Makgadikgadi Wetland Working Group

Background
One of the largest ephemeral wetlands in Africa, the Makgadikgadi salt pan complex in central Botswana is home to many important and threatened migratory bird species and comprises the most important breeding site in southern Africa for greater and lesser flamingos, two high profile species in decline in the region. The Makgadikgadi Wetlands Working Group (MWWG) has been established to help develop conservation awareness through education, training and participation in various monitoring and conservation activities, with the ultimate goal of improving the long term management of the area and its wildlife.

Prior to this project, very little was known about the ecological processes and functioning of the Makgadikgadis’ aquatic ecosystem, which was surprising considering the increasing pressures from a growing number of anthropogenic activities in the area. Threats to the wetland integrity include the activities of a large soda ash mine operating nearby, new fences being erected around and across the pans, activities of a new copper mine in the catchment area, an increase in cattle overgrazing, and increased insensitive tourism. The peripheral grasslands are home to one of Botswana’s largest zebra and wilderbeest migrations, which are in direct conflict with the surrounding cattle industry.

Project Aims
Funded by Tusk the Working Groups coordinates a team of community stakeholders with the aim of monitoring and ultimately conserving this important wetland ecosystem. Through community and stakeholder active participation the project hopes to carry out team training, monitoring, identifying the major threats and to conduct various school and community environmental education projects through a local conservation and community liaison officer,

To this aim a Bird Guide Training course has recently been undertaken. Over 50 people applied for 12 spaces. Chosen from villages in the region, the course was conducted at the Nata Sanctuary over a two week period. The students were trained on many aspects of bird identification, feeding and breeding biology and other behaviour like migration. They were also instructed in and taught the principles of guiding and were educated on the physical, hydrological and biological aspects of the Nata Sanctuary and the Makgadikgadi Pan environment, in general.

The course is significant step in the training of guides specific to the area and will contribute to their eventual full professional guides licence. The students who received a Certificate of Attendance, will now be encouraged to attend training courses at Botswana Wildlife Training centre and take the guides licence exams, before they can become fully fledged professional guides.

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