Zambezi River Basin

100 opulation using improved drinking water sources in Botswana Percentage Population using improved drinking water sources in Botswana Botswana is in the envious position of havingmet its water and sanitation targets well before the MDG targets and the timelines for its ownVision 2016. More than 90 per cent of the population in urban and rural areas has access to drinking water and sanit tion, as shown in Figures 4.13 and 4.14. Access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation by 2015 Due to deliberate policy and strategic action,

Reverse biodiversity loss by 2010 The Government of Botswana has designated a sizeable portion of land area for conservation since before 1990. The protected areas in Botswana total 104,988 sq km, which is 18 per cent of the total surface area of the country, a significant proportion when compared to most other countries in the Basin (Figure 4.12), except for Zambia and Tanzania.

Protected areas share of total land area in Botswana

0

90

Percentage

100

80

18%

40 60 50 70 60 80 70 90

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

50

Source: SADC and SARDC 2008

Rural

Urban

National

Figure 4.12

40

Source: Government of Botswana 2009

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

Rural

Urban

National

Land use conflict between wildlife and agriculture is a problem around Chobe, Maun and Kasane, and elsewhere in Botswana. Elephants exceed 130 000 individuals in Botswana and have surpassed the carrying capacity of their northern territory. This has resulted in the destruction of cropland and the depletion and degradation of resources that are important to rural livelihoods. A small length of the Chobe River, about 54 km upriver from Kasane to Ngoma Bridge, is included within Chobe National Park, while Chobe Forest Reserve lies adjacent to the flood plain for a further 80 km. The Chobe rapids area and the remainder of the floodplain have little or no protection in Botswana or in neighbouring Namibia. On the Namibian side of the river, and in Botswana outside Chobe National Park, there is fairly heavy human settlement, with large numbers of cattle. Numerous deliberate fires are destroying floodplain vegetation, including reed beds, and snaring and poaching are widespread, affecting birds as well as mammals. Very large numbers of African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ), concentrating along the river in the dry season, have caused extensive damage to the riparian woodlands. River craft used by tourists and local residents can potentially cause disturbance to breeding birds. The number of threatened species in Botswana was 12 at the turn of the 21st century and had reached 31 three years later, partly through identification of new threats due to wider research and tracking.

Source: Government of Botswana 2009

Figure 4.13

Proportion of people with access to improved sanitation facilities in Botswana

100 Percentage

95

90

85

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

Path to MDG Path to V2016

Actual

Linearly Projected value

Source: Government of Botswana 2009

Figure 4.14

Due to the semi-arid nature of the country, Botswana has poor water resources and is subject to frequent, severe droughts, while demand for water is increasing in all sectors. Groundwater accounts for two-thirds of all water consumption, but some underground aquifers are affected by natural salinity and others are threatened by pollution from livestock and human waste (FAO 2005). Water scarcity played a role in the decline of the agricultural sector from almost 40 per cent of GDP contributed in the 1960s to only six per cent in 2004 (FAO 2005). This is also a key factor in driving Botswana’s rapid urbanization.

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