10 Oct 2017

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) executive director Mr Erik Solheim has praised Botswana for having over the years done well in the area of natural resources management.

During a courtesy call on the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Mr Tshekedi Khama on Monday, Mr Solheim said Botswana had, in comparison with many countries, done well in managing its natural resources.

He said unlike Botswana, many countries had failed to successfully use their natural resources for development purposes.

Mr Solheim also praised the country for the positive collaborative efforts it had with neighbouring countries, attributing the successes so far attained to among others, the good relations.

Noting however that Botswana still had room for improvement, he urged the country to march alongside UNEP in efforts to achieve some key environmental conservation milestones.

He cited attaining a pollution-free environment, as well as taking care of the eco-system as some such milestones that UNEP had set to achieve.
In his remarks earlier, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Mr Khama thanked Mr Solheim for his visit to Botswana, saying the discussions that would take place during his presence would add impetus to the country’s efforts to better manage its natural resources.

Mr Khama, who explained that the courtesy call was a precursor to the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa meeting that is scheduled for Maun from today, said it was Botswana’s wish that the UN assisted to amplify the country’s efforts to protect the environment.

He stated that currently there were some challenges that countries across the globe were battling with in their environmental management efforts.

He highlighted resource limitations as well as the influence of corruption on the deterioration of the environment as some such challenges that continued to derail the efforts by many countries to better protect the environment.

Botswana’s ambassador to Kenya, where UNEP is headquartered, Mr John Moreti hailed the UN arm of the assistance it had over the years rendered to Botswana.

He said UNEP had for years now been rendering Botswana some technical assistance on environmental protection matters.ENDS