Conservation International Botswana

Conservation International Botswana

Abbreviation	CI Botswana
Formation	1993
Type	NGO
Headquarters	Gaborone, Botswana
Region served	Botswana
Fields	Biodiversity conservation; protected areas; human-wildlife coexistence; climate resilience
Parent organization	Conservation International
Website	botswana.conservation.org

Conservation International Botswana (CI Botswana) is the Botswana country programme of Conservation International. Conservation International began working in Botswana in 1993, opening an office in Maun as part of its CI-Okavango programme; CI Botswana maintains offices in Gaborone and Bobonong. ^{[1] [2]}

CI Botswana's work has included wildlife research and monitoring, efforts related to wildlife corridors and veterinary fences, and community initiatives in the Okavango Delta region. ^[1] In the 2020s, Conservation International became the accredited entity for a Green Climate Fund (GCF) project on ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation in Botswana's communal rangelands. ^[3]

History

Conservation International opened an office in Maun in 1993 as part of its CI-Okavango programme. ^[1]

In 1997, Conservation International's Okavango programme took part in regional debate over Namibia's plans to fast-track a pipeline to supply Windhoek with water from the Okavango River; Conservation International said Namibian officials had accelerated the timetable and supported calls for the Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) to require full environmental and social impact studies before the project proceeded. ^[4]

In the late 2000s, CI Botswana participated in coordination and information-sharing forums associated with the Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project and worked with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on the Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor project. ^[5]

Activities by location

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Selected programme locations in Botswana (1 Gaborone; 2 Maun; 3 Bobonong; 4 Makgadikgadi Pans; 5 Kwando River corridor; 6 Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor; 7 Okavango Delta (Shorobe); 8 Tsabong (communal rangelands project launch))

National

Conservation International is the accredited entity for the GCF project Ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation in Botswana's communal rangelands. ^[3] The project focuses on communal rangelands in Ngamiland, Bobirwa and Kgalagadi. ^[6]

President Duma Boko launched the project in Tsabong in May 2025; planned measures included rotational grazing, rehabilitation of boreholes and rangeland reseeding to strengthen rangeland and livestock drought resilience in Ngamiland, Bobirwa and Kgalagadi. ^{[7] [8]}

In 2022, Conservation International, the GCF and Botswana's Ministry of Agriculture launched a US$98 million communal rangelands restoration initiative, with initial rollout covering Ngamiland, Bobirwa, Kgalagadi North and Kgalagadi South. ^[9]

Okavango Delta region

Conservation International opened an office in Maun in 1993 as part of its CI-Okavango programme. ^[1] The Okavango Delta programme aims to maintain the ecological integrity of the Delta through education, policy dialogue, enterprise development, ecotourism, and research and monitoring, including aerial wildlife surveys and rapid biological appraisal work. ^[10]

The Maun office operated with local governance by country staff and stakeholders; a national advisory council chaired by the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism provided guidance and included senior government and civil society representatives. ^[10]

Community initiatives in the Okavango Delta region have included Shorobe women's basketry and environmental education linked to Maun Game Park. ^[1]

CI Botswana also participated in coordination and information-sharing forums associated with the Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project. ^[5]

Makgadikgadi Pans

CI Botswana has supported wildlife research and monitoring programmes on African wild dogs, cheetahs and zebra populations in the Makgadikgadi Pans. ^[1]

Kwando River corridor

CI Botswana has engaged with government on veterinary-cordon-fence issues, including work linked to a 40-kilometre wildlife corridor at the Kwando River. ^[1]

CI's Okavango programme called for environmental audit work related to veterinary fences in Ngamiland as part of wider discussion of the environmental, social and economic impacts of game and veterinary fencing in southern Africa. ^[11]

Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor

CI Botswana worked with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks on the Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor project, intended to maintain and restore wildlife access to resources and support community development and tourism in a corridor linking Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. ^[5]

References

1. "About Conservation International Botswana". Conservation International Botswana.
2. "Contact". Conservation International Botswana.
3. "Ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation in Botswana's communal rangelands". Green Climate Fund.
4. "Good rains save delta - for now". Mail & Guardian. 7 February 1997.
5. Project Appraisal Document on a Proposed Grant from the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund to the Republic of Botswana for a Northern Botswana Human Wildlife Coexistence Project (PDF) (Report). World Bank. 26 October 2009. pp. 23–24, 62.
6. 2024 annual performance report: Ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation in Botswana's communal rangelands (Report). Green Climate Fund.
7. "Govt mitigates climate change effects" (PDF). Daily News (Botswana). 13 May 2025. p. 3.
8. "Adapt or Die". The Voice (Botswana). 19 May 2025.
9. Tabane, Tshiamo (13 December 2022). "US$98 million initiative to restore rangelands in Botswana". Farmers Weekly.
10. Delivering Global Public Goods Locally: Lessons Learned and Successful Approaches (PDF) (Report). World Bank, Development Grant Facility (DGF). February 2003. p. 8.
11. Ferguson, K.; Hanks, J., eds. (2010). Fencing impacts: A review of the environmental, social and economic impacts of game and veterinary fencing in Africa with particular reference to the Great Limpopo and Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Areas (PDF) (Report).