21 Jun 2020

Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism says investment should go towards attaining green economy in order to reverse biodiversity loss.
Ms Phildah Kereng said this at the launch of the third Biodiversity symposium book titled: The Book of Proceedings on June 18.

The book highlights research findings and recommendations from the third Bi-Annual Botswana Biodiversity Symposium which was held in Ghanzi in March this year.

“Investments are needed promptly as biodiversity and ecosystem resources are central to the country’s socio-economic development. They also offer opportunities to the communities to generate income through the Community Based Natural Resource Management Programme by creating employment for the locals and reducing poverty,” Ms Kereng said.

Moreover, she highlighted that as a signatory to a number of multilateral agreements, among them the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Taxonomy Initiative, by virtue the country subscribed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 15 which encouraged countries to protect, restore and sustainably use terrestrial ecosystems.

She said Botswana had invested much on taxonomy and biodiversity research to guide legislation and policy formulation.

Again, she indicated that the Botswana Biodiversity symposium laid out fundamental changes needed in policy, institutions and mindset to transform Botswana from an economy based around extractive industries to one based on competitiveness, productivity, efficiency and openness to the world.

She implored all stakeholders to use the new information from research as a guide to formulate policies that drive the country’s socio-economic development and hasten the transformation necessary for the country to attain its aspirations of high income economy.
Minister Kereng also called for mentoring of aspiring researchers as research continues to help in shaping developmental agenda. ENDS