Kgathi, DLKniveton, DRingrose, STurton, ARVan der Post, CHMLundqvist, JSeely, M2007-03-272007-06-072007-03-272007-06-072006-04Kgathi, DL, et al. 2006. Okavango: a river supporting its people, environment and economic development. Journal of Hydrology, vol. 331, 02 January, pp 3-170022-1694http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2116http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2116The Okavango basin comprises the Cuito and Cubango active catchment areas in Angola, in addition to the Kavango-Okavango non-active catchment in northern Namibia and Botswana. The Okavango River water and its ecosystem resources are critically important sources of livelihoods for people in the basin. Pressures from livelihoods and development are already impacting on the environment. These pressures may increase in the future due to the rapid increase in population, the peace process and associated resettlement activities in Angola, and major development initiatives in Botswana and Namibia. For instance, possible future increase in water abstraction from the Okavango River may affect the long-term environmental sustainability of the Okavango Delta by minimizing channel shifting and thereby reducing spatial biodiversity. The paper argues that while conservation of the natural environment is critical, the pressing development needs must be recognized. The reduction of poverty within the basin should be addressed in order to alleviate adverse effects on the environment. The paper recommends that the development of sustainable tourism and community-based natural resource management initiatives may be appropriate strategies for reaching the Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation and achievement of environmental sustainability in the Okavango Basin. These initiatives have a comparative advantage in this area as demonstrated by the performance of the existing projects.2000842 bytesapplication/pdfenCopyright: 2006 Elsevier B.V.Okavango RiverLivelihoodsEconomic developmentNatural environmentBotswanaNamibiaAngolaGeosciencesArticleKgathi, D., Kniveton, D., Ringrose, S., Turton, A., Van der Post, C., Lundqvist, J., & Seely, M. (2006). Okavango: a river supporting its people, environment and economic development. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2116Kgathi, DL, D Kniveton, S Ringrose, AR Turton, CHM Van der Post, J Lundqvist, and M Seely "Okavango: a river supporting its people, environment and economic development." (2006) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2116Kgathi D, Kniveton D, Ringrose S, Turton A, Van der Post C, Lundqvist J, et al. Okavango: a river supporting its people, environment and economic development. 2006; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2116.TY - Article AU - Kgathi, DL AU - Kniveton, D AU - Ringrose, S AU - Turton, AR AU - Van der Post, CHM AU - Lundqvist, J AU - Seely, M AB - The Okavango basin comprises the Cuito and Cubango active catchment areas in Angola, in addition to the Kavango-Okavango non-active catchment in northern Namibia and Botswana. The Okavango River water and its ecosystem resources are critically important sources of livelihoods for people in the basin. Pressures from livelihoods and development are already impacting on the environment. These pressures may increase in the future due to the rapid increase in population, the peace process and associated resettlement activities in Angola, and major development initiatives in Botswana and Namibia. For instance, possible future increase in water abstraction from the Okavango River may affect the long-term environmental sustainability of the Okavango Delta by minimizing channel shifting and thereby reducing spatial biodiversity. The paper argues that while conservation of the natural environment is critical, the pressing development needs must be recognized. The reduction of poverty within the basin should be addressed in order to alleviate adverse effects on the environment. The paper recommends that the development of sustainable tourism and community-based natural resource management initiatives may be appropriate strategies for reaching the Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation and achievement of environmental sustainability in the Okavango Basin. These initiatives have a comparative advantage in this area as demonstrated by the performance of the existing projects. DA - 2006-04 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Okavango River KW - Livelihoods KW - Economic development KW - Natural environment KW - Botswana KW - Namibia KW - Angola KW - Geosciences LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2006 SM - 0022-1694 T1 - Okavango: a river supporting its people, environment and economic development TI - Okavango: a river supporting its people, environment and economic development UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2116 ER -