The national park and reserve system in Botswana

Abstract

A short history of the development of the National Parks and Game Reserves in Botswana is given. The majority of the sanctuaries are not the result of careful ecological planning but of history and circumstances at the time of their inception. Fortunately, however, the conservation areas cover all major wildlife habitats, although the need for extension of some of the National Parks and Game Reserves is of great importance to give more sophisticated protection to particular species and their habitats. The paper outlines the obstacles encountered in the development of the sanctuaries due to prevailing traditional attitudes and the division of the country into state- and tribally-owned areas. However, the fact that the majority of the populace has a long history of hunting makes them understand and appreciate the concept of wildlife conservation and utilization. The future development of the park system has to be carefully integrated with agricultural development and has to be based on ecological research. As agriculture increases, the need for more and sophisticated management of the protected areas also increases. Constant review must also be given to the conservation status outside protected areas—particularly those that are less suited for cattle production—and should take the form of a multidisciplinary approach. The Government has created a Natural Resources Coordinating Committee, a part of which is a Technical Committee comprised of representatives of all departments involved with natural resources development. Thus there is already a multidisciplinary approach to the problem of land-use and a desire to ensure that the land is used to the greatest advantage without damage to the habitat. In the future there will also be a shift away from an almost entire reliance on recreational hunting to non-hunting tourism in the development policies of the Department.