30 Mar 2026

Forests underpin ecotourism and biodiversity conservation, both of which are critical pillars of the national economy.

In Botswana, forests and woodlands remain central to rural livelihoods and national development, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said this in Ntlhantlhe on Thursday during the International Day for Forests.

Mr Mmolotsi implored the public to ensure that forests remained the lifeblood of local communities and a foundation for Botswana’s sustainable future.

He said forests provided wood for household energy, grazing for livestock, wild fruits and medicinal plants that enrich diets, as well as timber and non-timber forest products that sustain local economies.

He said the theme, “Forests and Economies,” was a reminder of the role forests played, not only as part of natural heritage, but as a strategic asset that drove economic growth, resilience and sustainable development.

He called on the private sector, government, civil society and communities to strengthen partnerships, scale up efforts, and commit to building an economy that was green, resilient, and inclusive.

Mr Mmolotsi said the commemoration was not merely symbolic but was a decisive call to action, in a joint move to elevate the recognition of forests as drivers of economic development in Botswana, and that it was also intended to deepen partnerships between government, communities, and the private sector.

The objective, he said was also to inspire the youth to view forests as pathways to innovation, enterprise, and resilience as well as accelerate restoration efforts through sustainable land management and tree planting initiatives.

Minister Mmolotsi highlighted the importance of communities’ involvement in the preservation and conservation of forests.

“While the community is endowed with valuable woodland resources, it also faces localised land degradation that threatens ecosystem productivity,” he said.

Mr Mmolotsi stated that sustainable forest management was a matter requiring urgency.

He said selecting Ntlhantlhe as host of this year’s commemoration reflected the confidence in the community’s leadership, its accessibility, and the important role of its youth in driving long-term environmental stewardship.

He called on to the private sector, financial institutions, parastatals, and development partners to step forward as restoration ambassadors.

Minister Mmolotsi implored them not only to participate, but to institutionalise restoration within their corporate strategies, through investment in landscape restoration, support for community-based initiatives, integration of sustainability into value chains, and alignment with national environmental priorities.

“This is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to climate resilience, while also advancing corporate responsibility, shared value, and long-term economic sustainability. By introducing fruit trees into our landscapes, we are deliberately linking environmental restoration with food security, improved nutrition, and income diversification,” he said.

The approach, he said reflected a practical and inclusive model of development, one that placed communities at the centre of sustainable resource management.

“Each seedling planted today represents a tangible investment in the future, supporting livelihoods, strengthening resilience, and contributing to a greener economy,”

He said forests were therefore, not only a conservation priority, but a cornerstone of sustainable development.

A representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation, Ms Carla Mucavi stated that globally, the contribution of forests to economies was both vast and indispensable.

Ms Mucavi indicated that according to FAO, an estimated 44 trillion US Dollars, more than half of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) depended on nature, including forests. 

“This highlights just how deeply our economies are interconnected with the health of our natural systems,” she said.

She reiterated that forests provide essential resources for rural communities, including fuelwood, food, and income. They also supported biodiversity and contributed to the ecological balance that sustains agriculture and tourism.

However, she said Botswana was not immune to the challenges facing forests globally, noting that land degradation, unsustainable harvesting of forest resources, and the impacts of climate change continued to place pressure on the ecosystems.

Ms Mucavi stated that addressing the challenges required deliberate action, informed by science, and strengthened through partnerships. ENDS