Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

d) There should be adequate equipment for both initiating and controlling the fire
e) The field staff should be equipped with suitable protective clothing and
footwear.
f) Appropriate forms of communication must be available to enable effective
communication during the burning operation.
5.2.8 WATER QUALITY
The quality of the waters of the <strong>Delta</strong> play a very important role in the way the
system functions. Deterioration in the quality of water has the potential to upset
the functioning of the ecological processes that sustain the <strong>Delta</strong>. The water quality
guidelines as set out by the Botswana Bureau of Standards need to be
implemented effectively and met whereever practicable, and adjusted with good
reason only. The capacity of the Water Apportioment Board needs to be improved in
order for it to effectively deliver its mandate as defined by the Water Act with regard
to the <strong>Delta</strong>. The Board issues permits with regard to amount and quality status of
the effluent that can be discharged to river systems. What remains to be done in
the future is to determine specific effluent levels taking cogniscence of the perculiar
requirements for the environmental sustainability of the <strong>Delta</strong>.
5.3 BUFFER ZONES
5.3.1 DEVELOPMENT WITHIN FLOOD PLAINS
The Department of Town and <strong>Plan</strong>ning has developed planning guidelines which
prohibit any development within 200m from a flood plain for the whole country.
The limit for the Panhandle part of the <strong>Delta</strong> was 500m.However the ODMP – Land
Use and Land <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> (2005), has since reduced it to 200m in line with
the rest of the whole of the <strong>Ramsar</strong> site.
5.3.2 BUFFER AROUND MOREMI GAME RESERVE
In so far as ecological considerations inform land use zoning decisions, it is noted
that parts of zones NG 25 and 26 have the highest concentration of slaty egrets
(ODMP – Land Use and <strong>Management</strong>, 2006). On this score, it is proposed that
marginal parts of these NGs presently zoned for commercial wildlife utilisation, and
bordering MGR be zoned as commercial photographic areas. This will further serve
as a buffer for the MGR. In the same vein, the identified nesting areas for birds in
the Panhandle have been zoned as no-wake areas for engine boats. The zonation of
a strip merging NG 19 and NG 21, which cut into portions of NG 20 and 18
marginally as community and commercial photographic areas respectively is also
proposed. This will also serve as buffer for Moremi Game Reserve, thus preventing
hunting/poaching in the MGR.
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