Addressing human-wildlife conflict has been identified as a critical priority area within Botswana’s National Development Plan (NDP) 12 strategy, according to the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr. Wynter Mmolotsi. He emphasized the significant impact of human-wildlife conflict on economic growth and food security, particularly within rural communities, noting that an average of over 9,000 incidents are recorded annually. Between 2020 and 2025, a total of 46,744 human-wildlife conflict incidents were documented, underscoring the scale and persistence of the challenge.

In response to this growing concern, the Botswana government has committed to an ambitious target of reducing these incidents by 10% annually throughout the NDP 12 plan period. To achieve this, several proactive measures are currently being implemented. These include a comprehensive review of existing compensation rates for damages caused by wildlife, the construction of electricity-powered wildlife-proof fences, and support for farmers to erect electrified fences around their cluster farms to protect crops and livestock.

Further strengthening its conservation strategy, the government is developing a new financing framework for compensating damages arising from wildlife interactions. This initiative also seeks to create opportunities for stakeholder participation in conservation funding. As part of this effort, a ‘green fund’ will be established to attract resources from external sources beyond government allocations, specifically dedicated to conservation and mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Additionally, opportunities for value chain development are being explored to foster the growth of Botswana’s wildlife economy, promoting sustainability alongside community development.

Beyond direct conflict mitigation, the plan also includes the implementation of a biodiversity financing model to enhance the management and sustainability of protected areas. Efforts to strengthen anti-poaching operations, intensify wildlife patrols, and enhance community participation are being rolled out to ensure collective responsibility in wildlife protection. Moreover, cross-border collaborations are being reinforced to combat wildlife trafficking to neighbouring countries, ensuring a holistic and regional approach to wildlife management and conservation.

Mr. Mmolotsi further outlined key environmental initiatives within the broader NDP 12 framework. These include intensifying stakeholder engagements, focusing on capacity building and compliance with plastic management regulations, a crucial step in addressing environmental degradation. Additional strategies aim to strengthen the regulatory framework, promote multi-sectoral climate change mainstreaming, and build institutional capacity to address emerging environmental challenges.

Finally, improvements to national weather systems are also on the agenda, with the government working to enhance weather forecasting, early warning capabilities, and overall disaster preparedness, essential steps toward improving climate resilience and ensuring sustainable environmental governance across Botswana.