22 Jun 2014

Botswana has had to clarify issues pertaining to the current hunting ban, composition of the Okavango Delta and population of elephants to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Briefing some of the delegates from Botswana on the sidelines of the 38^th Session of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Qatar, the director of Botswana National Museum, Mr Gaogakwe Phorano explained that they have already met with an official from IUCN, Mr Peter Shadie, who raised the issues With regard to the hunting ban, IUCN was informed that the decision to ban hunting was due to high rates of poaching cases and the decline in population species.

“The ban is a statutory intervention that the law allows the minister to make and will be effective up to March 31, 2015,” Mr Phorano said. 

He added that they briefed the IUCN that a wildlife census has just been completed, which will assist on the decision going forward. Regarding the population of elephants, IUCN was initially informed that the elephant population stood at 130 000, which was later updated to 200 000 after the new census figures.

Concerning composition of the Okavango Delta, they informed IUCN that the core area of the nominated site comprises of a game reserve, two wildlife management areas and 18 controlled hunting areas. Mr Phorano said the IUCN confused Wildlife management areas with community hunting areas.

The 38^th Session of the World Heritage Committee meeting was officially opened on June 15 and has so far dealt with such issues as UNESCO Accounts, World Heritage convention and sustainable development, UNESCO Standard Setting and state of Conservation of World Heritage properties in danger. ENDS