ORI Celebrates Five Postgraduate Graduates in Natural Resources Management
The Okavango Research Institute (ORI) is celebrating five (5) postgraduate graduates in Natural Resources Management at the University of Botswana’s (UB) 44th Graduation Ceremonies. The achievement highlights the Institute’s contribution to scientific research and sustainable management of natural resources.
The cohort comprises four (4) PhD graduates and one (1) MPhil) graduate. Based in Maun, ORI is a multidisciplinary research institute established in 1994 to advance research on the Okavango Delta and its surrounding ecosystems. Its work generates scientific knowledge that supports environmental conservation, natural resource management and sustainable development.
ORI’s MPhil/PhD programme in Natural Resources Management, introduced in 2008, equips researchers with advanced skills to investigate complex environmental challenges. Its research areas include ecosystem dynamics, ecosystem services, water resources management, sustainable tourism and climate change, alongside related disciplines such as wetland ecology, hydrology and natural resource economics.
The programme has attracted more than 40 students from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region especially professionals from government, universities, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. Its multidisciplinary approach supports evidence-based decision-making and strengthens the expertise needed to manage natural resources sustainably.
The five (5) graduates build on ORI’s 2025 achievement where three (3) students received MPhil degrees in Natural Resources Management. Together, the milestones demonstrate the importance of postgraduate research in developing Botswana’s scientific and academic capacity.
As UB celebrates the graduates, ORI reaffirms its role in generating knowledge that supports conservation, informs policy and contributes to safeguarding the Okavango Delta and Botswana’s natural heritage for future generations.