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development work

Botswana

Species protection through development work

Human-wildlife conflict is a serious problem in Botswana, with about 17% of the country designated as wildlife management areas. Communities living in these areas are often poorly informed about conservation and experience wildlife as a threat to their livestock or farm. Most communities do not see wildlife as a direct benefit and do not know how to coexist peacefully. This ignorance and attitude towards nature threatens the ecosystem and leads to human-wildlife conflict, especially in communities in Wildlife Contact Areas. Farmers are affected by predators such as lions and other wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes and hippos and kill them to protect their livestock, out of ignorance and some people even poach for bushmeat. But these countermeasures only exacerbate the conflict and the entire ecosystem is thrown into disarray. In order to successfully implement species protection, in addition to awareness work and education, livelihood-securing measures are required that simultaneously protect nature. Successful coexistence with wildlife is only possible if people have enough to eat and feel safe. There is often a lack of knowledge, but also a lack of awareness of one’s own potential and the opportunities to use it.

,,The CSA program aims to curb traditional poaching by providing communities with a variety of vegetables to supplement their diets and use modern farming methods to improve their livelihoods and promote sustainable agriculture.“

– Tirelo Ramasimong, SAVE Community Development Officer –

Problem:
Poaching, human-wildlife conflicts, trophy hunting.

Ziel:
Peaceful coexistence, strengthening communities in Wildlife Contact Areas.

Our approach to species conservation

In addition to educational activities, SAVE supports communities in the so-called Wildlife Contact Areas with development work. To build new capacities that enable people to take action themselves, we developed the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) program, which has now been running in Botswana for almost a decade. Training workshops develop new skills for community-based organizing, as well as financial and project management, such as running your own ecotourism businesses or establishing sustainable organic agriculture. This will create many jobs that incorporate the idea of species conservation from the beginning. Capacity building and the joint development and implementation of activities ensure that the village communities develop their own interest in success, feel responsible and become self-sufficient in the long term.

Here we strengthen the communities

We support development around wildlife areas. There, we help communities generate sustainable incomes, such as through ecotourism. Communities that used to stay afloat through trophy hunting tourism now generate income through traditional crafts, climate-smart farming, and community campsites for ecotourists.

SAVE development work for species conservation

Climate Smart Agriculture Program

Since October 2021, the SAVE Smart Agriculture project has enabled the inhabitants of the project area to achieve sustainable food security for themselves and their families. At the same time, they make an important contribution to wildlife conservation. SAVE Botswana's dedicated team trains farmers in environmentally friendly farming methods to ensure that everyone benefits from the positive impact. These efforts not only contribute to sustainable food security, but also protect wildlife by growing fruits and vegetables that can replace meat consumption and livestock.

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Women Empowerment Program

The program was launched in August 2022 and gives 80 women the chance to build up alternative sources of income in typical local business sectors such as vegetable growing, chicken farming and basket weaving. Training in relevant specialist areas such as financial accounting gives them a solid foundation for their entrepreneurial activities, thereby increasing their chances of success. The Women Empowerment Program thus serves both people and species conservation. The women's groups are empowered and enabled to earn money from their local products, which makes them independent of livestock farming.

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Community Campsite Programm

3 Communities that used to stay afloat through trophy hunting tourism now generate their revenue through community campgrounds for ecotourists. Ecotourism generates 40 times more revenue than trophy hunting and employs almost only locals. These activities promote harmonious living in rural communities adjacent to wildlife refuges because they add value to natural resources and wildlife, which are no longer seen as threats by the people involved. With the increase of income in the community, facilities for social services, such as health centers and educational institutions, are subsequently created.

To the camps

Successes

Species conservation through development work: Our successes since program launch in 2011.

Women strengthened in their company

Hectare CSA projects Enables

Campsites realized

And this could be your contribution

Many people live in conflict with wild animals. Often the animals are killed because they take away people’s food or cause them harm. The situation can only be improved if we help people to satisfy their basic needs. Through development work, we can help people live a better life and thus also protect the lives of wild animals.