Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

harmonisation, enforcement of legislation, data management systems, basin wide
strategic environmental assessment and institutional capacity building.
5.1.4 TO MAINTAIN AND CONSERVE THE BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STATUS
OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA AS WELL AS THEIR INTERACTIONS.
The strategy for achieving this objective should focus on increasing knowledge
about the different components of the physical and biological diversity of the
<strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> ecosystem, the operational limits of the ecosystem functioning and
development and implementation of monitoring protocols. The use and
management (to include updating) of the established information system should be
maintained. The ODMP research strategy and sectoral monitoring programmes
should be fully implemented.
5.1.4.1 Increasing knowledge on physical and biological diversity of the
<strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Ramsar</strong> site
The research strategy for the ODMP has identified priority research areas (ODMP –
Research Strategy, 2006). The highest hydrological priority topics include sediment
transport, water quality, factors affecting flood distribution and frequency. In terms
of the ecology, the following topics were identified: detailed knowledge of elephant
ecology, impacts of fire, resource exploitation, aquatic invertebrates, important
vertebrates’ species and biodiversity indicators.
In addition to these, the inflow stream requirement studies have been identified as
a highest priority area which links hydrology to ecology. These studies include
specific water and sediment flows required at key points in the <strong>Delta</strong>, seasonal
patterns of aquatic habitat availability as well as distribution and abundance of key
species of aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates keys areas in the <strong>Delta</strong>.
Therefore the strategy for increasing knowledge for effective management and
conservation of the bio-physical component of the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Ramsar</strong> site
should focus on the priority areas discussed above.
5.1.4.2 Bio-physical Monitoring
It is critical that a monitoring programme with clear protocols be put in place in
order to ensure that the bio-physical system is functioning within its operational
limits. It is even more important that these limits are set. Therefore the monitoring
strategies should include setting operational limits as well developing and
implementing monitoring protocols and programmes.
5.1.4.3 Water Quality Guidelines for the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong>
The water quality standard for the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> should be defined in terms of
the goals for the utilization of the water. The standard would then be referred to
when issuing and renewing permits for old and new projects. This should be aimed
at ensuring that water use in the delta is consistent with the standard, so that the
water resources are protected. In order to come up with a standard, the current
and future uses of the water should be taken into consideration. These could
include: water supply (domestic, agricultural and industrial), fishing, wildlife
habitat (both plants and animals), commerce and navigation (hunting,
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