Can sustainable land management safeguard biodiversity within the ODRS (emphasis on the ILUP for the ODRS?)

BY Sibangani Mosojane

BIOKAVANGO project/ Tawana

Land Board P. O. Box 134

Maun, BotswanaTel: 6860292

Fax: 6860603

Objective of land use planning

Land use planning provides the prerequisites for achieving a sustainable form of land use which is acceptable as far as the social and environmental contexts are concerned and is desired by the society while making sound economic sense

 What is land use planning?

Land use planning is an interactive process based on the discussion amongst all stakeholders aiming at the conciliation and decision for sustainable form of land use in rural areas as well as initiating and monitoring its implementation

What is land use planning?

Land use planning (LUP) should not only be practiced when national authorities intervene or as a result of development co-operation projects. LUP happens in every society, even if the term is not used.

What is land use planning?

The contemporary land use planning is done in the context of development co-operation. It deals with cases in which an intervention occurs in order to improve land use and to sustain natural resources. In the past, decisions made on land use have resulted in the degradation of land resources, or an imbalance between supply and demand of those resources. Here, land use planning is understood as an instrument of the technical co-operation used in the following types of projects:

When does Land Use Plan happen?

Wherever individuals or groups of people use land and its resources.

During Land use planning process. Land use does not consider production of goods and

services only, but also functions such as protected areas, land recreation, road-building, waste disposal sides and use restricted areas such as buffer zones, areas for regenerating groundwater, buffer zones for traffic noise pollution, etc.

Which technical cooperation need land use planning?

Resources management (forestry, production systems compatible with resources and agro forestry, pasture management etc,

rural regional development

community support and village development

Government consultation (environmental strategy planning, agricultural sector planning, development planning, assessment of land potential).

What are the basic insightful inland use planning?

The core element in land use planning is the exchange of ideas amongst all participants to reach decisions based on

consensus. The dialogue-orientated

learning and negotiation process amongst the participants leading to the development of their planning capacities and to sustaining co-operative relations at local level.

What are the basic insightful inland use planning?

Participants in land use planning are direct and indirect land users, as well as those affected by the consequences of land use activities

The Land Use planning process covers all steps extending from the collection of data and information through its processing, analysis, discussion and evaluation right up to the negotiation for a consensus concerning the form of land use to be practiced

What are the basic insightful inland use planning?

Land use is considered to be sustainable when it is both socially and environmentally compatible desired by the society, technically viable and when it makes economic sense.

Land use planning is first and foremost a process of clarification and understanding between people who together wish to change something and prepare future actions systematically

. Rural areas, in contrast to urban areas are characterized by agricultural and forestry production having relatively low population and building densities. Infrastructure, facilities or services have a relatively low importance.

Important considerations in Land use Planning

Social justice:

Long-term sustainability of natural resources:

Acceptance and social compatibility

Economic efficiency:

Viability:

To summarize the objective of land use planning can be defined as the following:

Land use planning considers cultural viewpoints and builds up on local environmental knowledge.

Land use planning takes into account traditional strategies for solving problems and conflicts.

Land use planning assumes a concept which understands rural development to be a "bottom-up" process based on self-help and self-responsibility

Land use planning is a dialogue, creating the prerequisites for the successful negotiation and co-operation among stakeholders.

Summary continues

Land use planning is a process leading to an improvement in the capacity of the participants to plan and take actions.

Land use planning requires transparency. Therefore, free access to information for all participants is a prerequisite.

The differentiation of stakeholders and the gender approach are core principles in land use planning.

Land use planning is based on interdisciplinary cooperation.

Land use planning is an iterative process; it is the flexible and open reaction based on new findings and changing conditions.

Summary continues

Land use planning is implementation-orientated.

Linking present and long-term problems

Can we practice LUP in Ngamiland?

Rural land use in Ngamiland is diverse. Forms include settlements, arable and pastoral agriculture, wildlife conservation and tourism. As a consequence of this, land use planning would provide guidance in cases of conflict between land use options.

The Land Boards in Botswana were established by an act of Parliament, the Tribal Land Act of 1968 to be custodians of all tribal Land in the Country.

The BIOKAVANGO project is working towards building capacity for the Tawana Land Board to integrate biodiversity management objectives into their land management strategy.

 

LUP practice in Ngamiland would assist land board members where?

Decision-making fails to consider biodiversity adequately;

There is no coherent land use plan and sectors are

developing in an unsustainable manner;

Land Boards authorities and other institutions may not be adequately equipped to guide development;

There is need to improve the way decisions are taken and

the way that planning is done

There is need to Build capacity so that Land Boards can make informed decisions about development and the environment

Land use practice continue

The Tawana Land Board authorities should gain greater understanding of the importance of considering the environment in decision-making and the link between the environment, human livelihoods and development.

The ILUP for the ODRS a TLB concept

The primary goal is to develop an integrated Land Use and Land Management plan for the ODRS, which will ultimately form an integral component of the ODMP.

The plan aims at generating and formulating proposals, regulations, guidelines and programmes that will regulate the use of land; guide land management, and zone the Ramsar Site into distinct land use zones.

The plan will be supported by a comprehensive database management system which in combination with other elements of the plan will ensure the long-term conservation of the Delta and the sustainable use of the land and other resources of the ODRS.

Objective of the Ngamiland ILUP

To zone land in the Ramsar Site for various land use activities, taking into account the use for which particular land areas are best suited, in terms of soils suitability, physical constraints, environmental sensitivity and resource availability, as well as community aspirations, amongst others;

  To analyze current land and

natural resource use and reconciliation of these with future requirements;

 

 

Objective of the Ngamiland ILUP

To identify current land use conflicts in the project area and the making of recommendations towards their resolution;

To build capacity within TLB, DLUPU and communities, in relation to land use planning, plan implementation and land management, as well as monitoring;

  To identify all environmentally

sensitive areas in the project area, and the formulation of guidelines and regulations for their protection;

The Ngamiland ILUP

The land use zoning plan is informed by the following criteria:

  Ecological

characteristics. Soil suitability and land

potentials. Local/indigenous

knowledge. Natural resource base. Current use zones. Land forms and

biographical environment

Can biodiversity saved in Ngamiland using this scenario and what is it?

Yes Is the variety and

variability among living organisms the ecological complexes in which they occur. All levels of biodiversity are necessary for the continued survival of species and natural communities, and all are important for the well-being of humans.

Types of biological diversities

Species diversity represents the range of evolutionary and ecological adaptations of species to particular environment. The diversity of species provides people with resources and resource alternative. For example, the Okavango Delta provides habitats with many species, produces a wide variety of plants and animal products that can be used as food, shelter and medicine

Genetic diversity is needed by any species in order to maintain reproductive vitality, resistance to disease, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions

Community-level diversity represents the collective response of species to different environmental condition. Biological communities such as deserts grasslands, wetlands support the continuity of proper ecosystem functioning, provides beneficial services to people- services such as flood controls, protection from soil erosion, air and water filtering.

Value of Biodiversity

Biodiversity has intrinsic value species have a value on their own, regardless of their material value to human society this value is in part conferred by their evolutionary and unique ecological role, and also

by their very existence. 

Thank you