Botswana National Anti-Poaching Strategy 2025 -2030.

The National Anti-Poaching Strategy (NAPS 2025-2030) is a comprehensive document that represents Botswana’s commitment to protecting biodiversity in all its forms, especially critically endangered species. Combating poaching and illegal wildlife trade demands close cooperation and coordination between a broad range of agencies within and outside government. The fight against poaching is inseparable from the broader struggle against financial crime. Its primary goal is to reduce the levels of poaching and illegal wildlife trade by 25% within Botswana (based on the 2019 record of 171 incidents) to a degree where they do not threaten existing biological diversity. The Strategy sets out 7 strategic objectives, as follows (1) Reduced Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Levels by Enforcing Applicable Laws, facilitating the enforcement of all applicable laws to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade at every stage of the chain. Key targets include increasing arrests by 25% by the mid-term, raising the success rate of trials by 30%, and enhancing international cooperation and information exchange; (2) Increasing Benefits from Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) and their Equitable Distribution, promoting an increase in benefits from CBNRM and ensuring their equitable distribution to local communities and the wider society. This includes expanding the number of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) by 15% and increasing CBO incomes; (3) Reduce Human-Wildlife Conflict to Levels that Incentivise Coexistence, mitigating the costs of living with wildlife by reducing crop damage by 25% (or 40% depending on the targeted section), livestock predation by 40%, property damage by 15% to 25%, wildlife killed in defense of property by 25% to 40%, and human deaths caused by wildlife by 80%; (4) Improve Trade and Border Controls, enhancing controls in trade and at borders to suppress the illegal trafficking of wildlife products. This involves improving detection systems at ports of entry, implementing electronic licensing/permit systems, and increasing scrutiny over highways and unmanned airfields; (5) (5) Research, Knowledge Management, and Public Awareness, supporting the continuous generation of new knowledge regarding the drivers and impacts of the illegal wildlife trade, and ensuring its integration into policy and human behavior. This includes a target of producing peer-reviewed publications, policy briefs, and extensive public media campaigns; (6) Harnessing Resources for Anti-Poaching, seeking creative and diversified ways to secure financial and technical resources for anti-poaching activities. This includes leveraging local philanthropy, establishing private sector Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, utilizing the National Environmental Fund (NEF), and replenishing the Conservation Trust Fund (CTF); (7) Combating Wildlife Crime-Related Money Laundering, prioritizing financial intelligence, financial investigations, and asset recovery to disrupt the networks that launder the illicit proceeds generated by high-value wildlife trafficking.
The governance, administrative, and financial sustainability component of the NAPS outlines how the strategy will be implemented by identifying the necessary resources, including staffing, funding, infrastructure, planning and evaluation systems, public relations, and collaboration networks. It aims to ensure financial sustainability, effective coordination, and inclusive governance. Successful implementation depends on adequate staffing for both operational and administrative functions. The governance structure is designed to be participatory, enabling different partners to contribute their strengths, while the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT) maintains coordination with relevant government committees.