07 Jun 2016

The illegal killing and smuggling of wildlife harms global economies and may lead to extinction of some spicies.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Wildlife, Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi, said at commemoration of the World Environment Day on Monday.

“The killing and smuggling harm global economies, increases organised crime, damages the earth’s biodiversity and ultimately will lead to the extinction of these animals,” he said.

 Mr Moipisi, who is also Kgalagadi North MP, said the trend made sustainable development impossible to achieve.

Therefore, he said world environment day was held to raise awareness on the damage illegal trade of wildlife was doing to the environment, livelihoods and communities.

 He said many African countries including Botswana depended on the tourism industry for income.

 Mr Moipisi said as a way to protect endangered plants and animals, Botswana was a member of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which ensured that international trade in plants and animals did not threaten their survival.

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Jimmy Opelo, saidt there was need to keep today’s natural resources for the coming generations.

He said the country had a framework that guided planning of development in a sustainable manner.

He said in the international arena, the country had made footprints through an adopted United Nations resolution on sustainable management of natural capital for sustainable development and poverty eradication

Another speaker, chief wildlife officer from the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Dr Michael Flyman said Botswana provided refuge to a number of species which were globally endangered.

“And those species contribute to tourism revenues as wildlife is the country’s largest tourism attraction,” he said. ENDS