04 Jul 2026

The Department of Forestry and Range Resources in collaboration with MAKI Planet Systems from Australia and the community are currently undertaking Prescribed early fire burning known as the Savanna Fire Management Framework in Pandamatenga and Lesoma.

Early fire burning has emerged as a sustainable solution for environmental conservation and an opportunity for local communities to integrate their indigenous knowledge with modern satellite data.

MAKI Planet Systems- Australia CEO Mr Julien Gastaldi explained that setting controlled, low-intensity fires early in the dry season, prevented high-emission wildfires that devastated ecosystems later in the year.

Mr Gastaldi stated that early burning practice had evolved into a highly viable economic driver for communities who ended carbon emissions associated with uncontrolled dry season wildfires.

Department of Forestry and Range Resourcesmanager- Chobe District Mr Keletso Seabo said ever since early burning exercise was piloted and implemented in the Chobe District since 2021, the exercise had successfully safeguarded forest reserves, communal rangelands, and the Chobe National Park.

He said this exercise reduced accumulated vegetation and fuel loads hence mitigated the devastating impacts of uncontrolled, late-dry-season wildfires. ENDS