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

lowest, and substantial proportions of water could be extracted during years when
flows are unusually low (Mendelsohn and el Obeid, 2004).
More worrying than this, however, is Namibia's plan to construct a pipeline to carry
water from the Okavango to the Grootfontein pipeline, and so provide Windhoek with
the balance of its water requirements. Opinions regarding the effect that this water
capture will have on the Okavango system have varied widely, from panic-stricken
speculations that the Delta would dry up within a year, to views that if done at the
right time of year and at a sustainable rate, the pumping will have little effect on the
Delta (Bailey, 1998).
Additionally, Namibia's Mines and Energy Minister, Mr. Jesaya Nyamu announced
the possibility of the development of a new power project on the Kavango River, in
the form of a hydropower plant, for the Western Caprivi region to the tune of US$
300 million, in 2000. It is to provide 20 to 30 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the
area. According to the Minister, approximately 1.4 square kilometers will be
inundated by the hydropower plant, and 75 huts, 15 houses and four campsites in
the area will be flooded. The estimated evaporation will be about 1.5 million cubic
metres and will have 'a minor impact' on the flow of the Okavango Delta in
Botswana, according to a resource study. However, the development of the project
is still in its infancy, and Namibia has not yet been given the 'go ahead' as
discussions with Botswana and Angola, through OKACOM, which share the river,
are still being held (Rothert, 2000).
Botswana extracts little surface water from the Okavango River. There is only one
small irrigation scheme at Samochina, and water is piped to villages in and around
Mohembo, Shakawe and from Sepopa down to Gumare. In total these add up to
about 2 Mm 3 . Small additional amounts are taken directly by livestock and for
domestic purposes. Water supplies to Maun, Sehithwa, Tsau and Shorobe are all
from underground sources replenished by seepage from the Delta. Botswana
therefore probably uses less than 0.1 percent of all water entering the Delta each
year (Mendelsohn and el Obeid, 2004).
Perhaps more concern has been voiced about possible changes to patterns and
levels of water flow than any other threat. These fears have come to the forefront
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