Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

HOORC-UB has developed into a resourceful institution in Maun during the last 10 years.
They have capacity to assist in implementation of the ODRS in areas like research,
environmental monitoring, auditing of project progress, data base management (ODIS) and
training. For this to be effective suitable institutional arrangements need to be arranged
between the Government and the University.
3.1.3 CAPACITY OF SECTORS TO IMPLEMENT THE ODMP
The ODMP project has highlighted institutional weaknesses with regard to those
institutions envisaged to assume responsibility for implementation of the ODMP
components (ODMP – Inception Report, 2005).
Capacity issues include physical lack of manpower resources and limited skills base.
Capacity weaknesses, attributed to the government moratorium of zero growth in the public
sector and government staff turn-over policies, remain a major challenge to implementing
the plan.
Financial resources for out-sourcing are also a major constraint due to competing
development and social needs e.g. the HIV and AIDS scourge is consuming a major part of
the country’s financial resources. This limits the opportunities for outsourcing to augment
required capacity, as well as for procurement of necessary resources such as transport and
equipment to enable institutions to deliver on their mandates.
Institutions may have to review the deployment of their existing manpower and where
possible rationalise their manpower resources. The other option is to outsource some of the
activities to augment the required capacities if financial resources permit.
3.1.4 POLICY FRAMEWORK
The ODMP will operate within the existing national policy and legal framework. The
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action <strong>Plan</strong> (NCSA, 2004) and ODMP – Policy Review
Report (2006) highlight specific gaps and conflicts within the legal system for the protection
of ecosystems and species, and the need for updating of Acts, ensuring policy
harmonisation containing incentives for sustainable ecosystems management and the
removal of disincentives, e.g. some of the current agricultural subsidies.
It is also recognised that future policy formulation should be based on the principles of
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in accordance with the EIA Act of 2005.
The ODMP cannot change laws or policies in itself, but outlining the obvious gaps and
other shortcomings and making the findings available to the relevant institutions (line
ministries responsible for various Acts and the DEA) will help to instigate the necessary
changes.
Limited law enforcement and adherence to policy is another key issue affecting the ODRS.
Related to this is the issue of limited monitoring of adherence to conditions of resource
allocation and permits for resource use (hunting and harvesting of veld products).
Inadequate monitoring and resource allocation of protected veld products in accordance
with the Agricultural Resources Act need to be addressed. The allocation of hunting quotas
is another issue which is under constant discussionas well as the related poaching of
wildlife.
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