Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reserve), even though many prominent conservationists consider it to be critically en-
dangered and think that it should be awarded Unesco World Heritage status.
Wetland ecosystems are disappearing globally at an alarming rate, partly due to climate
change and partly due to mismanagement and unsustainable development, and the
Okavango Delta is no exception. Already a survey team from the DWNP and BirdLife
Botswana has concluded that the delta is shrinking. The Kubango River - originating in
the highlands of Angola - carries less water and floods the delta for a shorter period of the
year.
FENCES: A HISTORY OF CONFLICT
The main problem with Botswana's 'buffalo fence' is that many of the fences prevent wild animals from migrat-
ing to water sources along age-old seasonal routes. While Botswana has set aside large areas for wildlife protec-
tion, these areas rarely constitute independent or self-contained ecosystems. As a result, Botswana's wildebeest
population has declined by 99% over the past 20 years and all remaining buffaloes and zebras are stranded north
of the fences.
The worst disaster occurred in the drought of 1983, in which the Kuke Fence barred herds of wildebeest head-
ing for the Okavango waters, resulting in the death of 65,000 animals. The final section of Mark and Delia
Owens'
Cry of the Kalahari
chronicles another heartbreaking example, with wildebeest from the southern Kala-
hari suddenly barred from their grazing grounds around Lake Xau. The Owens' publicising of the issue ultimately
led to their expulsion from the country.
The 80km-long Northern Buffalo Fence located north of the Okavango Delta has opened a vast expanse of
wildlife-rich - but as yet unprotected - territory to cattle ranching. Safari operators wanted the fence set as far
north as possible to protect the seasonally flooded Selinda Spillway; prospective cattle ranchers wanted it set as
far south as possible, maximising new grazing lands. The government sided with the ranchers and the fence
opened up to 20% of the Okavango Delta to commercial ranching.
In 2003 the controversy started up again with the proposal of a new cordon fence around the Makgadikgadi
Pans. When completed, the fence will extend for 480km and is intended to limit predator-livestock conflict along
the Boteti River. However, on the completion of the western section of the fence, the
Environmental Investiga-
tion Agency
(EIA;
www.eia-international.org
)
found that the alignment failed to adhere to the suggestions of the
Department of Wildlife and National Parks' (DWNP) Environmental Appraisal, and as a result the majority of the
Boteti River now lies outside the park, cutting off the animals within. The net effect was immediately felt: in early
2005 some 300 zebras died trying to reach the river. In addition, the cattle fence around the Okavango Delta has
already been damaged by roving elephant herds.
Other key threats include overgrazing, which is already resulting in accelerated land
and soil degradation; commercial gill netting and illegal fire lighting; unplanned develop-
ments in Angola as post-civil war resettlement occurs; and pressure for new and increased
abstraction of water for mining, domestic use, agriculture and tourism. Most worrying of
