Chapter 4 Ecology and hydrogeology October 2010 Republic of Botswana Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan 2010 Report details This chapter is part of volume 2 of the Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan prepared for the Botswana government by the Department of Environmental Affairs in partnership with the Centre for Applied Research The following persons have authored this chapter: Dr Graham McCulloch, with inputs from the following persons: Dr Chris Brooks, Dr Frank Eckardt, Dr Jeremy Perkins, Dr Julius Atlhopheng, Thoralf Meyer, and Dr Jaap Arntzen. Acknowledgements A number of people were consulted and gave input into the compiling of this report, for which they deserve many thanks. The geologists, Charles Byron and Martie Sharrock reviewed and provided expert opinion on the geology of the MWS in the site inventory report. Similarly, Martie McFarland gave a comprehensive and much appreciated review of the geomorphology of the system. Birgitta Farrington was extremely helpful in providing background information and red list data for the areas flora. Others who helped in this respect were Tracey Irvine from the Millenium Seed Bank Project, John Dini from SANBI and Tandiwe Nkonki with the PRECIS project. Pete Hancock and Stephanie Tyler were both incredibly helpful with the Birdlife data and inventory. Rob Bryant gave us a unique insight into the hydrological dynamics of Makgadikgadi’s surface waters, and a reference to the importance of groundwater input through a study of MODIS satellite imagery. Mike Kock at Debswana was very helpful in providing us with hydro-geological data and general environmental data for the Orapa area and wellfields. Tim Liversedge gave input into some of the species inventories and review of this document. Cornelius van der Post was very helpful with the GIS analysis of some of the species distribution data. Other experts of the area that gave valuable input were Ralph Bousfield, David Dugmore, Roger Dugmore, and Godfrey Nkata. Citation: Authors, 2010, Chapter title. In: Centre for Applied Research and Department of Environmental Affairs, 2010. Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan. Volume 2, Technical reports, Gaborone. Volume 2 – Chapter 4: Ecology and Hydro(geo)logy report 2 Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan 2010 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 2 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Component Terms of Reference .................................................................................................. 8 1.2 Background to the physical and ecological characteristics of the MFMP area .......................... 10 1.3 The component’s importance and role in the overall project.................................................... 13 1.3.1 An updated Site Inventory and core GIS baseline database ............................................... 14 1.3.2 Hydro(geo)logy .................................................................................................................... 14 1.3.3 Biodiversity Hotspots .......................................................................................................... 14 1.3.4 Ecosystem Functioning ........................................................................................................ 14 1.3.5 Indicators in Adaptive Management .................................................................................. 14 1.3.6 Rangeland Ecology ............................................................................................................. 15 1.3.7 Climate Change ................................................................................................................... 15 2 Approach and methodology .............................................................................................................. 17 2.1 Inception phase activities ........................................................................................................... 17 2.2 Site Inventory and core GIS baseline database .......................................................................... 17 2.2.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Hydro(geo)logy ........................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.4. Biodiversity Hotspots ................................................................................................................. 19 2.4.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 20 2.5 Ecosystem Functioning ............................................................................................................... 25 2.5.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 26 2.6 Indicators in Adaptive Management .......................................................................................... 26 2.6.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 27 2.7 Rangeland Ecology ...................................................................................................................... 28 2.7.1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 29 2.8 Climate Change ........................................................................................................................... 29 2.9 Interpretation and synthesis ...................................................................................................... 30 3 Findings .............................................................................................................................................. 31 3.1 Hydro(geo)logy ........................................................................................................................... 31 3.1.1 Hydrology Review ................................................................................................................ 31 3.1.2 Hydrological summary framework ...................................................................................... 49 3.1.3 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 51 3.1.4 Follow up work .................................................................................................................... 52 3.2 Biodiversity Hotspots .................................................................................................................. 53 3.2.1 Major Findings ..................................................................................................................... 53 3.2.2 Minor Findings ..................................................................................................................... 70 3.2.3 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 73 3.2.4 Follow up work .................................................................................................................... 74 3.3 Ecosystem Functioning ............................................................................................................... 75 3.3.1 Major Findings ..................................................................................................................... 75 3.3.2 Minor Findings ..................................................................................................................... 81 3.3.3 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 82 3.3.4 Follow up work .................................................................................................................... 82 3.4 Indicators in adaptive management ........................................................................................... 83 3.4.1 An Ecological Monitoring Framework for the MFMP area ................................................. 83 3.4.2 Indicators ............................................................................................................................. 90 3.4.3 Capacity & stakeholder participation .................................................................................. 98 3.4.4 Conclusions........................................................................................................................ 101 Volume 2 – Chapter 4: Ecology and Hydro(geo)logy report 3 Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan 2010 3.4.5 Follow on work .................................................................................................................. 102 3.5 Rangeland Ecology .................................................................................................................... 102 3.5.1 Major findings ..................................................................................................................