- Creates employment, beef market opportunities, and restores degraded rangelands
The Herding for Health (H4H) program, aimed at restoring degraded rangelands through sustainable management and community-driven conservation, is set for a nationwide rollout following its launch in Phuduhudu this week.
The launch marked the handover of the first grazing support package under the Ecosystem Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands (FP158) project. This initiative is funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented by Conservation International in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture.
The initiative aims to stimulate climate adaptation and mitigation within Botswana’s communal rangelands to sustainably support the socio-economic well-being and climate resilience of local communities. Furthermore, by restoring ecological integrity, the project strengthens the beef value chain by improving competitiveness, market access, and community-level enterprise opportunities.
Speaking at the launch, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Mokganedi Mokopasetso, emphasised that the H4H model has been tested across several major ecosystems and is currently used to restore up to 7 million hectares of rangeland in several African countries.
He revealed that Phuduhudu is the first of four priority sites. Other locations to follow include Tshane in Kgalagadi, Mathathane in Bobirwa, and Beetsha
in Okavango. According to Dr Mokopasetso, the project targets a rollout to 23 additional sites, bringing the total to 27 by the end of the year.
The Phuduhudu rollout involved the collective herding of 300 community cattle by 10 newly employed Eco-Rangers. Their duties include herding the animals daily, kraaling them in the evening, managing animal husbandry, assessing rangelands, and following grazing plans informed by project-led assessments.
The support package included the erection of a “boma” (movable kraal), camping equipment, and personal protective gear for the Eco-Rangers. It also involved signing a Rangeland Stewardship Agreement with the Phuduhudu community, implementing a grazing plan, and equipping a borehole and reticulation system.
Dr Mokopasetso urged the Phuduhudu community to embrace the programme to realise its full benefits.
Jimmiel Mandima, Senior Vice President at Conservation International, emphasised that the H4H program represents hope for the village’s landscapes, livestock, and livelihoods. He noted that Botswana’s communities are facing direct effects of climate change, such as drought, bush encroachment, water scarcity, and veld fires.
Mandima stated that the programme offers a solution to these challenges. He added that the initiative will develop enterprise plans for the beef value chain, new market opportunities, and a wildlife-friendly, grass-fed beef brand. “These efforts will uplift farmers, create jobs for Eco-Rangers and restoration workers, and stimulate local enterprise across the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kgosi Johane Ngwengare expressed hope for the programme’s sustainability, urging Conservation International to continue funding until it achieves its goals. Kgosi Ngwengare is confident the programme will support government efforts to position agriculture as an engine for economic growth and diversification, noting that it has already created vital employment for local eco-rangers.
