Okavango Eternal

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.

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.

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 ssustainable 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.

For many years, the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project has been working with local communities, NGOs, and governments in southern Africa to help secure protection for the Okavango Basin. De Beers is proud to support and accelerate these vital efforts by drawing on our own experience of working with the people of Botswana, in conservation and livelihood programmes, for over half a century.

With local and international support, the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project has been led since 2015 by National Geographic Explorer Dr. Steve Boyes, as he fastidiously studies wildlife and every stream of water in the area, to comprehend just how pure the waters have to remain to nourish the Okavango Delta. The amassed body of data serves as a powerful tool in developing conservation efforts, to help ensure the waters are able to flow freely and cleanly through undamaged land, safe from human-set fires or timber harvest.

The scientific work that supports these conservation efforts has proven imperative. Towards this end, Okavango Eternal has been establishing the critical infrastructure necessary to expand water monitoring capabilities along more remote rivers, while also supporting the Okavango Wilderness Project’s annual Delta expeditions to collect further data. Having a deeper understanding on how ecosystems interact – for example, determining the extent of migration routes and territories for animals – enables Okavango Eternal to help safeguard corridors between countries for wildlife to pass through freely and proliferate. And in turn, this wildlife is protected by locals who derive a sustainable livelihood from conserving the area. By 2030, our Okavango Eternal partnership aims to have developed livelihood opportunities for around 10,000 people, and to help ensure water and food security for over a million people, while fortifying these outcomes with an increased local resilience to climate-related impacts.

With an eye towards the future, De Beers and National Geographic are also supporting the next generation of protectors, developing programs to support local scientists, and sponsoring internships and PhDs, ensuring that the future stewardship of the Okavango Basin remains in the hands of local talent. Okavango Eternal is a five-year, multifaceted, and multi-country mission with many challenges. De Beers is proud to be working alongside National Geographic, dedicating resources and efforts to help protect the natural world, to support thriving communities, and to preserve one of the world’s most remarkable natural wonders.