The University of Botswana through its Okavango Research Institute (ORI), recently held a landmark three-day workshop aimed at advancing research and sustainable management of the Cubango-Okavango River Basin (CORB).
The gathering brought together global and regional partners, including members of the Plus Alliance—comprising the Arizona State University, University of New South Wales, and King’s College London—as well as the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) Alliance from Australia. Private sector stakeholders such as NGOWP, Wild Bird Trust, Kwai Private Reserve, and Natural Selection also participated.
At the heart of the workshop is the goal of reviewing existing datasets on the CORB, identifying data gaps, and aligning findings with the Global Ecosystem Typology. This standardized classification system will support a shared understanding of the basin, which spans several southern African countries.
A key outcome of the workshop is the official twinning of CORB with Australia’s Lake Eyre Basin, a comparable endorheic system. Representatives from the LEB are present to exchange lessons learned and successful conservation strategies.
OKACOM Executive Secretary, Dr. Phera Ramoeli emphasised the importance of equipping stakeholders with tools to track changes in the basin. “This basin needs to be preserved not only for ecological integrity but also for the millions who rely on it for fishing, forestry, and other livelihoods,” he said.
He also highlighted prior efforts in Botswana aimed at promoting sustainable horticulture as a way to boost local economies without harming the delicate basin ecosystem.
The workshop is expected to generate valuable assessments of ongoing environmental changes—including reduced river flow due to development, pollution threats, and irrigation interventions—and guide future conservation and management activities.
Speaking at the workshop, Professor David Keith, a renowned ecologist, underscored the importance of understanding ecosystems to address pressing environmental challenges. “Ecosystems are fundamental. Without understanding them, it becomes increasingly difficult to tackle the growing issues we face,” he noted.
Professor Keith further highlighted the significance of the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology, stating that it serves as a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing ecosystems across various landscapes. He explained that by applying this typology, Angola,
Namibia, and Botswana would be better equipped to identify the different ecosystem types within the Cubango-Okavango River Basin and understand their interconnectedness. This, he said, would inform stronger conservation strategies and promote sustainable resource management across borders.
Environmentalist Erica Tavares from Angola echoed the urgency of protecting the basin. She stressed the need to safeguard water sources to ensure the continued benefits the basin provides to communities. “There’s growing interest in developing a mining industry in Angola, including oil extraction,” she said, “but such developments pose a major threat to the entire basin ecosystem—not just in Angola, but across all three countries.”
Tavares appealed to workshop participants and the broader public to actively oppose these activities. “We must raise awareness and mobilize communities to vote against these harmful projects. If we lose this basin, we lose a lifeline,” she said passionately.
River ecologist and conservation biologist Prof Richard Kinsford shared insights from the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB) experience, highlighting key challenges such as managing environmental flows, limiting the expansion of water diversions, and addressing the environmental impacts of mining activities.
“One of the biggest threats we have had to face in the Lake Eyre Basin is balancing water extraction with the need to maintain natural flows,” he said.
He emphasized that effective basin management must occur at the ecosystem scale, allowing for a more efficient and holistic approach to biodiversity conservation.
Professor Kingsford also noted that outcomes from biodiversity indicators in the LEB demonstrate the value of accessible data and robust mapping tools. These tools, he said, would significantly enhanced sustainable management and build scientific capacity while promoting knowledge sharing across stakeholders.
Director of the Okavango Research Institute (ORI), Dr. Casper Bonyongo stressed the critical importance of consistent monitoring within the Okavango River Basin to safeguard its ecological integrity.
He explained that early detection of environmental changes is key to preventing long-term damage. “We need to closely monitor the basin so that we can detect challenges early and act swiftly,” said Dr. Bonyongo. He added that proactive intervention could help avoid major disasters and ensure the continued sustainability of the basin.
Bonyongo further emphasized that data-driven monitoring allows for informed decision-making, especially in the face of increasing pressure on natural resources.
