The Okavango River Basin in Southern Africa is the region’s third largest river – and one of the few remaining ‘wild rivers’ on the planet.
The Okavango rises in the Angolan highlands. Along her 3,000 km journey the river runs through Namibia’s Caprivi belt before entering north-west Botswana to create the famous Okavango Delta. This biodiversity rich inland delta marks the end-point of the River Basin.
The riparian nations of Botswana, Angola and Namibia are promoting equitable sharing of the Okavango’s waters through the Okavango River Basin Commission (OKACOM), an initiative supported by the GEF International Waters Facility. During this lengthy process other conservation mechanisms such as World Heritage status would provide international protection and recognition for the Okavango’s global value. The river has enormous value to local communities, over 100,000 people live within the river basin – providing abundant freshwater and diverse natural resources for food, building materials and natural medicines. Globally the Delta will become increasingly valuable as a massive Carbon Sink, while the entire River Basin is an outstanding example of a vast natural landscape with abundant diversity of wildlife and freshwater.
Threats to the Okavango include:
- unchecked water abstraction;
- dams for Hydroelectric Power;
- excessive irrigated agriculture and de-forestation;
- planting of alien bio-fuels,
- unsustainable mining activities; and
- loss of connectivity from cattle fences.
The Wilderness Foundation UK has been actively involved in securing UNESCO World Heritage Site status for the Okavango Delta over the last three years. Much ground has been covered including complex negotiations between neighbouring states and interested parties. For further details and updates please visit our blog.