Government through the ministry of environment and tourism has committed to reduce both the human-wildlife conflict incidents and those of poaching by 10 percent every year until 2029/30.
This was revealed by minister Wynter Mmolotsi when presenting to parliament the Fifth Chapter of the National Development Plan 12 on Sustainable Environment.
Mmolotsi noted that human-wildlife conflict continues to pose a challenge to the livelihoods and food security of rural communities. According to him, a total of 46,744 human-wildlife conflict incidents were recorded between 2020 and 2025, translating to an average of 9,349 incidents per year.
In reducing the human-wildlife conflict incidents by 10 percent every year until 2029/30., the minister revealed that this initiative will involve protecting both communities and the country’s valuable wildlife resources.
Mmolotsi noted that the use of elephant deterring fence, chilli deterrents and solar-powered lights has proven effective in keeping elephants and predators away from communities.
“Furthermore, communities will continue to be involved in wildlife management to ensure long¬ term solutions that protect both people and animals.”
The minister indicated that some of the initiatives to be implemented during NDP 12 will include the review of the current compensation rates for both animals to be included and for increased rates.
“New financing strategy for compensation for damages caused by wildlife will be developed, and a Green Fund will be created to attract resources from outside of the Government to be used towards conservation and human-wildlife conflict,” said Mmolotsi.
Other initiative’s to be implemented during NDP 12 will include, construction of electrified wildlife-proof fences; and support for the construction of electrified fences around cluster farming fields.
Meanwhile, the minister has indicated that poaching incidents will also be reduced by 10 percent yearly until 2029/30 through strengthened law enforcement, community participation, and sustainable conservation initiatives.
“Anti-poaching patrols will be strengthened, wildlife officers and rangers will be trained and modern technologies will be used to detect and monitor illegal activities more effectively,” announced Mmolotsi.
Moreover, the minister stated that cross boarder collaboration with neighbouring countries will be strengthened to combat wildlife trafficking and protect Botswana’s biodiversity.
That as it may among some of the strategies the ministry will be pursing to promoting a sustainable environment under NDP12 includes optimal use of natural resources.
Mmolotsi stated that efforts will be put in place to grow the wildlife economy mainly through Value Chain Development. Further, a Biodiversity financing model to support mainly the protected areas, which the Government is currently working with UNDP to develop, will be implemented during the plan.
This as the country is still faced with challenges of exploitation of natural resources, over¬ harvesting of non-timber products, poaching, over-fishing among others.
CITES Parties to deliberate potential listings in the CITES Appendices
With just under a month to go before the 20th World Wildlife Conference, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has unveiled its final recommendations on dozens of proposals that could reshape how international trade in wild species is regulated. As the countdown begins, global attention turns to the decisions that will determine the future of species across ecosystems and beyond borders.
Every three years, the Conference of the Parties to CITES, also known as CITES CoP or the World Wildlife Conference, meets to decide on the species to be included in the CITES Appendices for the regulation of their international trade.
These listings are among the most powerful indicators of ecosystem stability and govern global wildlife management and trade. In preparation for each CITES CoP, Signatory Parties may propose amendments to CITES Appendices I and II, which list species subject to international trade restrictions.
Proposals may include adding or removing species, transferring species between Appendices, or revising annotations that specify which parts or derivatives of a species are covered. Decisions made at each CITES CoP determine the level of international trade control for species whose survival in the wild is, or could be, threatened by overexploitation from trade, or where trade can have a further negative impact on a species already at risk from habitat loss or fragmentation, disease, climate change, or other threats.
For CITES CoP20, which will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December 2025, the CITES Secretariat has released its final recommendations on the 51 proposals to amend the CITES Appendices. The recommendations follow nearly two months of assessment that included the publication of a provisional assessment and consultation with Parties and intergovernmental bodies.
Of the 51 proposals received, 39 concern fauna species and 12 concern flora species. A great variety of species, both biologically and geographically, are included in the proposals. Species proposed include okapi, striped hyena, geckos, giant galliwasp, tarantulas, frogs, mollusk, songbirds, ginseng, palms, spurges, aloes, guggul, padouk and Brazilwood. Ten of the fauna proposals are on commercially exploited aquatic species, which include a wide range of aquatic species such as sea cucumbers, abalone, eels, sharks and rays.
In the CITES Secretariat’s Final Assessment of the 51 Proposals to Amend Appendices I and II, the Secretariat has recommended the adoption of 34 proposals and the rejection of 17. These recommendations build on the Secretariat’s Provisional Assessment published in August 2025, which invited Parties and intergovernmental bodies to submit additional information before the final review.
The recommendations highlight the central role of scientific evidence in the decision-making of CITES, which marks 50 years since its entry into force this year. The outcomes of CoP20 are expected to set the course of international wildlife trade regulation for the next three years—and beyond— advancing the shared goal of ensuring that international trade in wild species is sustainable, legal and traceable so that future generations and the planet may continue to benefit from their existence in nature.
