Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

It also provides for their integration into the overall land use and land management
plan for the ODRS. In this regard, the following plans have been integrated into
this plan including their zonations:
• <strong>Okavango</strong> River Panhandle <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>
• Revised Moremi Game Reserve <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> (August 2005)
• <strong>Management</strong> and Development <strong>Plan</strong> For Community Multi-purpose Controlled
Hunting Areas (CHA )NG 41 (February 2005)
• Tsodilo <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> (Draft 2005)
The other areas’ specific land use plans have been reviewed and the findings of the
review have informed the preparation of the ILUP.
The land use plan developed under the ODMP addresses issues of land use
compatibility, resolution of land use conflicts, promotion of conservation and
sustainable utilisation of natural resources, safeguards livelihood strategies of
communities and stakeholders, and is sensitive to ecological and environmental
concerns. In view of all the foregoing (Figure 5.1), the implementation of the plan
should be within the context of the guidelines (ODMP – Land Use and <strong>Management</strong>
<strong>Plan</strong>, 2005). The following guidelines and regulations for land utilisation and
development are recommended to be applicable in the <strong>Ramsar</strong> Site as a whole.
i. For all major developments in the ODRS to proceed, an acceptable Environmental Impact
Assessment shall be a requirement.
ii. For the orderly growth and development of settlements in the ODRS, settlement development plans
shall be prepared for all settlements in fulfilment of the requirements and provisions of the TCPA,
which states that development plans shall be prepared for settlements not later than 2 years after the
declaration of an area as a <strong>Plan</strong>ning Area. Though this might be difficult to achieve, given the
vastness of the <strong>Ramsar</strong> Site and funding and manpower constraints, attempts should be made at
prioritisation of settlements. For small rural communities, simple land use layout plans should be
initiated by the VDCs and assisted by Council and Land Board officials for their preparations. All
land utilisation and developments in villages will therefore be guided by such simple land use
layout plans.
iii. Due to the presence of fault lines in the ODRS and the probabilities of seismic activities,
foundations for buildings should be reinforced, with building plans duly approved by Council
Engineering Department.
With regard to plot sizes, the following is recommended
i. Residential plots – 900m 2 - 1000m 2. : The calls for residential plot sizes of 1600m 2 are not
sustainable, considering that land is a scarce resource. Moreover, smaller plot sizes will mean that
more plots would be made available to satisfy the ever growing demand for residential plots, and
also the provision of infrastructure services to plots would be more cost-efficient.
ii. Commercial plots: Commercial plots sizes shall range from 400m 2 (10x40) to 5000m 2 (50x100m) to
accommodate small retail outlets to chain stores. This should be applicable to the centres of Maun
and Gumare. For rural communities the range shall be between 400m 2 – 500m 2 .
iii. Industrial plots: Large scale industrial plots should be above 20,000m 2 ; medium scale industrial
plots should be between 5000m 2 and 20000m 2 ; and small scale industrial plots should range from
800m 2 to 5000m 2 . These should be applicable only to Maun and Gumare. For rural communities
industrial plots sizes should range between 800m 2 and 5000m 2 .
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