06 Nov 2025

Botswana has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Africa’s natural heritage, calling on the continent to work collectively to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development.

Speaking at the First Africa Biodiversity Summit in Gaborone on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, said the gathering came at a critical time, as countries sought to protect the natural systems that supported life and livelihoods across the continent.

He said biodiversity conservation was deeply rooted in Botswana’s national values, Constitution, and development frameworks, and guided by the country’s participation in key multilateral environmental agreements. 

He said these included the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

“These frameworks guide our policies and actions, ensuring that we conserve nature for both present and future generations,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi noted that Botswana had adopted a ‘whole-of-government, whole-of-society’ approach to biodiversity protection in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and was currently updating its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

He said more than 40 per cent of the country’s land was under conservation management, through national parks, game reserves, wildlife management areas, and community-managed conservation zones.

The minister highlighted the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme as a pioneering initiative linking conservation with improved rural livelihoods. He further cited the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BioFin) and the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) programme, particularly the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA, as examples of strong regional cooperation and sustainable conservation financing.

On policy reforms, Mr Mmolotsi said the Access and Benefit-Sharing Act supports equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources, while recent amendments to the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act, Environmental Assessment Act, and Forest Act are were strengthening governance and management of natural resources.

He reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to achieving its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

While acknowledging challenges such as climate variability, habitat fragmentation, and increasing competition for land, he said Botswana remained focused on science-based decision-making, improved ecosystem monitoring, and partnerships with communities, the private sector, and regional institutions.

“Let this gathering serve not only as a platform for reflection, but also as a call to action, to unite our efforts, reaffirm our commitments and ensure that Africa’s natural heritage continues to thrive as the foundation of our shared prosperity,” he said.

The First Africa Biodiversity Summit brought together leaders, policymakers, researchers, and conservation experts from across the continent to develop strategies for protecting Africa’s diverse ecosystems in line with global biodiversity goals. ENDS