Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

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3 EVALUATION OF STATUS AND CONDITION
Evaluation is a means of identifying the institutional, ecological, socio-economic and other
characteristics that need management interventions. The evaluation is conducted at two
levels. The first level raises natural resource management planning issues observed and
compiled through the consultation processes in the district both during ODMP project
design and the development phases (ODMP – Project Proposal, 2002; ODMP – Community
and Feedback Report; 2004, ODMP - ). The second assesses the potential to effectively
deliver the management interventions on the basis of strengths, weakness, opportunities
and threats analysis and is presented in Chapter 4.
3.1 INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING ISSUES
3.1.1 VISION FOR THE DELTA
Any management planning process must have broad stakeholder “buy-in” in order for it to
be successful. It was realised during the ODMP project design that for this to happen in the
<strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Ramsar</strong> Site, it was essential to develop a clear, common vision (ODMP –
Project Proposal, 2002). The vision shared by all stakeholders should outline the views,
aspirations, and values of managing the ODRS now and in the future.
A common and shared vision was developed during the development of the management
plan through a participatory process. This entailed engagement of national stakeholders,
private sector and communities (ODMP – <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Ramsar</strong> Site Shared and
Common Vision for 2016, 2006).
The challenge during the implementation of the plan is to ensure that the management of
the <strong>Ramsar</strong> site is guided by the vision.
DEA as the coordinating institution for the implementation would have to ensure that
sectoral and district management plans and strategies are aligned with the vision.
3.1.2 DEA CAPACITY TO COORDINATE AND MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE ODMP
The absence of the DEA office in Maun as an overall authority to coordinate environmental
management activities in the Ngamiland district was a cause for concern in terms of the
sustainability of the implementation of the ODMP (ODMP – Framework <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>,
2006).
The role of DEA through the Project Secretariat was focussed only on the development of
the <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>. The DEA has since positioned itself permanently
within the ODRS to deliver on its full mandate. This presents a challenge in terms of the
department’s capacity to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the plan over and
above coordinating other environmental management activities in the district (ODMP –
Draft <strong>Management</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> Workshop Proceedings, 2006).
There is a need to strengthen the capacity of the DEA to deliver on its coordination role and
monitor the implementation of the plan in addition to its various mandates. This would
require a collaborative approach through developing formal linkages with the existing
structures such as the <strong>Okavango</strong> Wetland <strong>Management</strong> Committee (OWMC) and the
proposed District State of the Environment Reporting to augment the required capacity.