The valuation study has been completed but is in a technical form which is not easily accessible to policy makers and academics. The budget of the project did not extend to the further refinement required to publish the work. It is proposed to further refine the study and prepare it for publication in an international journal.
The Okavango Delta, located in north-western Botswana, forms the inland sink of the Okavango River, and is listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The delta is relatively complex and rich in diversity compared to the surrounding areas, and provides the focus for agro-pastoral land use, highly valuable tourism activities, fisheries, wildlife use, and natural plant use. Compared with many river basins, that of the Okavango is relatively pristine. However, along its length, demands on its water and other resources are expected to grow significantly in future. The impact of these demands will be felt mainly at the downstream end of the river system, in the Okavango Delta.
A valuation study of the delta was undertaken in order to inform the development of the Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) which aims to ensure the delta’s long term conservation and its provision of benefits to society through sustainable use of its natural.
