stopped in 1992, partly
in response to concerns that the chemicals caused considerable environmental damage,
including the loss of biodiversity and fish in the <strong>Delta</strong>.
In recent years an integrated Tsetse eradication programme was initiated. This includes
aerial spraying of almost the entire <strong>Delta</strong> and the use of sterile male flies, which has
eliminated the problem to the great satisfaction of people living in and around the <strong>Delta</strong>.
During and after these sprayings research and monitoring of the effects on the biodiversity
have been carried out. Results show a marked reduction in insects, invertebrates, etc
immediately after spraying, but also indicate that re-colonisation of sprayed areas takes
place rather efficiently afterwards.
The possible negative side effects of this control measure have led to controversy among
environmentalists, tourism operators, the local population and Government Institutions.
Disease control programmes with broad ecological, social and political implications need to
be considered in long term planning.
3.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING ISSUES
It is quite evident that the <strong>Delta</strong>’s goods and services provide an important source of
livelihood. However there are conflicts emanating from use of the resources. This section
describes the prominent conflicts and benefits from resource use that have been identified
through stakeholder consultation process and literature review (ODMP – Design Mission
Report, 2001, ODMP – Community Consultation and Feedback Report, 2004 and ODMP –
Inception Report, 2005).
3.3.1 LAND USE
The continued benefits accruing in terms of land use is dependent on assured sustainable
access to land. Every citizen has a right to own land which is easily accessible for different
uses as contained in the land board regulations or integrated land use plans. However
there are serious land use conflicts within the ODRS. Some of the significant ones are
outlined in the consultation reports.
Inconsistencies, delays in and haphazard land allocation coupled with the observed
incidents of double land allocation and poor record keeping by the Tawana Land Board are
overwhelming in the ODRS. This is exacerbated by lack of an integrated land use plan and
the absence of surveyed detailed layout plans, resulting in wasteful and inefficient use of
land.
There is no clear separation of land uses particularly between settlements, grazing areas
and arable fields. This manifests itself in the seemingly mushrooming and growing of nongazetted
settlements.
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