Environmental policy and administrative management

Historically the land currently occupied by MNR was farmland where the intensity of cattle grazing was high. The vegetation on the land was incapable of recovering due to this overgrazing, leading to widespread degradation. Land degradation is a serious problem in MNR and is in urgent need of being addressed. This degradation is observed in two main forms; bush encroachment and soil erosion. Bush encroachment has removed the natural veldt of palatable grass species, whilst certain invading species, including Acacia mellifera and Dichrostachys cinerea, provide poor browsing for game animals. These unpalatable invasive plants out-compete natural grasses for light (due to dense canopies) and water (due to extensive shallow root systems) converting the veldt into a barren, sparsely populated, rangeland. With the invasive species outcompeting grasses the soil surface is left bare and vulnerable to erosion. Soil erosion in the Reserve peaks during rainfall events, as the infiltration rates are low due to the lack of vegetative cover. The exposed topsoil substrate is washed away by the surface water, removing the valuable nutrients contained within. In extreme cases soil erosion leads to the formation of deep gullies: - there are numerous examples of this across the Reserve. Gullies that are left uncontrolled grow and spread further across the rangeland instigating further degradation. The project will benefit the local community in numerous ways; through the casual labour force required in undertaking the work, carrying out workshops to increase the local rural populations knowledge of correct land management and school visits to Mokolodi Education Centre will ensure that future generations of local children carry with them an understanding of environment issues and the skills to combat the problems faced. This project covers numerous SGP Botswanacore objectives, it will; 1) restore and rehabilitate 750ha of degraded land, 2) involve numerous local communities to demonstrate and educate on sustainable management practices, 3) adjust the behaviour and harmful practices currently undertaken by stakeholders, 4) seek to increase the number of local communities actively practising land management through the cost-effective and innovative financial mechanisms trailed during the project.

Botswana