03 Mar 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has pleaded with the global community to incentivise conservation success instead of being punitive.

“Nations that have succeeded in conservation, especially of critical global goods such as red listed species, should be supported and not punished for their success stories through stringent global regulatory measures that can deter sustainable utilisation and trade in wildlife resources among others,” he said in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday.

In his address to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 50th anniversary commemoration, President Masisi said Botswana continued to pursue policies that ensured environmental conservation.

He said due to government’s commitment to sustainable development, the country had made significant achievements in environmental management including updating and enacting legislative and policy instruments to address evolving environmental challenges.

“In order to contribute effectively to the global challenge to address climate change, we have strengthened and updated our nationally determined contributors and adopted the Climate Change Policy and the National Adaptation Plan,” President Masisi said.

He told his audience that the developments were pursued in line with the National Transformation Agenda aimed at transforming Botswana’s socioeconomic and environmental status.

The President further said Botswana continued to ensure its abundant wildlife resources were protected and utilised sustainably with 40 per cent of its territory  under protection status.

“In keeping with our international obligations, Botswana has continued to ensure high standards in the sustainable management of biodiversity rich ecosystems such as the Okavango Delta, now listed as a World

Heritage Site and the Makgadikgadi Wetlands system,” Dr Masisi said.

He said the country took pride in having integrated environmental management into key development process guiding instruments of the national development plan and Vision 2036.

At local level, President Masisi said Botswana had formulated a community based natural resource management programme to enhance livelihoods through communities’ sustainable use of resources in their environs.

He also revealed that government had also strengthened the National Environment Fund, a funding mechanism for supporting communities in implementing environment and development projects.

The President applauded UNEP for being a global authority on environmental concerns, and having achieved many successes in the global environmental agenda.

He also commended Kenya for providing exemplary leadership in the areas of sustainable development and environmental management.

UNEP executive director, Ms Inger Andersen said the institution had travelled a long journey since its establishment in 1972.

She said many milestones had been achieved in combating environmental challenges and climate change.

Ms Andersen urged the global community to continue working on mitigating climate change, desertification and other environmental concerns. Ends