20 Aug 2015

The three-year project for enhancing national forestry monitoring system for the promotion of natural resources management is said to be on track.

The project is implemented by Japan International Cooperation Agency in collaboration with Botswana government and it started in July 2013 and expected to be completed in June 2016. 

The overall implementing agency is ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and the department of Forest and Range Resources.

In an interview, the Ngamiland Forest and Range Resources coordinator, Mr Desmond Serero revealed that currently the project is in the last phase and noted that the project would be completed within the stipulated time.

He said the Japanese experts were in Sehithwa to conduct the natural resource inventory. “We are on the verge of finalising the last phase of the project, the team is in Sehithwa to identify and verify some species,” he added.

Mr Serero is optimistic that the project would produce the expected results as it focused on the sustainable forest management in the country which is promoted by sharing and utilising information obtained through national forest monitoring among relevant stakeholders including government agencies and local communities.

He said the purpose of the project is to indicate the state of forest in the country accurately updated through regular monitoring. 

Mr Serero mentioned some of the outputs such as producing a nationwide forest distribution map as a benchmark forest map,  establishment of methodology for national forest inventory and a national forest plan being developed.

Asked why the project came into place, he explained that there was insufficient information about the flora and its pattern of species adding that after the completion, people would be able to understand what species are in their environment. In addition, Mr Serero said there was little information about the natural forests.

He said a forest map would be produced and it could be utilised to develop the community based natural resource management plans.

However, the project emphasises the importance of capacity development for sustainable development. 

Mr Serero revealed that about 20 DFRR members had been trained for short and long term courses in Japan. Ends