Environmental systems and natural resources management
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/451
2024-03-29T15:07:41ZTraditional ecological knowledge and community-based natural resource management: lessons from a Botswana wildlife management area
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/418
Traditional ecological knowledge and community-based natural resource management: lessons from a Botswana wildlife management area
Phuthego, T.C.; Chanda, R.
The advent of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in Botswana in
the late 1980s ushered in a new paradigm in natural resource management. The strategy
marked a change from state-controlled to community-controlled wildlife management. The
expectation is that under community control, local expertise on biodiversity, termed in this
paper as traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), plays a significant role that is supposedly
facilitated through local institutions and traditional practices. This paper examines the incorporation
of TEK in the CBNRM projects in KD 1, which is a controlled-hunting area
(CHA) in the north-western part of the Kgalagadi North sub-district, Botswana and illustrates
that the projects acknowledge and demonstrate the utility value of TEK in sustainable
natural resource management. It concludes that TEK systems and institutions could serve as
entry points into sustainable natural resource utilisation and management. This could be
achieved through the exploration of cultural practices of the local people and integrating
useful aspects into the modern natural resource management expertise.
2004-01-01T00:00:00ZResource use conflicts: the future of the Kalahari ecosystem
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/411
Resource use conflicts: the future of the Kalahari ecosystem
Moleele, N.M.; Mainah, J.
The Kalahari ecosystem is characterized by natural resource conflicts and
land-use pressure resulting from intensification of human activities. This
paper addresses three issues of concern associated with the Kalahari
ecosystem resource management: (i) the major land-use/land cover shifts
in the Kalahari ecosystem since 1970 and the resulting pattern in
vegetation species composition, cover and density; (ii) the possible explanations
for the observed shifts; and (iii) the possible resource conflicts likely to
arise.
Data collection involved the comparison of two sets of panchromatic
photographs along two transects (Hukunsti–Ngwatle and Tshane–Tsabong)
to study land-use/cover shifts that have occurred in the Kalahari ecosystem
between 1971 and 1986. Secondly, the nature of possible conflicts resulting
from population pressure and associated patterns of land-use was investigated
by making observations on selected environmental variables along a
300km transect with diverse environments comprising different-sized
settlements, vegetation communities and land-uses.
Land-use/land cover shifts have occurred within the Kalahari ecosystem
as evidenced by the two transects analysed in this paper. The main changes
are the retreat of grass cover up to 18 kms from settlements and the
increase in thorny and non-thorny woody encroachers closer to the
settlements. In the Matsheng area, land-use/land cover gradients reflect
marked differences in human pressure. For instance, while settlements
(kraals/households) and fields around Tshane (smaller and dwindling
settlement) have declined to 5% at the 4 km distance in 1986, these landuses
account for 22?3% of land cover at 4 km around Hukuntsi (bigger and
expanding village).
Five major vegetation communities were identified using key plant species
during the dry season. However, these communities do not have distinct
land-use activities associated with them. Cattle densities were higher
in communities found far away from settlements and water points where
the grass cover was abundant. Cattle graze far from settlements to obtain
quality fodder and trek to the water points around village pans or at cattle
posts.
There are no definite boundaries between vegetation communities and
land-use activities, hence a lot of interaction between activities of these zones
depends on the dispersion of resources. Shifts in land-use/cover changes can
be accounted for by anthropogenic activities (arable agriculture, livestock grazing and human settlements) enhanced by natural factors like seasonal
variations and prolonged droughts of the mid-1980s. It is argued in this
paper that potential remedial measures include biosphere conservation
areas, resource zoning and resource modeling plans to determine land
suitability.
2003-01-01T00:00:00ZNatural resources accounting: A tool for water resources management in Botswana
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/283
Natural resources accounting: A tool for water resources management in Botswana
Hambira, W.L.
Natural Resource Accounting (NRA) has become an important environmental/natural resources management tool in recent years. It
provides information on stocks of a resource available at a particular point in time and what activities the resource is being used for. The
conventional System of National Income Accounts (SNA) normally does not capture the cost of depletion, degradation or pollution of
natural resources. This encourages unsustainable use of natural resources since the costs are not reflected when assessing the country’s
economic performance or development progress. NRA is thus an attempt to integrate environmental issues into the conventional
national accounts. The water sector is one sector that could greatly benefit from this natural resource management tool. Botswana
has adopted NRA as a natural resource management tool and has so far developed accounts for minerals, livestock and water. The focus
of this paper is on Water Accounting (WA) in relation to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). IWRM is concerned with
coordinated development and management of water in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability
of ecosystems. WA helps fill data gaps since it provides the required information for IWRM to be achieved. The aim of this
paper therefore is to evaluate the Water Accounts of Botswana Report of 2006 to determine the extent to which it can contribute to
integrated water resources management. The paper is based on literature review and the results show that: the available water stocks
vary depending on rainfall patterns, well fields are over utilised, there has been growth in consumption, and more than 80% of the waste
water produced is not being put to use. These results calls for changes in policies, role of institutions and practices pertaining to water
resources management which is what IWRM is all about hence the paper concludes that indeed WA can contribute to the realisation of
IWRM.
2007-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Okavango; a river supporting its people, environment and economic development
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/154
The Okavango; a river supporting its people, environment and economic development
Kgathi, D.L.; Kniveton, D.; Ringrose, S.; Turton, A.R.; Vanderpost, C.; Lundqvist, J.; Seely, M.
The Okavango basin comprises the Cuito and Cubango active catchment areas in Angola, in addition to the Kavango's Okavango non-active catchment in northern Namibia and Botswana. The Okavango River water and its ecosystem resources are critically important sources of livelihoods for people in the basin. Pressures from livelihoods and development are already impacting on the environment. These pressures may increase in the future due to the rapid increase in population, the peace process and associated resettlement activities in Angola, and major development initiatives in Botswana and Namibia. For instance, possible future increase in water abstraction from the Okavango River may affect the long-term environmental sustainability of the Okavango Delta by minimizing channel shifting and thereby reducing spatial biodiversity. The paper argues that while conservation of the natural environment is critical, the pressing development needs must be recognized. The reduction of poverty within the basin should be addressed in order to alleviate adverse effects on the environment. The paper recommends that the development of sustainable tourism and community-based natural resource management initiatives may be appropriate strategies for reaching the Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation and achievement of environmental sustainability in the Okavango Basin. These initiatives have a comparative advantage in this area as demonstrated by the performance of the existing projects.
2006-01-01T00:00:00Z