The Okavango Delta: Learning in a Dynamic and Complex System

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The Okavango Delta Learning in a Dynamic and
Complex System

• Presented by Andrew Moremi Pitse

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Presentation outline

• What is so complex about the Okavango Delta?
• What is ODMP?
• Wetland management approach by ODMP
• Learning in the ODMP
• (a) Coordination
• (b) Integration
• (c) Participatory planning
• Challenges in the ODMP
• Conclusions

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What is so complex about the Okavango Delta?

• Complex eco-hydrological system (Water flows,
  quality biodiversity)
• Social complexity (livelihoods, tribes, tour
  operators, balancing user interests)
• Situated at the end tail of the Okavango River
  Basin depending on upstream countries with a
  development agenda

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What is the ODMP?

• A Government of Botswana Project in partnership
  with IUCN, Danida, DED, SIDA
• Goal To integrate resource management for the
  Okavango Delta.
• Objective To develop a comprehensive integrated
  management plan for the conservation and
  sustainable use of the Okavango Delta and its
  surrounding areas.

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Wetland Management approach by ODMP

• Ramsar Planning Guidelines (Ramsar site in 1997)
• SADC Protocol on Shared water courses/ OKACOM
• National Wetland Policy
• ODMP Planning started in 2001
• Ecosystem Approach
• Issue driven planning hot spot approach
• Strengthening of ownership and accountability
• Consultation and participatory planning
• Coordination
• Integration (cross-sectoral planning thinking
  outside of the box)

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Learning in the ODMPCoordination/Integration

• Moving from sector based to coordinated/integrated
  planning (12 sectors)
• 12 sectors
• Policy, planning and strategy
• Communications, dialogue and networking
• Research and data management and participatory
  planning
• Hydrology and water resources
• Wildlife management
• Sustainable tourism and CBNRM
• Fisheries management
• Vegetation resource management
• Physical planning
• Land use planning
• Sustainable livestock management

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Learning mechanisms with coordination/integrati
on

• Project management structures supporting
  coordination/integration
• Project Steering Committee PSC (national level)
• The Secretariat (coordinating platform to learn)
• OWMC (district level)
• Task forces/focal points
• Community/Village contact persons

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Traditional knowledge pilot projects

• Through consultations and meetings traditional
  knowledge is transferred
• Pilot projects (channel clearing, curio shop in
  Tsodilo, waste water polishing system)

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Information and knowledge management

• ODIS Okavango Delta Information System
• Library
• Research strategy
• ODMP resource centre
• Webpage

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Challenges to learning in the ODMP

• A long inception period - ODMP was a novelty
• Consultation fatigue
• Accessibility in the Delta
• Literacy
• Loss of institutional memory
• low level of documentation
• Staff turnover
• Future challenges of communication in the river
  basin
• Language barriers (within and between States)
• River basin states are at different stages of
  development and have different development
  agendas

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Conclusions

• Integrated learning has proved to be useful to
  the ODMP planning process.
• Learning evolves and sharpens our planning
  processes (adaptive management)
• Lessons learnt could be replicated in the basin
  (Namibia and Angola) and other basins.
• ODMP also learns from other similar initiatives.

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THE END.

• Thank you
• Kealeboga
• Nda Boka.