Botswana to maximise economic contribution of wildlife
Greater investments in the wildlife economy would go a long way towards bolstering Botswana’s GDP, and improving the quality of livelihoods among people in both rural and urban communities.
A recently- released report on Wildlife Economy Research Project, which aims to promote an inclusive, growing and sustainable wildlife economy in Africa states that the value of wildlife to African economies is a valuable asset.
The report stipulates that in 2020, findings from the World Bank indicated that Sub Saharan Africa had wildlife GDP valued at about 1.75 trillion- it grew at 2.3 percent from 2019, at a consistent growth of 10- 20 percent of GDP in tourism. The report, however notes that the recurring challenge is that many African cities lack the adequate infrastructure to support sustainable rollout of biodiversity and the growth of the wildlife economy, adding that Africa could highly benefit from reforms in tourism and community ecotourism. The wildlife economy contributes to creating employment and generating revenue, as well as improving livelihoods diversification and protecting flora and fauna ecosystems.
The findings from the report indicate that wildlife resources in Botswana can contribute positively to national income as the sector is economically efficient, and contributes to the country’s economic development through job creation and revenue generation.
Director in the Department of Wildlife and
National Parks, Kabelo Senyatso has indicated that wildlife needs to be “developed in ways that maximise their economic contributions hence the various community programmes and interventions geared at capacitating locals and including them in the local economy.”
In general, non- consumptive tourism on high- quality wildlife land will give the greatest economic returns, and should get priority. Safari hunting and community- based wildlife use should also be given priority for investment.
The report defines wildlife economy as a means to use wildlife, both plants and animals, as an economic asset to create value that aligns with conservation objectives and deliver sustainable growth and economic development. It further notes that the sector contributed US$ 120 billion to the global economy, which is estimated to be growing at an average of 10 percent per year. The Wildlife Economy Research Project report additionally cited the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on biodiversity and ecosystems service indicators from earlier this year, which highlights that current declines and loss of biodiversity is reducing nature’s contribution to people in Africa.
“This loss affects their daily lives and also negatively impacts targets for sustainable social and economic development. Investment in conserving living natural resources is essential to ensure development that is sustainable.
“The research process carried out also highlights data gaps and encourages the collection of data related to wildlife economies.”