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 ............................................................................................................................55