Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan Volume one: Main report November 2010 Republic of Botswana Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan 2010 Report details This report is volume one of the Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan prepared for the government by the Department of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism in partnership with the Centre for Applied Research. Volume one is the main plan for the Makgadikgadi area. Volume two contains detailed findings of specialist and component studies prepared during 2009/2010. Acknowledgements The MFMP project team is indebted to a large number of institutions, companies, persons and communities that have actively contributed to the projects through: 1. participation in various focus group discussions, project workshops/ meetings and kgotla meetings; 2. being interviewed for the livelihood survey or as a resource person; the provision of data and feedback on draft reports. We sincerely hope that the implementation of the plan will offer a ‘reward’ for these efforts and the time spent on the project. Citation: Department of Environmental Affairs and Centre for Applied Research, 2010. The Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan. Government of Botswana, Gaborone. Volume one: main report 2 Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan 2010 Contents List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... 6 List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... 8 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 10 1.1. Background ........................................................................................................................... 10 1.2. The location of the Makgadikgadi Pans................................................................................ 11 1.3. Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan ...................................................................... 13 2. Approach and methodology ......................................................................................................... 17 2.1. Approach .............................................................................................................................. 17 2.2. Leading concepts .................................................................................................................. 17 2.3. The MFMP area .................................................................................................................... 21 3. The Makgadikgadi framework management plan area ............................................................... 24 3.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.2. People and their livelihoods ................................................................................................. 24 3.2.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 24 3.2.2. Socio-economic environment .......................................................................... 25 3.2.3. Sources of livelihood ....................................................................................... 30 3.2.4. Livelihood security ........................................................................................... 32 3.2.5. Livelihoods and natural resource utilisation ................................................... 33 3.2.6. Livelihood constraints and opportunities ........................................................ 34 3.2.7. MFMP expectations ......................................................................................... 35 3.3. The ecology ........................................................................................................................... 35 3.3.1. Rangeland ecology ........................................................................................... 36 3.3.2. Biodiversity hotspots ....................................................................................... 37 3.3.3. Ecosystem functioning ..................................................................................... 40 3.3.4. Indicators ......................................................................................................... 42 3.4. Hydrogeology ....................................................................................................................... 45 3.4.1. Hydromorphology............................................................................................ 45 3.4.2. Climate ............................................................................................................. 47 3.4.3. Surface hydrology ............................................................................................ 48 3.4.3. Water mass balance ........................................................................................ 50 3.4.4. Water off-take conflicts ................................................................................... 50 3.5. Wildlife resources ................................................................................................................. 51 3.5.1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 51 3.5.2. Mammals ......................................................................................................... 52 3.5.3. Amphibians, reptiles and fish .......................................................................... 56 3.5.4. Birds ................................................................................................................. 56 4. Current land use patterns and issues ........................................................................................... 61 4.1. Overall land use .................................................................................................................... 61 4.2. Land resources and administrative boundaries ................................................................... 63 4.3. Current land use plans .......................................................................................................... 64 4.4. Land use and agriculture ...................................................................................................... 71 4.5. Land use and wildlife conservation ...................................................................................... 71 4.6. Land use, tourism and CBNRM ............................................................................................. 71 4.7. Land use and mining ............................................................................................................. 73 4.8. Land use and other physical developments ......................................................................... 75 5. The economic value of the Makgadikgadi .................................................................................... 76 5.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 76 5.2. Approach and methods ........................................................................................................ 76 5.3. Direct use value .................................................................................................................... 77 Volume one: main report 3 Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan 2010 5.3.1. Livestock production ....................................................................................... 77 5.3.2. Crop production............................................................................................... 78 5.3.3. Collection of veld products .............................................................................. 79 5.3.4. Tourism ............................................................................................................ 80 5.3.5. Mining .............................................................................................................. 82 5.4. Indirect use value ................................................................................................................. 82 5.4.1. Carbon sequestration ...................................................................................... 82 5.4.2. Wildlife refuge ................................................................................................. 83 5.4.3. Water purification ........................................................................................... 83 5.4.4. Groundwater recharge .................................................................................... 83 5.4.5. Scientific and educational value (S&E) ............................................................ 84 5.4.6. Aggregate indirect use value ........................................................................... 84 5.5. Option value ......................................................................................................................... 84 5.6. Conclusions ..........................................................................................................................