DESERTIFICATION IN NORTH CENTRAL BOTSWANA - CAUSES, PROCESSES, AND IMPACTS

The mid-Boteti river area in north-central Botswana ts undergoing dese rtification from the perspective of a decline of available natural res ources. Since the area has suffered no decline in average rainfall dur ing past decades, resource depletion is considered to be related to in tense resource use, particularly, during early drought years. Decline is manifesting mainly as decreasing available fresh water, reductions in the amounts of woody vegetation cover for both fuelwood (locally) a nd browse (generally), species decline with changes to unpalatable cov er, and increased areas of exposed soil, leading to soil erosion.