BOTSWANA FOURTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY May 2009 BOTSWANA GOVERNMENT CONTENTS CONTENTS I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... VI CHAPTER 1 – OVERVIEW OF BIODIVERSITY STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS .......................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 THE OVERALL PICTURE .................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Botswana’s unique biodiversity ....................................................................................................... 2 1.2.1.1 Unique areas ............................................................................................................................................ 2 1.2.1.2 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.1.3 Species diversity ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1.4 Agrobiodiversity ...................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Biodiversity conservation status ...................................................................................................... 8 1.2.2.1 Protected area network and other areas of high biodiversity conservation value ..................................... 8 1.2.2.2 Red Data Lists ........................................................................................................................................ 13 1.2.2.3 Pressures on Botswana’s biodiversity .................................................................................................... 24 1.3 TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................................................... 26 1.3.1 Kalahari Acacia Baikiaea woodlands ........................................................................................... 26 1.3.1.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 27 1.3.1.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 27 1.3.1.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 28 1.3.1.4 Conservation activities: .......................................................................................................................... 29 1.3.2 Southern African bushveld ............................................................................................................. 29 1.3.2.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 29 1.3.2.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 29 1.3.2.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 30 1.3.2.4 Conservation activities: .......................................................................................................................... 31 1.3.3 Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands .................................................................................................... 32 1.3.3.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 32 1.3.3.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 32 1.3.3.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 33 1.3.3.4 Conservation activities: .......................................................................................................................... 34 1.3.4 Zambezian halophytics .................................................................................................................. 34 1.3.4.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 34 1.3.4.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 34 1.3.4.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 36 1.3.4.4 Conservation activities ........................................................................................................................... 36 1.3.5 Zambezian and Mopane woodlands .............................................................................................. 37 1.3.5.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 37 1.3.5.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 37 1.3.5.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 38 1.3.5.4 Conservation activities: .......................................................................................................................... 39 1.3.6 Zambezian flooded grassland ........................................................................................................ 39 1.3.6.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 39 1.3.6.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 39 1.3.6.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 41 1.3.6.4 Conservation activities: .......................................................................................................................... 42 1.3.7 Kalahari xeric savanna ................................................................................................................. 45 1.3.7.1 Characteristics: ....................................................................................................................................... 45 1.3.7.2 Status and trends of biodiversity: ........................................................................................................... 45 1.3.7.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 46 1.3.7.4 Conservation activities: .......................................................................................................................... 47 1.4 BIODIVERSITY AND PEOPLE......................................................................................................................... 47 1.5 FRESHWATER BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................................................... 49 1.5.1 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................................ 49 1.5.1.1 Important wetland areas ......................................................................................................................... 49 1.5.1.2 Status and trends of wetlands ................................................................................................................. 49 1.5.1.3 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 50 i 1.5.1.4 Conservation activities ........................................................................................................................... 51 1.5.2 Rivers ............................................................................................................................................. 53 1.5.2.1 Status and trends of Botswana’s rivers................................................................................................... 53 1.5.2.2 Threats ................................................................................................................................................... 53 1.5.2.3 Conservation activities ........................................................................................................................... 53 CHAPTER 2 - IMPLEMENTATION OF BOTSWANA NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ............................................................................................................... 55 2.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................