Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

5.1.2 IMPROVEMENT OF THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR ODMP
IMPLEMENTATION
In pursuit of its objective of sustainable use and management of the <strong>Okavango</strong>
<strong>Delta</strong> ecosystem resources, it is desirable for the ODMP to be guided by a sound
and consistent planning and policy framework. The strategy aligns the ODMP with
overarching planning processes and addresses issues of policy harmonisation and
appropriate formulation mechanisms.
5.1.2.1 Alignment of the ODMP with national and district planning processes
The ODMP is aligned to national and district planning processes. In this respect, its
planning horizon coincides with those of the District Development <strong>Plan</strong>s (DDP) and
National Development <strong>Plan</strong>s (NDP), which span a period of six years. This requires
therefore that the ODMP action plan be incorporated into the District Strategic
<strong>Plan</strong>, and to the subsequent District Development <strong>Plan</strong> 7 and National
Development <strong>Plan</strong> 10.
5.1.2.2 ODMP Review and Audit
The planning horizon of the ODMP is aligned with the normal planning
requirements so that its review and audit coincides with those of overarching plans.
A major review and audit will be undertaken during the mid-term review of DDP 7
and NDP10 in 2012. This will also ensure that projects under the ODMP are
subjected to annual reviews. Projects conceived under the ODMP will be absorbed
as part of the normal project management framework.
Policy harmonisation
It is crucial that efforts geared toward policy harmonisation embrace the ecosystem
approach directed at the following:
• Reducing adverse effects on natural resource base
• Upholding the principles of wise use
• Uplifting of livelihoods
• Devolving of management responsibilities at all critical levels
• Promoting a balance amongst social, economic and ecological aspects of
development
• Appreciating local values/ knowledge
• Sound legislative backing.
5.1.2.3 Future Policy Formulation
Future policy formulation should be based on the principles of Strategic
Environmental Assessment (SEA) in accordance with the EIA Act of 2005. The SEA
provides for integrating sustainability into the implementation of existing
legislation, policies and programmes.
5.1.3 RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS, ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE AND
CREATING A PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND
LEARNING ABOUT THE OKAVANGO DELTA ECOSYSTEM
The ODMP addresses the needs and interests of a large number of local, national,
regional and indeed international stakeholders. A number of these needs and
interests are of a potentially conflicting nature (e.g. tourism and irrigated
agriculture, wildlife and cattle production etc.). This obviously applies at the local
and national level within the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> itself but it is equally true of the
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