16 Feb 2015

The Environmental Educational (EE) programme has achieved a lot since its inception in 1976, according to the principal wildlife warden, Mr Cosmos Rathipana. 

Mr Rathipana was responding to some comments from stakeholders who wanted to appreciate the achievements and challenges faced by the initiative since its implementation.

The EE programme was founded and pioneered by Department of Wildlife and National Parks and African Wildlife Leadership Foundation through a survey.

The main objective was to develop among the people of Botswana the awareness, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and appreciate the interrelatedness between man, wildlife, culture and biophysical environment.

Mr Rathipana said some of the achievements such as formation of Wildlife Clubs of Botswana, an association which he said it played a significant role in spreading information on conservation of natural resources.He said the clubs had done a lot of work at schools as students appreciated the importance of wildlife and conservation. 

In addition he observed that the clubs also empowered teachers as they acquired knowledge and information on wildlife related issues. Mr Rathipana also revealed that they managed to train some staff at Wildlife Department to compliment teachers in topics related to wildlife issues. He further mentioned other successes such as establishment of educational parks in some areas citing examples like Manyelanong Game Reserve Centre at Otse, Gaborone Game Reserve and Maun Educational Park.

In promoting EE and extension programs, Mr Rathipana said the department mainly uses outdoor learning/teaching approaches with more emphasis on the use of the Protected Areas and projects as resources for learning.

He said currently more people are visiting the sites to appreciate the beauty of nature. Other successes, he said are introduction of Radio program “Pitse ya Naga mo Maotwaneng” which promoted harmony between people and wildlife, 4B clubs in schools monitored by department of Agriculture, and formation of a manual to augment school curriculum and also development of educational guide. He said some people are conversant in wildlife issues but “we continue to record cases on poaching and wildlife/human conflict because people do not want to live in harmony with wildlife”.

For her part, District Wildlife Coordinator, Mr Amos Ramokate emphasised the need to partner with other stakeholders to ensure the program continue to make a differenceHe said they had managed to penetrate syndicates which hampered wildlife, adding that currently the situation has improved as wildlife such as elephants and buffaloes have free movement.

He said they should work closely as a team to change people’s mindset and promote a better understanding of the need to protect and use wisely all natural resources. Mr Ramokate said they should create awareness and understanding among the people on wildlife, as well as equipping them with skills to venture into sustainable wildlife economic projects. ENDS