Botswana Student Program
| Botswana-Linyanti Student Program |
 |
 |
 |
|
With over 43% of the country protected, Botswana is home to some of the world’s most abundant and diverse wildlife populations. Two immense wetlands, the Chobe-Linyanti-Zambezi Wetland and the Okavango Delta, support Africa’s largest concentration of carnivores in Africa and is home to over 80,000 elephants. The people of Botswana have been living with wildlife for thousands of years, but as wildlife and human populations increase it is imperative to understand what services animals provide to people and the ecosystems they are part of, and how these communities and wildlife can continue to live together in beneficial ways. In Botswana there is much debate over whether large herbivore populations, especially elephants, are degrading the ecosystems they rely on as their populations increase. Round River students will assist in research designed to determine how large herbivores affect the annual productivity of vegetation along the Chobe–Linyanti wetland. This study will include determining whether large herbivores provide valuable nutrient cycling, create browsing and grazing areas and function as seed dispersal mechanisms that allow for greater productivity than systems without these large animals. Students will also be engaged in wildlife movement patterns studies, and biodiversity assessments, while working closely with rural communities. Round River students will conduct research along side Botswana students in the Linyanti Game Reserve adjacent to the Okavango Delta, while living in rustic tent field camps. This exciting new program will begin in the Spring 2012. More information will be available soon. Please email any questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
Full
Now accepting applications!
Now accepting applications!
