Botswana has renewed its commitment to protecting biodiversity, combating climate change, and promoting sustainable livelihoods through an ambitious conservation and environmental protection programme under the Twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12), with a proposed P 1.3 billion.
This is about 33% of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s total NDP 12 budget of P3.9 billion.
Presenting the Ministry’s Public Investment Programme (PIP) to Parliament, Minister Wynter Mmolotsi said the Ministry’s focus will be guided by two strategic pillars “Tourism and Sustainable Environment” which together aim to “unlock the full potential of Botswana’s natural and cultural assets, while ensuring responsible stewardship of our environment.”
At the heart of the conservation strategy lies the Wildlife Species Management Programme, which has received a significant budget increase to BWP 1 billion. The allocation includes resources for the re-arming of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, as part of broader anti-poaching and law enforcement efforts.
“The programme focuses on conservation, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation,” Mmolotsi told Parliament. Major initiatives include rhino range expansion, construction of anti-poaching unit facilities in Kang, Maun, and Kasane, and the drilling of wildlife boreholes in Moremi and Chobe National Parks to support habitat resilience.
The Minister emphasized that “these efforts will protect biodiversity, sustain eco-tourism, and improve livelihoods in conservation-linked communities.”
Other initiatives under the programme include the development of predator-proof and non-lethal fences in Khutse and Kgalagadi, and the maintenance of the Makgadikgadi fence, aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict and disease transmission. The refurbishment of wildlife camps nationwide will also improve operational readiness in conservation areas.
Complementing wildlife management is the Environmental Protection Programme, which targets the challenges of climate change, pollution, and land degradation. The Ministry has allocated BWP 292.6 million to projects that strengthen environmental monitoring and improve ecosystem health.
“Climate resilience and pollution reduction remain critical to sustainable development,” Mmolotsi said, noting that the funding will also cover the establishment of the Department of Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) — a move that empowers local communities to participate in conservation and benefit from sustainable resource use.
Key initiatives include the restoration of degraded landscapes, management of invasive species, and the expansion of air quality monitoring stations. The Ministry will also procure new weather radar systems in Maun, Gaborone, and Francistown, improving data accuracy for both climate and environmental forecasting.
As part of its sustainability drive, the Ministry will implement early warning systems, develop strategic ecosystem management tools, and domesticate the Nagoya Protocol, which governs fair access to and sharing of genetic resources. This international alignment, according to Mmolotsi, will ensure “equitable access to genetic resources and strengthen environmental governance.”
Additionally, the completion of an automated water quality monitoring system for the Limpopo River Basin will enhance Botswana’s role in transboundary water management — a key regional sustainability priority.
Altogether, the Ministry’s NDP 12 conservation and sustainability portfolio will be implemented under a BWP 3.9 billion investment framework. This funding, the Minister said, is designed to “create sustainable jobs across tourism, environment, and infrastructure sectors; diversify Botswana’s economic base; and safeguard our natural and cultural heritage.”
Mmolotsi concluded his address with a call for collective responsibility and national support:
“I call upon this Honorable House to support these initiatives, as we work together to build a greener, more prosperous Botswana; where tourism thrives, communities flourish, and nature is protected.”
