04 Oct 2018

President Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to leave today to attend the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London, United Kingdom from Wednesday to Friday.

A press release from the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation says the conference is expected to bring together global leaders to help eradicate illegal wildlife trade and better protect the world’s most iconic species from the threat of extinction.

It will focus on three key themes; Tackling Illegal Wildlife Trade as a Serious Organised Crime, Building Coalitions’ as well as Closing Markets.

The release says Botswana has, along with several other countries, committed to taking a decisive and urgent action to tackle the illegal wildlife trade in endangered fauna and flora.

This, it says, is in recognition of the significant scale and detrimental economic, social and environmental consequences of illegal trade in wildlife.

As a result, it says Botswana has, over the years, made a number of policy advances to promote wildlife management and conservation.

Thus, it says this conference provides the necessary platform for President Masisi to share Botswana’s experiences and successes in dealing with illegal wildlife trade.

International Affairs and Cooperation minister, Dr Unity Dow, Minister Tshekedi Khama of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism as well as other senior government officials will accompany the President.

President Masisi and his entourage will return on Saturday. ENDs