Rural livelihoods are strongly dependent on the resources of the Chobe River. This water system provides the only permanent surface water in the system for all life, human and animal.

Our study site is in Northern Botswana. Left, a birds eye view of the spectacular wetlands system the serves as the boundary between Botswana and Namibia.

Dr. Alexander works with graduate students

Undergraduate and graduate training is ongoing in the program. Here Dr. Alexander  and project graduate student Risa Pesapane provide training to students  on water collection approaches.

Water samples are collected twice a month through the length of the Chobe River. Samples are processed and evaluated at Dr. Alexander's field laboratory near the Chobe National Park  at the  CARACAL Biodiversity Center.

Collection of samples is challenging due to water height requiring different types of boats. Hippos, crocodiles and elephants keep the work exciting!!!

In addition to research, the project has a large educational component providing training and capacity development to Botswana through  local educational programs with school children.  Batswana youth identified through the Botswana Youth Council participate in project activities to gain experience in research and develop an appreciation of the importance of water management on rural livelihoods. Education is the cornerstone of sustainability and a major component of this study.

(Above left) Dr. Alexander discusses how the Chobe river sustains life and livelihoods and the way they can help in protecting the resources and become leaders in their communities.

(Left) Mr. Lipa (project member) teaches children during  a community bird walk through the study site about the importance of preserving biodiversity and clean environments.

Survey teams use traditional knowledge together with scientific approaches to identify and calculate density of fecal matter by animal species. Mr. Cysco Charlie is Basarwa tracker skilled in identifying the movements and tracks of wildlife. Dr. Alexander and Mr. Charlie have been working together for nearly a decade in Botswana studying human, environmental, and animal interactions.

Here, Cysco works with Dr. Alexander and the rest of the field team determining fecal density, age and even sex by animal species along the Chobe River. Study transects have been established along the river as it moves from the towns of Kasane and Kazungula into the world famous Chobe National Park.These points are the focus of longitudinal environmental monitoring.

Welcome to our new NSF: Water quality and Environmental Health Botswana Blog

Water Quality and Environmental Health in Botswana: Coupled Dynamics in a Water-Scarce Environment
Kathleen Alexander, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Researchers will evaluate links among human and other animal populations in the Chobe River region of Botswana using Escherichia coli as a model microorganism to track transmission of microbes among the river, wildlife, domestic animals and humans.


Go to link: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=121734&org=NSF&from=news

We would like to welcome you to our new project blog site where you can get up to date information on this important project.