14 Aug 2013

The Community Based Natural Resource Management programme (CBNRM) is instrumental to the lives of the communities and to the economy of Botswana, the chief wildlife warden, Mr Mpho Setlogile, said.

In an interview, Mr Setlogile said since the introduction of the programme, many communities have started CBNRM projects thereby benefiting from the sustainable use of wildlife resources.

Mr Setlogile said the programme was producing the expected results as the main objective was to involve rural communities in natural resources conservation, especially wildlife, to reduce the wildlife-human conflict. The idea was to encourage people living adjacent to wildlife management areas to use the resources in the area to improve their lives.

The CBNRM is a development approach that supports natural resources conservation. It is also a natural resources conservation approach that has direct financial benefit to rural communities.

Mr Setlogile said many communities have formed trusts, some of which were doing well both in governance and financial management to an extent that some of them made millions of Pula. He said some trusts came up with sustainable income-generating projects.

“We are happy with the progress as our idea is to see trusts being independent,” he said.

“Currently most of the trusts are able to hire employees like managers who account for funds spent.”

Mr Setlogile said CBNRM trusts were augmenting government efforts to make a difference in the lives of the needy communities through charitable activities. Some of the trusts have reticulated water into the homes of needy people.

In the past, the CBNRM programme experienced challenges such as maladministration of trusts. As a result, some trusts collapsed because they were running their businesses at a loss. Governance had also been a problem with some members passing motions of no confidence on leaders from time to time.

To rectify the situation, he said, the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism decided to open holding account for trusts where the permanent secretary would authorize the district commissioner to release funds after approval of the budget.

Mr Setlogile explained that trusts would prepare their budget, submit it to the Technical Advisory Committee to look at it before it is passed to the permanent secretary for approval. 

The system is slow but it is doing well because money was accounted for. Trusts submit monthly financial reports to the ministry. ENDS