ABSTRACT

The Okavango Delta constitutes one of the world's most pristine subtropical wetlands with high biodiversity of all life forms and a high abundance of African wildlife. The Okavango Delta was listed under the Ramsar convention in 1997 as a wetland of international importance and this resulted in the formulation of the Okavango Delta Management Plan, which has just entered its implementation phase. Poor waste water and sewage management is another issue facing tourism development in the Okavango Delta. Community-Based Natural Resource Management based activities, however, need to be considered adequately and in conjunction with the commercial tourism sector in the integrated management plans for the Okavango that are on the drawing board or already in operation. Permanent Okavango River Basin Commission's (OKACOM) approach to transboundary management of the Okavango River Basin resources entails promoting coordinated and sustainable water and land resources management of the basin. Cost and benefit sharing within the Okavango River Basin offers real possibilities for sustainable development.