ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION And Mitigation In Botswana’s Communal Rangelands By Lorraine Kinnear
B
otswana is a territory well known for its beef and diamonds. Both contributors to the Nation’s economy require different players to participate in ensuring Botswana can continuously benefit from the two over the next few years. Even though growing cattle forms the cultural and economic foundation of many communities in Botswana, cattle ranching is being adversely impacted by climate change. Livestock are encroaching onto wildlife areas more frequently in search of water and forage because of rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns. As a result, domestic cattle and wild buffalo are exposed to more pathogenic foot-and-mouth diseases and this ecosystem challenge that requires ecosystem-based adaptation. The Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands is a project by Conservation International Botswana (CI) in partnership with the Government of Botswana through the Ministry of Agriculture. The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund and co-financed by the Government of Botswana. This project is aimed at increasing ecosystem and livelihood resilience, in communal grazing pastures that are most affected by climate change; to
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restore the vegetation through the Herding for health approach. The amount of moisture that the soil can hold will rise with the restoration and management of grazing vegetation. As a result, growing cattle will be more drought-resistant, and doing so will also increase soil carbon and lower greenhouse gas emissions. CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL AT WORK Conservation International was founded in 1987, operates in 30 countries and has created a global network aimed at protecting nature. The organisation uses science, policy, and partnerships to sustain economies, regulate the climate and conserve forests, oceans and wetlands that provide food and water to people and other living beings on the planet. In Botswana, the Conservation International office commenced its operations in Maun in 1993, with the aim to conserve biodiversity in the Okavango Delta area. Additionally, it has supported organisations such as Predator Wildlife Program, Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Shorobe Women’s Basketry Building and Cooperative and Letswee Centres for Environmental Education Programme and the office closed at
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