Botswana climate change policy & strategy and action plan
development process
Thematic working group background paper 7
November 2013
Ecosystem Services and Wildlife, Tourism
Given the variable nature of Botswana’s rainfall, and aridity, the country has a very fragile ecosystem and is very
vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Ecosystem services are made up of four categories, namely (Shackleton et al, 2008);
Supporting services –services necessary for the production of all other ecosystems e.g. biodiversity

and nutrient dispersal

Provisioning services- products obtained from ecosystem e.g. fodder and water

Regulating services - benefits obtained from ecosystem e.g. soil fertility and water purification

Cultural services – non material benefits from ecosystem e.g. spirituality and culture
Tourism in Botswana does contribute significantly to the country’s GDP and has a potential in job creation and
poverty alleviation in rural areas.
Wildlife contributes considerably to the country’s GDP in a form of wildlife-based tourism. This practice is
considered as the most appealing form of land use in the country (Moswete and Dube,n.d). Wildlife is also the
major attraction for tourism in the country.
drivers, pressure, state, impact and response
Impacts and responses to climate
change
The impact of global warming and climate
change
on
Botswana
results
in
multiple
pressure on key sectors such as wildlife,
tourism
and
biodiversity.
ecosystems
A
further
generally,
refinement
of
and
the
(DPSIR) of global warming and climate on
Botswana will need to be undertaken. The
assessment(s) must include current and future
impacts of human activities on the capacity of
ecosystems to meet present and future needs.
Such an assessment must also include a
systematic
refinement
of
indicators.
Table: Possible activities to further refine the DPSIR for climate change on Botswana ecosystems, wildlife and
tourism
Possible indicators
Drivers:
Possible activities
Land use change; climate change;
Develop scenarios of major drivers of change
(changes in rainfall/temperature)
Pressure
Pressures (on major land cover
 Define major drivers of environmental change at catchment
types & uses, forcing factors,
population projections)
State
and sub-catchment levels
 Identify regional level ecosystem contributions to livelihood
systems
Condition/state (land cover,
 Analyze the interrelationships between the ecological,
forest and soil carbon, water
supply & quality, climate data,
climate and socio-economic systems in the basin, including
current and future climate
adverse impacts of land degradation and climatic extremes
(through integrated assessment and modeling)
variability and characteristics)
 Build capacities of southern African individuals and
Impact
Impacts of land use change
Responses
Responses and policy options
organizations in ecosystem assessments
(with stakeholder groups
The Government of Botswana is putting in

Overall, the number of warm spells is
place deliberate efforts to intensify education
likely to increase in the region, with a
and awareness on tourism and to accelerate
decrease in the extremely cold days.
the sector’s contribution in the diversification

Climate scenarios point to drying in
of the economy. Total investment projects in
western parts of southern Africa, with
this
in
greater drying of the range of 30 to
2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years on
sector
amounted
to
P22
million
40% throughout the winter season,
several projects including access roads; land
June to August, has particularly been
bank; ecotourism and other.
noted.

Wildlife
resources
and
the
wetland
The Okavango delta, which is the
and
major source of surface water in the
rangeland ecosystems that support them are
country and supports a variety of life,
threatened by conflict arising from pressure
from livestock grazing, arable agriculture and
has been reported to be drying up

During
the
rainfall
seasons,
it
is
human settlements, wildlife causing damage to
expected that there will be a 10–20 %
livestock, property, crops or people (NDP 10).
increase
during
the
peak
rainfall
months (December to February), while
other
Climate change risks
Temperature increase and reduced rainfall due
to
climate
change
are
the
basis
of
arid
climate
of
2
degrees
Celsius
and
changes
in
precipitation will range from +/-20% with a

It is predicted that climate change will
lead to the increased incidence of both
floods and drought.
The
vast
savannah
vegetation
is
changing to a composition of more
‘thorny/spine’ trees and shrubs.

Other risks include; fires, presence of
alien invasive species, pests, fuel wood
harvesting,
2010).Projected climate changes in the country

Rainy seasons will be shorter and less
low rates of groundwater recharge.
bias towards less precipitation (World Bank,
include (Omari, 2010; Moswete and Dube,n.d):
reduced
and low, variable rainfall will lead to
temperature will increase from 0.5 degrees to
over
yield
reliable. Projected high evaporation
Botswana.
Projections for Botswana are that by 2030,
will
rainfall.

environmental problems to the already highly
vulnerable
months
habitat destruction
and
rangeland destruction.

wildlife species have shrunk in the past
15 years, reaching in by as much as
95% for ostrich, 90% for wildebeest,
84% for antelope tsessebe and 81% for
warthogs and kudus; although others,
such as elephants, zebra, remained

stable while hippos increased by 6%.
Wildlife species loses due to warming and
drying of the Kalahari region in the
southern
Expected impacts
and
western
region
of
the
country.
With increase in temperature and reduction in
annual rainfall, a variety of problems are most
Tourism
likely to arise. This section explores the major
and
Tourism is an increasingly important industry
tourism sector is projected to experience
in Botswana, accounting for approximately 10%
under prolonged impacts of climate change
of GDP in 2006. One of the world's unique
and are outlined below.
ecosystems, the Okavango Delta, is located in
impacts
that
the
ecosystem,
wildlife
Botswana. The country offers excellent game
Ecosystem Services
viewing and birding both in the Delta and in
the Chobe Game Reserve--home to one of the
Global warming and climate change will affect
largest herds of free-ranging elephants in the
major
world.
tourism
attractions
such
as
the
Botswana's
Central
Kalahari
Game
Okavango Delta that in turn will affect primary
Reserve also offers good game viewing and
and secondary land productivity and ecosystem
some of the most remote and unspoiled
services
wilderness in southern Africa (www.gov.bw).

Water depletion and drought due to
reduced rainfall and high evaporation
The Tourism Sector is a major contributor to
rates
the economy. The contribution from this sector
Desertification due to overgrazing and
continues to grow, making it one of the
loss of vegetation
important categories of international trade and

Floods
a

Accelerated soil erosion by wind due to
payments1.
loss of vegetation
arrivals into Botswana was about 1.5million in

strong
contributor
The
total
to
the
balance
international
of
tourist
2009 and this brought in receipts of more than
Wildlife
US$700 million (Chidumayo, 2011).
Botswana land tenure is categorized into three
As global warming and climate change alter
main systems: State land (which includes
the natural environment and the quality of
national
and
rangeland deteriorates, this then will most
wildlife management areas, and all the forest
likely lead to a negative impact on wildlife as
reserves) which covers 41.8% of Botswana’s
the basic resource for tourism.
parks,
some
game
reserves
total land area.
The expected impacts of global warming and

Pest
outbreaks
in
combination
with
vegetation changes will lead to these
areas

becoming
inhabitable
for
climate change are:

Destruction
of
infrastructure
that
supports wildlife tourism activities are
wild
animals.
projected due to an increase in extreme
Shift in vegetation and loss of endemic
weather events such as floods

species to less palatable species

Land use conflicts and migration

Heat stress

Invasion of pests and diseases

With
changes
vegetation,
in
fodder
the
for
composition
wildlife
livestock animal will be reduced
Loss of income due to reduced tourism
activities.
of
and
1UNEP,
2012. Davos Conference on Climate Change
and Tourism: Tough Challenges and Major
Opportunties. Press Release by UNWTO and UNEP, 01
October, p. 1.
Not all change will be negative, thus society

should be prepared and made aware of all
Empowerment
of
local
conservation
institutions.
advantages that may arise as a consequence of
climate change. Example of such changes may
include increase in fresh water fish that will
come with an increase in the number of flood
events, projected under the impacts of climate
Traditional knowledge and skill could play a
vital role in planning for adaptation measures,
however,
due
to
the
rapid
development
younger
generation
and
change.
urbanisation,
is
Adaptation measures
and skills, and there is widespread concern
showing less interest in traditional knowledge
Botswana has long been exposed to the impact
of climate change and a number of adaptation
strategies
have
evolved.
Adaptation
is
necessary to prevent further damage and help
communities cope and adapt to the impacts of
climate change.
The following strategies can
help the country adapt to the impact of climate
that these practices are slowly disappearing
(MEWT, 2007). These changes in interests are
also accompanied by changes in life style,
beliefs and cultural values.
Mitigation measures
In Botswana, GHG emissions are negligible,
change:
and two-thirds of the country is a desert
Ecosystem services
highest emission of GHG’s in the country, thus,
(Omari, 2010). The energy sector has the
mitigation analysis should put more emphasis

Use alternatives to trees

Change composition to preferred plant
species
Promote the use of biodiversity products

such as medicinal plants for income
generation
on the energy sector. Land use and forestry are
largely carbon sinks and the country as a
whole is assessed to be a net carbon sink
(Wingqvist and Dahlberg, 2008). Mitigation
strategy
Sustainable use of woodlands

Promote and invest in Sustainable Land
Management (SLM)
Rehabilitation of degraded land

Incorporation of local knowledge and
Building on indigenous knowledge
Afforestation

Improving the sustainable management of

Promote the conversion of dry pastoral
land to plantations, to increase carbon
sink

Increase carbon capture with improved
grazing management of rangelands

Wildlife
Addressing
land
degradation
and
desertification

Grazing management control

Facilitation
of
seasonal
mobility
for
wildlife animals.
Development and protection of animal

the

practices into resource management

include
rangelands.

Protection of rangelands from tillage
therefore
following:


should
genetic resources
Existing coping strategies
A set of regulations have been put in place by
the government of Botswana in trying to
alleviate the impacts of climate change. These
regulations are aimed at helping communities
Tourism
and municipalities adapt, mitigate or eradicate
Tourism plays a critical role in the formal and
regulations include;
informal
the
economy,
in
sustaining
rural
livelihoods and in food security.

Enforcement of conservation policies

impacts
assessment
of
climate
of
change.
drinking
Such
water,
management of wastewater (reuse and
recycling)

Integration of environmental issues into
national development plans

Implementation
of
Environmental
Assessment (SEA) for development in the
water sector (Wingqvist and Dahlberg,
2008).
References& additional readings
1. Omphile, U.J., Nsoso, S.J., Aganga, A.A.,
Malope, P., Aganga, A.O., Gopolang, P. (2007).
Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation in the
Livestock and Rangelands Sector.United Nations

Education training and public awareness
Project – Second National Communication to the

Research and systematic observation
United Nations Framework Conservation on

Technology transfer

Capacity building
Climate Change.Unpublished manuscript.
2. Wingqvist, G. Ö., and Dahlberg, E., (2008).
Botswana Environmental and Climate Change
Key Questions


Analysis. School of business, economics and
Identify key relevant policy instruments
law.University of Gothenburg. Retrieved from
related to this sector?
http://www.sida.se/Global/Countries%20and%2
What are the current capacities for
climate risk management in this sector?

List weaknesses, gaps, and what is
missing in terms of CRM in this sector?

List the desired capacities for CRM?

Which
initiatives
involved?
institutions
and
and
projects
existing
should
be
0regions/Africa/Botswana/Environmental%20pol
icy%20brief%20Botswana.pdf
3. MEWT. (2011)Second National Communication
to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC).Ministry of
Environment, Wildlife and Tourism. Gaborone,
Botswana
4. World Bank. (2010). Botswana Climate
Variability and Change: Understanding the Risks.
Draft Policy Note
5. Omari, K. (2010).Climate Change Vulnerability
and Adaptation Preparedness in Southern Africa
–A Case Study of Botswana.HeinrichBöllStiftung
Southern Africa (HBS). Retrieved from
http://www.za.boell.org/downloads/HBF_web_B
ots.pdf
6. MEWT, (2007). Botswana biodiversity strategy
and action plan. Ministry of Environment,
Wildlife and Tourism. Botswana. Retrieved from
http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/bw/bw-nbsapv2-p1-en.pdf
7. Moswete, N. N. and Dube, P. O., (No Date).
Wildlife-based Tourism and Climate: Potential
Opportunities and Challenges for Botswana.
Department of Environmental Sciences,
University of Botswana. Retrieved from
http://www.iipt.org/IIPT%20Book/articles/updat
ed_articles/Naomi%20Moswete.Botswana2.pdf
8. Shackleton, C., Shackleton, S., &Gambiza, J.
(2008). Links between Ecosystem Services and
Poverty Alleviation: Situation analysis for arid
and semi-arid lands in southern Africa.