Botswana prioritises human–wildlife coexistence
Botswana has called for urgent, inclusive measures to balance its conservation gains with community safety as human–wildlife conflicts increase. Speaking on 19 January at a three-day International Parliamentary Roundtable in Gaborone, Gabatsholwe Disho, chair of parliament’s committee on wildlife, tourism, natural resources and climate change, warned that districts including Ngamiland, Chobe and Ghanzi are seeing more crop damage, livestock predation and safety risks as wildlife ranges beyond protected areas. He noted Botswana hosts the world’s largest elephant population and said the trend threatens livelihoods and the foundations of a tourism economy built on wildlife.
Disho urged stronger policies with fair compensation, wildlife corridors and land-use planning, and pledged to revive the Community-Based Natural Resource Management Bill to empower local communities. Acting Speaker Helen Manyeneng reported 25,672 human–wildlife conflict incidents over the past three years, resulting in 28 deaths and 51 injuries, mostly from elephants, and said rising costs are straining resources. The EU-funded Inter Pares programme highlighted support for parliamentary capacity to deliver long-term, evidence-based solutions that integrate conservation, land use, climate resilience and community development.
Source: Botswana Daily News
