14 Jul 2014

The Northern Botswana Human Wildlife coexistence project, which was funded at a tune of US$ 5. 5 million or more than P47 million by the World Bank through the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) saw the first 104 students graduate in Maun on July 11.

Speaking at the ceremony, acting deputy permanent secretary, Dr Mmasera Manthe-Tsuaneng said human wildlife conflict was a serious concern, which threatened wildlife conservation.

“Through Batswana’s efforts and high level commitment to conservation, wildlife populations, particularly elephants’ predators have increased over the last years, these trends led to a growing number of conflict increases in local communities,” she said.

She noted that the increase in human population, which led to land transformation mostly for subsistence farmers’ need for livestock grazing land and planting crops, had gravely impacted the human wildlife conflict.

“In an effort to reduce the conflict and promote conservation, the government of Botswana in collaboration with the World Bank came up with a project, which supports new approaches to improve co-existence between humans and wildlife,” she said.

Dr Manthe-Tsuaneng said through the project, 104 young people were identified from villages in the Okavango, Chobe and Makgadikgadi wetlands, who were trained at Career Dreams institute in Maun in tourism related courses.

She also said 837 beneficiaries from those communities were given materials to prevent predators from killing and destroying people’s livestock through methods such as the use of chili pepper, bee hive fences and herding dogs.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) acting Director, Mr Charles Mojalemotho said the five year project, which was supposed to end next year has been extended by a year to end in 2016 looking at the benefits.

Mr Mojalemotho said the project aimed to strengthen capacity of rural target population to implement human wildlife co-existence strategies, strengthen extension service delivery for human wildlife co-existence as well as strengthen the department’s capacity to efficiently administer projects funds.

He said the project encouraged conflict prevention and improving quality of life of local communities in northern Botswana.

The Career Dreams Director, Mr Kenneth Karanja said the 104 graduates did exceptionally well in their studies in three tourism related courses being lodge management, professional guide and food and beverages and implored the safari companies in their communities to employ them.

Ms Unami Limbo was awarded best student in lodge management, Mr Mathata Babonang best student in professional guide and Mr Kebaeditse Molatlhegi in food and beverages. ENDS