mnfi 'XV 5 The Northern State Lands, Botswana (Lmnxo) Ktompsm ©M©ö»pö(ni(gte^ ©5 @wfflmn.®mw^® CORRECTIONS. LAND RESOURCE STUDY NO. 5 Page 49, fifth paragraph, lines 4 and 5, for lense read lens Page 106, in the table, after P ppm for NaCH read NaOH Page 124, first line for phenolthiazine read phenothiazine Throughout the text and maps the current spelling Serondellas (a place name) should be understood for the variants Serondella and Serondela Scanned from original by ISRIC - World Soil Information, as ICSU World Data Centre for Soils. The purpose is to make a safe depository for endangered documents and to make the accrued information available for consultation, following Fair Use Guidelines. Every effort is taken to respect Copyright of the materials within the archives where the identification of the Copyright holder is clear and, where feasible, to contact the originators. For questions please contact [email protected] indicating the item reference number concerned. The Northern State Lands, Botswana \?5o Ministry of Overseas Development The Northern State Lands, Botswana by A. Blair Rains and A.D. McKay Land Resource Study No. 5 Land Resources Division, Directorate of Overseas Surveys, Tolworth, Surrey, England 1968 THE LAND RESOURCES DIVISION OF THE DIRECTORATE OF OVERSEAS SURVEYS The Directorate of Overseas Surveys, part of the Ministry of Overseas Development, assists developing countries in the fields of land survey, air photography, mapping and the investigation of land resources. The Land Resources f Division assesses land resources, and makes recommendations on the use of these resources for the development of agriculture, livestock husbandry and forestry; it also gives advice on related subjects to overseas governments and organisations, makes scientific personnel available for appoint­ ment abroad and provides lectures and\training courses in the basic techniques of resource appraisal. The Division endeavours to work in close co-operation with government departments, research institutes, universities and international organisations concerned with land resource assess­ ment and development planning. (111126) IV CONTENTS LIST OF PLATES LIST OF MAPS PART 1. INTRODUCTION Preface Acknowledgements Abstract Resume Descriptors Summary of Recommendations PART 2. THE PROJECT Origin of the Project Team Composition Procedure PART 3. ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL ASPECTS Location Geology Topography Climate Water Soils Vegetation Fauna Tsetse HUMAN ASPECTS History Population Current Land Use Communications PART 4. SPECIAL FACTORS AFFECTING LAND USE Vegetation Water Forestry Game Livestock (111126) 5. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT GENERAL LIVESTOCK IN THE NORTHERN STATE LANDS Factors Affecting Development Areas Suitable for Ranching Possible Forms of Development Game in the Northern Statelands PART 6. REFERENCES AND RELEVANT WORKS APPENDIX 1. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF HERBAGE APPENDIX 2. SOIL ANALYSIS APPENDIX 3. ECONOMICS OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION o APPENDIX 4. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY LIST OF PLATES 1. Halophytic grassland east of Khumaga 2. Impeded drainage grassland and shrub/tree savanna Panda»ma»Tenga 3. Floodplain grassland south of the Goha Hills 4. Parkland south of Gweta 5. Scattered shrub/infrequent tree savanna west of Odiakwe 6. Closed woodland east of the Mababe Depression 7. Open woodland, Burkea - Guibourtea - Dialium 8. Open woodland, Pterocarpus - Ricinodendron 9. 10. Dichapetalum cymosum 11,12. Animal damage to Trees LIST OF MAPS Location 7 Annual rainfall 13 Provisional soil types 23 Distribution of tsetse fly 29 Current land use 33 Groundwater 51 Distribution of Dichapetalum cymosum 71 Recommended land use 75 Vegetation map folder (111126) Vll PARTS 1 - 6 (111126) 1 PART 1. INTRODUCTION PREFACE This report is published with the permission of the Botswana Government but the views and opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Government. Since the draft copy of the report was submitted to the Botswana Government in March 1967 there have been changes affecting the Northern State Lands. The export of live cattle from Ngamiland to Zambia via Kazengula has ceased and cattle are now taken to the Lobatsi abattoir via Francistown. The Chobe Game Reserve Boundary has been modified; the new boundary is shown on the Current Land Use map. Timber will not be extracted from within the Reserve. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many individuals gave generously of their time in providing information and we gratefully acknowledge all the help given by members of the public and by government officials including the following: The Hon. M. P. K. Nwako Minister of Agriculture N. V. Redman, O.B.E. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture P. W. Reardon Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Commerce and Industry M. Hawkins Principal, Ministry of Mines, Commerce and Industry C. Boocock, O.B.E. Director of Geological Survey J. Falconer Director of Veterinary Services G. Hampson, O.B.E. Director of Agriculture Q. J. van Straten Deputy Director of Geological Survey R. J. F. Anderson W. M. 0. Meteorological Advisor to Government C. Jennings Senior Geologist, Geological Survey M. Bochman Chief Tsetse Officer G. Townsend Veterinary Research Officer, Ramathlabana S. A. C. Jensen Veterinary Research Officer, Ramathlabana P. Weare Senior Agricultural Officer (Research) K. E. Butler Animal Husbandry Officer P. W. T. Henry Forestry Officer, Kasane J. van Reit Lowe District Commissioner, Maun D. Button Surveyor - General's Office, Mafeking C. P. Hepburn Game Warden, Chobe J. G. van Gass Farmer, Nata M. de Villiers Formerly Manager, Panda-ma-Tenga ranch M. C. Biggs Marketing Adviser, Ministry of Overseas Development R. S. Porter, O.B.E. Economist, Ministry of Overseas Development (111126) 3 We wish to thank the Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station and C. L. Bascomb for the analysis of soil samples, the Director of the Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, for the analysis of grass samples, the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and W. D. Clayton and F. N. Hepper of the Herbarium for the identification of specimens. In addition we acknowledge the assistance of many colleagues in the Directorate of Overseas Surveys. ABSTRACT An investigation of the land resources of the Northern State Lands, Botswana, with a view to developing the cattle industry while conserving the game population, is described. The appraisal of resources is based on a survey of the physical environment, with special emphasis on the vegetation. An ecological survey was made of an area of 25 000 mi^ (64 750 km^); it consisted of a vegetation pattern analysis of air photographs and ground traverses covering 3 200 m (5 150 km). Sixteen vegetation communities are described and their distribution is shown on 1:500 000 scale map. Data on the soils and analyses of the herbage from certain areas are presented. The factors affecting the suitability of the land for ranching are discussed. Three areas selected for controlled development are described, but because of low carrying-capacity (1 adult equivalent to 25 acres/10 hectares) the economic returns are likely to be small. In six other areas development will depend on the availability of potable non-mineralised 'groundwater in sufficient quantity; economic considerations may limit the development of these areas. The abundance of game animals throughout the area is noted and their potential contribution to the economy is considered in terms of safari hunting, tourism, and game cropping. RESUME On a etudié les resources naturelles des Northern State Lands, Botswana, dans 1'intention de développeri1' industrie [bovine tout en conservant la population du gibier. L'evaluation des resources est basée sur un examen du milieu physique, avec une emphase speciale sur la vegetation. On a fait une etude écologique d'une superficie de 25 000 mi2 (64 750 km2), en analysant des photographies aériennes et en faisant des traverses sur le terrain. Seize populations végétales sont décrites et leur distribution est indiquee sur une carte a l'échelle 1:500 000. Les données sur les sols et 1'analyse de 1'herbage sont presentés pour certaines regions. On examine les facteurs qui influent sur 1'aptitude des terres pour l'élevage bovin. Trois regions choisies pour un développement controle sont décrites, mais ä cause de leur basse capacité de charge (25 ac (10 ha) par bete), le rendement économique sera limité. Dans six autres regions, la mise en valeur des terres dépendra de la quantité d'eau potable et non-mineralisée disponible; des considerations économiques pourraient limiter le développement de ces regions. (111126) 4 La region est giboyeuse. La contribution potentielle du gibier ä 1'économie est considérée en fonction.du safari, du tourisme et de la production de la viande. DESCRIPTORS FOR CO-ORDINATE INDEXING Botswana/land resource assessment/vegetation survey/grassland/savannah- woodland/desert/geology /climate/water resource assessment/underground water/ lithosol/gleysol/fluvisol/vertisol/ermosol/acrisol/ferralsol/halosol/fauna/ tsetse fly/land use/forestry/agriculture/livestock/beef-cattie/game/meat industry/tourism/sociology/economics/development. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS General Recommendations The object of the survey was to assess land resources in relation to the development of the cattle industry. The assessment has shown that this development will depend on certain innovations in social and economic policy which must be indicated here - although they are strictly speaking outside the terms of reference laid