Okavango Eternal
Chris Boyes, National Geographic
Diamonds are one of nature’s greatest and most precious treasures. Formed deep underground, under immense pressure over billions of years, they truly are a gift from nature. And we celebrate them in jewellery that's inspired by our connection and commitment to nature.
Kostadin Luchansky/National Geographic
De Beers has a long history of conservation: we opened our first nature reserve in South Africa over a century ago. Our ongoing conservation efforts - through our own nature reserves and wider partnerships - help preserve precious flora and fauna. Through Building Forever, we help support livelihoods that aim to enrich nature, so that the habitats and communities of our diamond-producing countries may continue to flourish.
We are deeply committed to conservation. And we recognise that we can achieve more collaborating in partnership with other organisations.
In 2021, De Beers joined National Geographic on a multi-year, multifaceted and multinational endeavour. The Okavango Eternal partnership helps address one of Africa’s most critical conservation challenges: protecting the pristine source waters of the Okavango Delta, which start in Angola and flow through Namibia, before entering the Delta in Botswana.
The Jewel of the Kalahari
A freshwater oasis in the middle of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, the Okavango Delta is one of the most biodiverse areas in Africa. Home to lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, buffalo, wild dogs, zebra, and hundreds of species of birds, it is known as the Jewel of the Kalahari. Its source waters are a lifeline for many endangered species, as well as over one million people. The Delta also supports a strong ecotourism industry, which brings hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy and is dependent on the life-force of these waters.
Chris Boyes, National Geographic
Under Threat
The Okavango Delta has protected status as the 1000th UNESCO World Heritage Site. But the wider Okavango Basin in Angola and Namibia, which sustains the Delta’s source waters, does not. Angola’s summer rainfall filters through grasses, peat deposits, and sand layers – attaining astonishing levels of purity. This rainfall then flows through Namibia and into Botswana, delivering 2.5 trillion gallons of water into the Okavango Delta each year. If this yearly flow were to stop, one of Africa’s most remarkable natural treasures would dry up. Sadly, the effects of climate change, population density, and commercial agriculture around the basin are putting this natural wonder at risk.
Okavango Eternal
Okavango Eternal aim to protect 13.3 million acres around the headwaters of the Okavango River Basin, through a combination of world-leading science and community-based conservation projects. The programme aims to support up to 10,000 sustainable livelihood opportunities that are in harmony with nature.
Scientific work is vital to these conservation efforts. Okavango Eternal has established the critical infrastructure necessary to monitor the waters of more remote rivers. It also supports annual Delta expeditions to collect further data and gain a deeper understanding of how ecosystems interact, including identifying species previously unknown to scientists. In turn, targeted livelihood programmes are being being put in place to help communities protect these precious ecosystems. The programmes combine cutting-edge science with traditional knowledge to support regenerative agriculture, beekeeping, artisan collectives and midwifery training in Angola, alongside sustainable cattle husbandry, entrepreneurship support and ecotourism opportunities in Botswana.
Kostadin Luchansky, National Geographic
With an eye towards the future, De Beers and National Geographic are encouraging the next generation of ecosystem protectors, by funding local scientists, and sponsoring internships and PhDs. That way, we ensure that the stewardship of the Okavango Basin remains in the hands of local talent.
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