UICN - Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature

Botswana National Committee of IUCN Members

01 August 2012 | Article

The Botswana National Committee of IUCN Members has undertaken  numerous activities in line with the IUCN Programme 2009-12.

Conserving the diversity of life Ensuring sustainable and equitable management of biodiversity from local to global levels

• Community Based Natural Resources Management programme (CBNRM) Forum activities sponsored by WWF (2008-2012)
• Launch of the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) (March 2012) Gov. of Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia
• Strategic partnerships to improve the financial and operational sustainability of protected areas in Botswana – BirdLife Botswana and Gov. of Botswana
• Solar powered 35 boreholes for water provision in protected areas in Botswana, funded by the Gov. of Botswana and Tiffany Foundation &Co. – Kalahari Conservation Society 2008-2013

Changing the climate forecast Integrating biodiversity considerations and opportunities into climate change policy and practice

• Development of the climate change policy - Gov. of Botswana 2012-14
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems policy development project sponsored by Gov. of Botswana - University of Botswana 2009-2011

Naturally energizing the future Implementing ecologically sustainable, equitable and efficient energy systems

• Renewable Energy – Rural Electrification Programme for Botswana – Gov of Botswana, UNDP and GEF
• 100 MW Concentrating Solar Power Project, Botswana Power Corporation – Gov.of Botswana
• Solar Photo Voltaic 1 MW Power Station at Sebele, JICA – Gov. of Botswana

Managing ecosystems for human well-being Improving livelihoods, reducing poverty and vulnerability, and enhancing environmental and human security through sustainable ecosystem management

• Development of the Integrated Water Resources management and Water Efficiency Plans (IWRM/WE) Project for Botswana - Kalahari Conservation Society and the Government of Botswana (2009-2012). Website: www.iwrmbotswana.com
• Makgadikgadi Framework Management Plan – Gov. of Botswana, Department of Environmental Affairs (2009 – 2011)
• Okavango Delta Management Plan – Gov. of Botswana, Department of Environmental Affairs (Completed in 2008- reviewed 2012)
• Poverty Environment Initiative – Government of Botswana, UNDP and UNEP
• Enhancing Decision Making Through Interactive Environmental Learning – An Action in the Molopo – Nossob Region – GEF Funded implemented by IUCN – ESARO (2010 – 2014)
• The DESIRE research project (2007-2012) funded by the European Commission, VI Framework Program, ‘Global Change and Ecosystems’ and the governments of France, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. coordinated by ALTERRA – Research Institute for the Green Living Environment, the Netherlands – University of Botswana (see DESIRE project note below and pictures attached) Website: www.desire-project.eu 
• Defragmenting African Resources Management (DARMA). The aim of the project was to increase national capacity in five African countries for the integrated management of resources that are held as commons, in particular, involving communities or resources users in management. The project was conducted in Tubu village, Ngamiland, where it implemented the management oriented monitoring system (MOMS).-University of Botswana/ Okavango Research Institute

Greening the world economy Integrating ecosystem conservation values in economic policy, finance and markets

• The Summit for Sustainability in Africa ( May 2012) - Botswana Gov. and Conservation International

DESIRE project:
Overstocking resulting in overgrazing of the poor herbaceous cover is a result partly of low rainfall and droughts, but also of loss of communal land to game sanctuaries to the west and northeast and leasehold ranches to the south. Although one of the key reasons for promoting private ranches was to avert the “tragedy of the commons”, unfenced ranches (Plate 1a) are as severely degraded as traditional cattleposts.