In any watercourse system in a river basin that covers the territory of more than one sovereign State, the water resources should be shared equitably among the countries concerned. Maximising the development potential of the basin for the benefit of the population requires an understanding of the potential of the natural resources available to support the population and to implement the identified development options without compromising the environmental integrity of all ecosystems. In the Okavango River Basin, this complex task is compounded by the relative location of the four basin States (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe), pressing development needs in those countries, the pristine nature of the ecosystems, and the international pressure to protect the unique Okavango Delta. Unresolved, these issues may lead to conflict between the need for socio-economic development and the protection of the environment. People are just as much part of the environment and have the capacity to preserve the environment or destroy their livelihood to their own detriment. Several measures to prevent or manage the dichotomy between development and the environment in the Okavango Basin have been implemented since 1994 when the Okavango River Basin Water Commission was established.