Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

international conventions. The most noteworthy instruments with provisions for the
development of the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> are the National Vision 2016 (with
attendant environmental policies and plan), the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Protocol on Shared Water Courses, and the wetland management and planning
guidance prepared by the <strong>Ramsar</strong> <strong>Convention</strong>.
NEED FOR THE PLAN
The existing diverse and complex nature of the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> in terms of its natural
resources, its wide range of users and uses, its multiple managers (both in and outside
government and including communities), and an array of national laws, policies and
guidelines, as well as regional and international conventions, agreements and protocols, are
all factors that dictate the need and determine the context for an integrated management
planning process for the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong>.
PLANNING APPROACH
The ODMP planning process borrowed from the <strong>Ramsar</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>ning Guidelines (<strong>Ramsar</strong>
Secretariat 2006) and the Ecosystem Approach to wetlands management. The ODMP is
anchored on the main principle of strengthening ownership through accountability and the
active participation of all stakeholders both during development and implementation of the
plan. The ownership of the ODMP process is premised on participatory mechanisms,
association with international stakeholders, building partnerships at all levels and adopting
an integrated and dynamic approach which recognises gender, HIV and AIDS and
livelihoods elements.
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
The <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> has approximately 1300 plant, 701 fish, 30 amphibian, 65 reptile, 445
bird and 120 mammal identified species.
In the <strong>Delta</strong>, there are large variations in habitat patterns over small distances, although
the <strong>Delta</strong> is very flat and is made up of homogeneous sand. Small differences in altitude of
1-2 m represent large differences in the frequency and duration of flooding, which creates
gradients from permanent rivers and lagoons, to permanent swamps with reeds and
papyrus, to seasonally flooded grasslands, occasionally flooded grasslands, riverine
woodlands, and dry woodlands. Each of these ecosystems has a distinct species
composition not only of plants, but also of reptiles, birds and mammals.
In a biodiversity comparison (Junk et al. 2006) of seven globally important wetlands, of
which six are located in tropics and sub-tropics, the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> had a low number of
fish species, but the second highest number of plants and mammals, third highest number
of amphibians, and highest number of reptiles and birds. In particular the number of large
mammal species and their high abundance are outstanding in the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong>.
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND ACTION PLANS
The ecosystem approach provided guidance in categorising management interventions into
three thematic areas or subsystems. This enables an integrated resource management
planning approach in implementing management interventions.
The three subsystems are the institutional, bio-physical and socio-economic subsystems.
The institutional subsystem entails the management infrastructure and associated tools;
the bio-physical includes the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem; and the
socioeconomic comprises different uses that humans make of the components of the bio-
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