20 Oct 2022

Botswana is to present three significant proposals it shares with other southern African countries at the 19^th Conference of Parties of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting.

The meeting is to be held in Panama City, Panama in Central America from November 14-25.

Director of Wildlife and National Parks, Dr Kabelo Senyatso said this year’s meeting would also assess 52 proposals submitted by different parties.

Dr Senyatso said together with other SADC countries of Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Botswana had submitted proposals for down listing of Namibia’s white rhino population for commercial trade on rhino horn stockpiles; change of rules of procedure for the conference, especially Rule 26 on the right to vote and also a document on livelihoods and food security.

He said the countries were asking CITES to consider issues of community livelihoods and food security when listing species or when transferring them to Appendix I, which was more restrictive on commercial trade of species from the wild.

Dr Senyatso said they would ask that the transfer of species to Appendix I be done with the condition, exclusively for the purpose of allowing international trade in live animals for in-situ conservation and hunting trophies.

He further explained that they would support eSwatini in their proposal to request for trade with their white rhino species for commercial purposes.

He highlighted that one of the controversial proposals was on hippopotamus up-listing to Appendix I and up-listing Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe elephant populations as proposed by west African countries.

Dr Senyatso said the adoption of the two proposals would result in international trade restrictions on elephant hunting trophies, consequently negatively affecting livelihoods of communities co-existing with the species.

Chief wildlife officer - research, Ms Malebogo Somolekae said the proposals were submitted three months before the conference, adding that before submission, they held meetings with other stakeholders such as professional hunters, academia and Botswana Wildlife Association for their input.

She noted that the meetings were necessary since some of those who were consulted were private researchers, who helped in monitoring of various animals in the country.  ENDS