Forest Conservation Strategy 2013-2020.

The aims and purposes of this Policy are to contribute positively to improved forest resources conservation and sustainable utilization; to increase the appreciation of the value of forests and forest resources by increasing the benefits of communities living in and near forests and by increased community participation in forest management; to raise the profile and value of the forestry sector in Botswana. The FCS aims to address the main physical threats to forest resources (i.e., elephants, veld fires, human encroachment, and climate change) as well as management and perception inadequacies (i.e., inadequate forest management, undervaluation of forest research, and inadequate research and data). The focus will be on forest conservation through improved forest management in selected protected areas and communal areas. The reduction of the threats should result in the slow-down of the decline in forest areas, and forest conservation and sustainable use. While it is recognized that the policy environment needs to be improved, this can only be achieved in the longer term and exceeds the "powers" of FCB.