making
b y C A R O L B E S L E R
a difference
A D I AMOND I S FOREVER , BUT OUR ECOSYSTEM I S I N PER I L . DE BEERS I S DO I NG I TS PART BY HELP I NG TO CONSERVE AFR I CA’ S OKAVANGO DELTA OKAVANGO ETERNAL
The delta has been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and it is a UNESCOWorld Heritage site, but while the Delta itself holds protected status, the larger Basin that sustains it does not. The effects of climate change, deforestation, water diversion, and upstream commercial agriculture are putting this lifegiving area at risk. De Beers is doing its part to help conserve the region by announcing it has entered into a five-year partnership with National Geographic to fund vitally important sustainability programs to support the Okavango Basin that feeds the water into the Okavango Delta.The programwill address one of the most critical conservation challenges in Africa: protecting the source waters of the Okavango Delta and the lives and livelihoods they support.
De Beers Forevermark diamonds are found in some of the most fascinating and beautiful places in the world. One of these is in Botswana, near the Okavango Delta. The Delta is a flood plain fed by seasonal flooding from the lakes and rivers that span southern Angola, eastern Namibia, and northern Botswana. These source waters carry 2.5 trillion gallons of water each year, attracting animals from miles around and creating one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of wildlife. The Okavango Delta is home to the world’s largest remaining elephant population, alongside lion, cheetah, wild dog, and hundreds of species of birds. After the flooding season, the waters in the lower parts of the delta recede, leaving behind moisture-rich soil where crops can thrive.
68 ] B C C L A R K M A G A Z I N E
Powered by FlippingBook