29 Jul 2025

The Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Bill, currently under debate in Parliament seeks to revolutionise how communities manage and benefit from their natural environments, marking an important step forward in conservation and local development , Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, informed a media briefing in Gaborone on Tuesday that the Bill had undergone several crucial processes.

CBNRM is a crucial programme designed to actively involve rural communities in conserving natural resources, including flora and fauna.

Simultaneously, it promotes sustainable development and strives to uplift local livelihoods.

Minister Mmolotsi stressed the government’s recognition of the need to protect community-based organisations from potential misuse by trustees.

This safeguard ensures that communities can fully benefit and sustain themselves through their natural resources.

The minister explained that the proposed legislation was a direct response to past challenges within the CBNRM framework.

Specifically, concerns regarding transparency, community participation, and equitable revenue sharing have driven the need for legislative reform. The Bill aims to empower local communities, enhance transparency, and foster sustainable resource utilisation.

Furthermore, Mr Mmolotsi said the government sought to leverage natural resources and prudent management to diversify income-generating initiatives.

These include licensed hunting, photography and processing natural resources into marketable products. Overall, the CBNRM Bill represents a critical milestone in strengthening community-based natural resource management in Botswana. It holds the promise of delivering positive environmental impacts while simultaneously enhancing the socio-economic well-being of local communities.

However, Minister Mmolotsi acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly regarding implementation, governance within community organisations, financial mismanagement, and the need for more effective regulation and legal frameworks.

In essence, CBNRM aims to strike a balance, supporting conservation goals while addressing the development needs of communities.

By nurturing ecological sustainability alongside improved livelihoods, Mr Mmolotsi, the proposed legislation could usher in a new era of sustainable resource management that benefited both the environment and those who depended on it. ENDS