The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The Annotated Ramsar List: Botswana

The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance

BOTSWANA

The Convention on Wetlands came into force for Botswana on 9 April 1997. Botswana presently has 1 site designated as a Wetland of International Importance, with a surface area of 5,537,400 hectares.

site; date of designation; region, province, state; surface area; coordinates
site; date de désignation; région, province, état; superficie; coordonnées
sitios; fecha de designación; región, provincia, estado; área; coordenadas

Okavango Delta System. 09/12/96; Ngamiland; 5,537,400 ha; 19º17’S 022º54’E. Controlled Hunting Area, Game Reserve, Wildlife Management Areas. The site borders Namibia and is the only inland delta in sub-Saharan Africa. Set in a semi-arid region and subject to large fluctuations in flooded area, the site includes permanent and seasonal swamp, riverine floodplains and a seasonal freshwater lake. The floodplains form critical habitat for many species of birds and wildlife at their southern limits of distribution in the region. The diverse flora and fauna includes 1060 different plant species, 32 large mammal species, over 650 species of birds, 68 species of fish, and a highly diverse insect population, all of which include rare, endangered and endemic species. Human activities include recreation, tourism, subsistence farming, fishing, and livestock grazing. The present area figure has been recalculated downward in 2006, with no change of site boundaries. Ramsar site no. 879.Most recent RIS information: 2007.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 10 January 2000, updated 30 May 2007, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.