Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Table 1-4: Project Components
Component Responsible Institution
Policy, planning and strategy – including project
management, co-ordination, integration and technical
assistance.
Communication DEA
7
DEA and IUCN
Research, data management and participatory planning: Harry Oppenheimer <strong>Okavango</strong> Research Centre (HOORC).
Hydrology and water resources: Department of Water Affairs (DWA).
Sustainable wildlife management: Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP).
Sustainable tourism and CBNRM: Department of Tourism (DoT) and North West District Council
(NWDC).
Sustainable fisheries management DWNP, Division of Fisheries
Sustainable vegetation resources management Department of Forestry and Range Resources.
Physical planning NWDC, Physical <strong>Plan</strong>ning Unit (PPU).
Land use planning and land management Tawana Land Board (TLB) in association with DLUPU
Waste management NWDC, Environmental Health Department (EHD).
Sustainable livestock management Department of Animal Health and Production (DAHP).
1.6.2 PLANNING APPROACH
The approach adopted under the ODMP is largely based on the Government of Botswana
planning system and complemented by elements from the New Guidelines for <strong>Management</strong>
<strong>Plan</strong>ning for <strong>Ramsar</strong> Sites and the Ecosystem Approach. In its demonstration of the key
ecosystem management principles contained in these planning tools, the ODMP was guided
by the need to address key management issues experienced over the years by diverse
stakeholders. This therefore was one of the key drivers of the process.
Though issue driven, the ODMP assumes a strategic framework position in the Ngamiland
District planning context. In this respect, specific and detailed management proposals and
interventions still remain the responsibility of the sectors. ODMP in this regard outlines the
key strategic interventions to address the management issues. To this effect all the 12
components have sectoral management plans and strategies, which are products of
specialised studies commissioned during the ODMP planning phase and some of these are
District Tourism and CBNRM Master <strong>Plan</strong>, Fire <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>, Research Strategy, etc.
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. Ownership in this context is premised on participatory
mechanisms, partnership building at all levels and adopting an integrated and dynamic
principle which recognises gender, HIV and AIDS, and livelihoods elements.
1.6.3 PLANNING PROCESS
The ODMP planning was highly participatory. The participatory approach in this respect
entailed engagement of various stakeholder groups during the five phases of the project
which were concluded with critical milestones. These were the project design, inception,
framework, draft management and final management phases. These phases were
sequential building blocks, that is, each phase led to the subsequent one.