ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE IN THE MID-BOTETI AREA OF NORTH-CENTRAL BOTSWANA- BIOPHYSICAL PROCESSES AND HUMAN PERCEPTIONS

Increased interest in environmental change issues has led researchers to consider more integrated approaches to change dynamics. This paper examines change in terms of land degradation in north-central Botswana from both biophysical and human perspectives. Although seasonal and p eriodic droughts were prevalent, analysis of rainfall data over the pa st 70 years revealed no downward trend. However, indicators of declini ng productivity such as soil erosion, loss oi vegetation cover, and a declining groundwater table were amply evident. The GIS analysis oi re motely sensed data has shown that complete vegetation recovery after d rought is not laking place, particularly in the south-central part of the study area. These areas contained the highest human and livestock population densities. The local people acknowledged facing increasing resource depletion and indicated drought as the main cause. Pressures on available resources, particularly during drought periods, appeared to have impeded the regenerative capacity oi the natural vegetation co ver, thereby inducing land degradation. This situation may not easily be rectified because oi widespread poverty and inappropriate local per ceptions oi the solutions. Both of these hinder the adoption oi sustai nable land management.