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Threats facing Okavango: Looming crisis for Botswana’s natural jewel

Emerging threat: Papyrus on fire in the Okavango River. Scientists are warning about the dangers these fires cause to the Okavango Delta. PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES
Emerging threat: Papyrus on fire in the Okavango River. Scientists are warning about the dangers these fires cause to the Okavango Delta. PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

MAUN: The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most iconic ecosystems, is under threat.

This vast inland delta is a lifeline for countless species and a cornerstone of the region’s biodiversity, but scientists are saying the unique ecosystem is being disrupted by several threats mainly originating in its catchment areas, in Angola and Namibia.

With over 50 research expeditions throughout the Okavango basin’s major rivers and having supervised over 50 research papers about the system, the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP) research director, Dr Rainer von Brandis recently spelt out the mounting threats that could end the magic of the Okavango Delta – the country’s major tourist attraction.

Editor's Comment
Use social media to build, not destro

It is a warning flare to every Motswana who logs onto social media. As a country, we have reached a point where the line between robust debate and outright destruction has become dangerously blurred. At face value, Mabeo’s response, which seeks an apology and threat of a defamation suit, might seem severe to some. But we cannot ignore the context. The comment in question did not offer a policy critique or question a political decision.It...

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