Botswana - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Botswana is made up of seven distinct eco-regions, of which four are vulnerable i.e. South African Bushveld (deforestation, overgrazing, range degradation and veldt fires), Zambezia Baikiaea Woodlands (cattle and overgrazing and change in vegetation communities), Zambezia Halophytics (mining, rangeland degradation, fires, wind erosion, fires, water extraction, fencing, increased salinity of surface water, decreased surface fresh water, overgrazing, lack of protection for critical avian breeding sites, uncontrolled tourism/ disturbance and wildlife conflicts) and Kalahari Acacia (increased cattle ranching, land transformation and degradation, fires, fences, climate change, poaching and invasive alien species)... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

18.2% of the total land area of Botswana is protected either by National park, Game reserve or Forest Reserves. A further 23% falls under Wildlife Management Areas.

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

In determining the conservation status of each of the ecoregions, several indicators and criteria were used to develop a priority rank amongst the different ecoregions. These were protection level, species richness, endemism, Red Data species and value to the nation.

Some of the national targets/priorities include: development of a comprehensive protected areas network to conserve ecosystems and species (taking Important Plant Areas and Important Bird Areas into consideration); development of effective ecosystem management practices, including a review of current national and regional land management systems; and the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded ecosystems and habitats... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Water ecosystems are of particular interest to Botswana as they provide hydrological, ecological and climatic functions. Botswana, being a dry country with only 4% of its area covered by water ecosystems, has taken liberty to conserve and manage its waters sustainably. The main water ecosystem, the Okavango delta, is a designated Ramsar site and is protected under the convention... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Botswana has two main objectives with respect to indigenous knowledge, which are to establish an indigenous knowledge policy and to develop a national policy framework on indigenous knowledge with special provision for traditional medicine research and use.

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mrs. Portia K. Segomelo	CBD Primary NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
Mrs. M. Manthe-Tsuaneng	GSPC NFP
Mr. Dikeme Kgaodi	CHM NFP
Mrs. Dineo Dinah Gaborekwe	SBSTTA NFP, ABS Competent National Authorities
Mr. Botshabelo Othusitse	Protected Areas NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Mrs. Portia K. Segomelo	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Dr. Pharaoh O.P. Mosupi	BCH NFP