Environmental change in and around the Okavango Delta during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Historical data, archival information, in-situ observations and multi-date remotely sensed imagery comprising CORONA photographs of 1967, aerial photographs of 1991 and 2000, and Landsat TM and Landsat ETM images of 1989 and 1994 and 2001, respectively, were used to reconstruct environmental changes in and around the Okavango Delta during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The major changes that emerged from this reconstruction include persistent flood and rainfall failures, sustained contraction of surface and groundwater resources, floodplain desiccation, significant expansion of woody cover and significant decrease in grazing resources. These changes require urgent formulation and immediate adoption of climate smart interventions that can enhance our capacities to cope with the adverse effects deteriorating climatic conditions.     

The impacts of herbivory on vegetation in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana: 1967–2001

Browsing and grazing pressure on vegetation in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana was analyzed using remotely sensed imagery comprising CORONA photographs of 1967 and Landsat TM and Landsat ETM imagery of 1989 and 1994 and 2001, respectively. Comparison of temporal variations in the spatial distributions of different vegetation types and changes in the abundance of selected wildlife species demonstrate a persistent decrease in capacity of the environment to support wild animals, due to increasing abundance of poorly preferred browse species and increasing scarcity of favored varieties. Given the long-term direction of change showing continued deterioration of habitat conditions and the limited prospects for reversal of this trend, it is apparent that there is immediate need to realign wildlife management strategies in ways that can enhance the sustainability of wildlife and the supporting environment.