23 May 2018

Efforts towards greener Botswana are promising as the country takes pride in having consistently maintained policies geared towards sustainable management of biological resources.

This was said by Ghanzi District commissioner, Mr Loeto Porati during the international day for biological diversity themed: Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity on Tuesday.

Mr Porati said the policies and legislation include the Forest Act, Wildlife and National Parks Act and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

He said through the implementation of these policy instruments, government and stakeholders have managed to ensure collective and sustainably managed biodiversity, thus contributing to Botswana’s development pathway of sustainable development.

He said the pathway was enshrined in the country’s development instrument; Vision 2036 and the National Development Plans.

One of the country’s key successes, he said had been the involvement of communities in the management of these biological resources through Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme.

Mr Porati said relevant sectors continued to strengthen community involvement in the management of biological resources and to ensure that the benefits accrued are enjoyed by communities.

He cited that Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism had established the National Environmental Fund to assist community organisations and non-governmental organisations.

He told attendants that this ministry had issued the call for proposal under the National Environmental Fund and the call for proposal would close on June 14.

“I encourage you all to spread the message and apply for the fund so as to enhance environmental upkeep and integrity,” Mr Porati made the appeal.

Also, he challenged Batswana to contribute towards greener Botswana.

He held that individual efforts of planting trees, reusing waste, using solar devices, using organic fertilizers, reusing water and using solar energy among many can contribute to the collective effort of having Botswana green.

Mr Porati informed his addressees that Botswana became a signatory of the Conversion of Biological Diversity in 1993 and finally ratified it in 1995.

This he said, marked the country’s commitment to the global discourse of sustainable development through sound management biodiversity.

In a message conveyed by principal education officer - Ghanzi Ms Lehe Mhaladi, executive secretary of the convention on Biological diversity, Dr Cristiana Palmer made a call to do everything to halt the deterioration of nature.

In the message, Dr Palmer argued that loss of natural compounds and other global challenges such as climate change, water and food security as well as public health can lead to catastrophic outcomes for human existence on this planet

“We do not have much time, but we have a lot of power if we work together, a collaborative manner to change the way we use and biodiversity,” Mhaladi read part of the message.

Part of the message also stated that the World Economic Forum recognised biodiversity loss as a critical risk.

For his part, Ghanzi deputy council secretary, Mr Omphile Mosweu stated that if the community could walk the biodiversity talk, in turn, agriculture would thrive.

He hailed organisers for involving the children in the event. He said by doing so they were warranting sustainability of natural resources.

Outlining the objectives of the day, department of environmental affairs director, Mr Charles Mojalemotho said Botswana ought to celebrate the international biological diversity day as it was part of the global village.

Celebrating the day, he said afforded stakeholders the opportunity to interact and share challenges and achievement regarding biodiversity.

He said the fact that Ghanzi lies within the Kalahari desert could not deny the region from hosting such events, advancing that the area too, had natural resources which should be conserved. Ends