Gaolathe Tsheboeng’s research interests are in riparian plant ecology and management. Through his research, Tsheboeng aims to understand how flooding variation and land use affect species composition and distribution of riparian plant communities in the Okavango Delta. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education (Science), Degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil, specialising in seasonal floodplain plant ecology) and Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (specialising in riparian woodland plant ecology) in Natural Resources Management. At the Okavango Research Institute,

Tsheboeng has been exposed to academic training which involved contemporary research methods. He has become proficient in the application of multivariate statistical techniques such as clustering and ordination to large data-sets. This is an invaluable skill in landscape ecology.

Furthermore, Tsheboeng has presented both his MPhil and PhD work in both local and International conferences. He has already published prolifically, with work in reputable refereed journals that include African Journal of Aquatic Science, South African Journal of Science, Journal of Forestry Research, Biodiversity and Ecology, Southern Forests and African Journal of Ecology. Locally, he has one of his papers published in Botswana Notes and Records Journal while another one is accepted for publication in Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies. Tsheboeng also has some publications in conference proceedings. His other publications are in the form of Technical reports.

Tsheboeng worked as a Research Assistant in the Future Okavango Project, which sponsored his PhD studies and is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and hosted by ORI. The main focus of that project was mapping and inventorying woodland resources of the Okavango Delta. After completion of his PhD, Tsheboeng was employed as a Research Assistant in the research project on “Diversity, Population Structure and Regeneration Status of Riparian Woody Species Growing Naturally along the Thamalakane River, Northern western Botswana” funded by Forest Conservation Botswana. 

Project: Designing a monitoring system for riparian woodland vegetation in the Okavango Delta, Botswana 

Despite their importance, riparian woodland vegetation in the Okavango Delta is threatened by a large and increasing elephant population and by the degradation of human beings who clear the land for agriculture. As a result of these progressing anthropogenic activities, the riparian woody vegetation may shrink and degrade. Therefore, the current study aims to design a monitoring system which will provide early warning information on the degradation of riparian woodland vegetation in the Okavango Delta. 

This project aims to develop the monitoring system for the change in riparian woodland vegetation in the Okavango Delta.   Monitoring land cover change will help to guide policy on conservation of woodland resources and provide early warning information on its degradation. It will also ensure that there is sustained flow of services and benefits that are derived from the riparian woodland vegetation.