Conservation funds benefit communities
17 Feb 2013
Communities have always benefited under the Community Conservation Fund (CCF), an offshoot of the Development Budget meant to financially assist community development initiatives.
Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse said the fund was established during the NDP 8 as one the measures by the government to promote Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) financially.
Answering a parliamentary question on behalf of the Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama, he said a total of P500 000 was set aside every year to assist deserving community initiatives through a grants. He said a total amount of P5 243 727 had been released to communities venturing in natural resources management initiatives countrywide since the fund was set up.
As a result, he said a number of community trusts had been able to use the fund as building blocks for their projects including mobilization, development and registration of structures, and the development of management plans.
It would appear Kgalagadi and Gantsi are all too eager in their quest for prosperity and success considering that they have both benefited more than half (P374 867) of the P5 243 727 so far released to communities country wide since the inception of CCF.
The funds are basically granted for the establishment, development, and registration of community based organisations in the areas. According to the minister, Xwiskurusa Trust in Gantsi was assisted to the tune of P69 649 for the development of the land use management plan for CHA GH 10.
Huiku Trust, still in Gantsi got P56 650 to develop a land use management plan for CHA GH 1.
The trust currently utilises the annual hunting quota and has an employ of 22 community members, said Mr Seretse. Other Gantsi based trusts include Au-shi-xau-lu which was funded for Deed of Trust registration at P5 200, whilst Itangoo Community Trust was funded for the development and Deed of Trust registration at P27 000 said the minister.
In Kgalagadi, several trusts have benefited, among them Mahumo Development Trust which received P2 500 to draw up a constitution and it was currently engaged in wildlife hunting activities. In addition, Mahumo got P3 900 for the registration of their Deed of Trust, he said.
Nqwaa Khobe Xeja Trust was assisted with P96 188 to train its Board members and guides in courses such as tourism management, wildlife monitoring, game skin tanning, and veldt products marketing.
The Trust currently utilises hunting quota and has created full time employment to four locals. Koinaphu Community Trust received P5 000 to develop a constitution and the registration of their trust. The minister said the Trust utilizes the annual hunting quota. Qhaa Qhing Community Trust received P98 780 for the development of a land use management plan for their area of operation.
The Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi North, Mr Phillip Khwae, had asked the minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism to state if any communities had benefited from the P500 000 Community Conservation Fund as per recommendation 6.9 (v) of the report of the task force on the review of the Impact of Remote Area Development Programme on the livelihoods of Remote Area Dwellers of the Ministry of Local Government September 2010.
MP Khwae had also requested the minister to state the communities that have benefitted and whether they included Ghanzi and Kgalagadi if that was the case. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : -
Location : GABORONE
Event : Parliament
Date : 17 Feb 2013
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