Okavango Research Institute (ORI)

 Founded in 1994, Okavango Research Institute (ORI) is a research centre of the University of Botswana, established for the study and conservation of the Okavango Delta and other southern African wetlands, river basins, watersheds and the Kgalagadi drylands. It is a multi disciplinary centre with qualified staff in areas such as water chemistry, ecology, economics and tourism and specializes in natural resource management issues.  ORI’s mandate is to advance scientific knowledge and promote sustainable natural resource management in the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari region. In 2001 the Centre moved to its present location, 20km north-east of Maun.  It is the principal research centre of its kind in Botswana and aspires to help conserve the Okavango and Kalahari ecosystems.