Okavango-Blog-Title
The Wilderness Foundation is proud to announce the declaration of the Okavango Delta as a World Heritage Site. This listing, which was formalised on 22 June 2014, is the 1000th World Heritage Site listing in the world and we are delighted that this critical wilderness area finally has international conservation protection.
The Okavango Delta northwest Botswana comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with a wetland system that is almost intact. One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the Okavango river occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronised their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods. It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion.
For the past seven years, the Wilderness Foundation SA, the Wilderness Foundation UK, and the WILD Foundation (USA) have been involved in efforts to assist the Government of Botswana and stakeholders in realizing a long-cherished dream: the listing of the Okavango Delta as a World Heritage Site.
Dr Karen Ross, who headed up the project for the Wilderness Foundation, shares the elation at the listing: “It is with great pleasure to advise you that at around 6 pm last night the Okavango Delta was inscribed as a World Heritage Site at the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha. It was great to be part of a jubilant Botswana delegation here, many who worked hard on this process, headed by Minister T K Khama who was visibly emotional excited by this nomination that was also warmly welcomed by the other country delegates. Much cheering and waving of flags”.
The seven year process included consultations with key stakeholders including local communities living in and around the Okavango Delta in 36 villages, the National World Heritage Committee, OKACOM, BaTawana Tribal Authority, Dikgosi, NW District Councillors, Members of Parliament, HATAB, NGOs, Ntlo ya Dikgosi and the Okavango Basin Steering Committee.
Mrs Jo Roberts, CEO of the Wilderness Foundation UK says : ” From the beginning of our negotiations and fundraising with Dr Ross for this project we knew it could take time but well worth the effort. The Okavango Delta is a jewel in the crown for areas that fall under the protection of World Heritage status. For years this remarkable and vital wild area has been the meeting point of several countries making it an area of complex land use and politics. Harbouring extraordinary wildlife and landscape it is too precious a resource to be lost and will now remain protected on a global scale for all generations to come. Anyone who has sat quietly in a ‘mokoro’ as the sunsets over the delta cannot come away untouched, and unmoved, by the vast expanse of water, communities and wilderness, that supports people and wildlife together’. Karen has done a remarkable job in achieving this outcome.
We would like to say a very big thank you to all the funders and supporters who helped to achieve this fantastic result, especially the Rufford Foundation.”