the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

environmental degradation. If the Okavango Delta and its wildlife is to remain a
healthy, functioning and protected ecosystem, the areas surrounding the Delta must
also be conserved. The Okavango Delta is too complex an ecosystem to survive as
a 'protected island' surrounded by commercial development (OPWT, 1998).
7.2.1.4 Hunting
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), faced with the task of
monitoring wildlife management in Ngamiland, is severely constrained in terms of
manpower and resources, and hence cannot monitor the hunting industry in the
Okavango Delta effectively. Consequently, uncontrolled hunting, based on
unscientific methods and quotas are having a negative impact on biomass and
diversity. Specific impacts include:
• Over-hunting;
• Selective species hunting, causing imbalances;
• Hunting during the mating season. Removal of territorial breeding animals
and harassment, affecting reproduction patterns and rates; and
• Hunting of prime and immature male animals, thereby affecting the gene
pool (OPWT, 1998).
Elephant range increased as a result of the ban imposed on elephant hunting in
1983, after which elephants gradually moved out of the Moremi Game Reserve and
Chobe National park into the then again safe areas throughout the whole of northern
Botswana. However, since elephant hunting was reintroduced in 1996 this process
is already beginning to reverse. Elephant are once again starting to concentrate only
in non-hunting areas, such as the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park and
the photographic concession areas in the Okavango Delta. This is leading to habitat
degradation through the over-population of elephant in these areas. The congestion
of elephant in the Moremi Game Reserve during the years prior to 1983, caused the
destruction of the Acacia eri%ba, Acacia tortilis, Acacia nigrescens and Hyphaene
ventricosa (real fan palm - used heavily in basket making) populations of the
reserve (OPWT, 1998).
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