Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

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4 GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND ACTION PLANS
The process of developing objectives has involved identifying the long-term
objectives or principal/ideal objectives, which for purpose of alignment with
Botswana government planning guidelines and nomenclature have been called
strategic goals. The development of these goals is based on the evaluation of the
status of the ecosystem resources as described in Chapter 3.
The strategic goals represent what needs to be achieved and set a broad, balanced
framework from which to design and develop strategic and operational objectives
as well as management action plans. This presents a hierarchy in descending order
through which the evaluation process and emerging issues can now be addressed.
This process will lead to specific and distinct management interventions directed at
addressing identified hotspots or management issues, both in the immediate future
and the long term.
The attainment of these goals requires close partnership and collaboration between
all stakeholders, enhanced awareness of the long-term benefits, supporting
legislation and an enforcement framework as well as a strengthened institutional
base.
The strategic goals are supported by strategic objectives. The potential to achieve
these objectives is weighed against a set of constraints or limitations. These
limitations do not change the objectives but they do change the way in which they
are achieved and this is defined by operational objectives. These operational
objectives form the basis for individual management activities.
4.1 DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIC GOALS
The ODMP sets out to practically demonstrate the application of the ecosystem
approach in wetland management. The principles of this approach are in
agreement with the national wetlands management framework as contained in the
Draft National Wetland Policy and Strategy.
Under the ecosystem approach, the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Ramsar</strong> Site is treated as an
ecosystem comprising three subsystems, the institutional, bio-physical and socioeconomic
subsystems. These are depicted as an overlap of three circles where each
circle represents one of the three subsystems (Figure 4-1). It illustrates not only the
interdependence of these subsystems as shown by the overlapping parts, it also
underlines the fact that ecosystem management is not about the natural system
alone, but about the entire complex of nature, people and their management
systems.
The institutional subsystem describes the institutions and the management tools
(e.g. legislative instruments), employed at the different levels (from the local level
up to the international level).
The bio-physical subsystem is composed of the abiotic and biotic components and
their interactions that constitute what often is referred to as the natural system.
The socio-economic subsystem includes the different uses that man makes of the
components of the bio-physical subsystem. These are often referred to as the
ecosystem products and services, which man is dependant upon.