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The Kalahari Conservation Society is Botswana's longest serving environmental non-governmental organisation, dedicated to the conservation of Botswana's natural

resources and biodiversity.

Who are we?Kalahari Conservation Society (KCS) is the longest serving environmental Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Botswana dedicated to protecting Botswana's unique biodiversity and community wellbeing. We pride ourselves with a legacy of investment in nature conservation which embraces environmental education, advocacy on the protection of wildlife and demonstration of the value of wildlife and natural resources to local communities who reside close to wildlife.

KCS is a membership-based organisation, funded by annual membership as well as domestic, regional and international grant support and donations. It is KCS' teamwork and passion that influences and drives the Society's programmes and activities. Over the years, KCS has grown in leaps and bounds to be one of the most reputable NGOs in the country, region and the world.

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Our Local FocusKCS is at the moment focusing on two important issues in relation to conservation and empowering communities living around protected areas to sustainably improve their economic status (poverty eradication through community based natural resources management and environmental education. The work that we do with Communities includes, but is not limited to:

Ÿ research, education/awareness campaigns and community outreach.Ÿ engagement with our stakeholders through dialogue on conservation

issues.Ÿ provision of training to communities for improved skills and capacity,

empowerment and livelihood diversification and security.

Our International FocusBotswana is presently facing a major challenge with human wildlife conflict, in part created by the over population of elephants in our country due to conflicts and poaching that have occurred in neighbouring territories and the ever expanding human population and our need to be fed.

It is important that we raise awareness both locally and internationally as part of our endeavour to assist with the resolution of this challenge

“In nature, nothing exists alone.”Rachel Carson, 1962

What we aim to solve, and how?The conditions within which KCS has operated have changed drastically over the three and a half decades since the organisation's establishment. Botswana's recent designation as an upper middle-income country and donor fatigue in the environmental field has led to the organisation adopting an ecosystem approach as a strategic methodology to The Society.

This approach has broadened KCS's scope of work, allowing KCS to implement transboundary projects and be involved in various large-scale regional programmes of natural resources management. Whilst many traditional donors for the environmental sector have left the country to finance programmes elsewhere, environmental conservation in general is now receiving more Government support. However, this is limited and still needs outside bodies like KCS.

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Our ProgramsWildlife Conservation

Addressing Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) has been in the past and still is today, mainly driven by the ever-increasing number of people on earth and their need for more and more land to feed themselves. In some areas, e.g. northern Botswana, the increasing number of wildlife (mainly elephants), and their need for more space prevails leading to increasing interaction with humans.

This, on a local level, puts pressure for land use change, which in turn drives habitat loss and fragmentation of ecosystems. Often this creates a spiral effect of increased demand for natural resources and their decline. This conflict has led to the extinction of many species world wide, whereas others have declined to the point of being close to extinction or at best vulnerable.

The biodiversity and economic losses are high and, in most cases, becoming non-recoverable.

KCS continues to garner support for projects and environmental partnership programmes, including trans-boundary conservation projects and larger scale initiatives in natural resources management. The Society also provides a voice for environmental conservation in Botswana by highlighting the local economic and indeed global value of Botswana's environmental resources on the international environmental conservation stage

Our ChallengeWith all its great achievements, KCS has had a fair share of challenges over the years; limited resources being the most crucial. Addressing the above issues however is at the heart of what we do. Lack of resources however impedes our work and we need support:

Ÿ Locally by increasing our membership and corporate sponsorship.Ÿ Internationally through influential, high profile people like yourself, who understand and

support our initiatives.

The support that we get towards these causes (especially in terms of visibility for the work that we do) will determine the trajectory of environmental conservation and community wellbeing for now and into the future.

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Botswana and the region are currently facing an increase in HWC, due to many factors, one of which is the increasing number of elephants and their expansion into areas that have not, for over a century, been their normal rangelands. Over the last few years, an array of deterrent methods such as chilli pepper plant fences, chilli bombs, bees, electric predator proof fences and kraals, livestock guard dogs have been used to try to curb the problem with varying degrees of success. To date no permanent solutions have been found to protect people and their assets against wildlife damage altogether.

Human Elephant Co-existence is critical to Botswana's conservation efforts. According to statistics released by the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks in April 2019, poaching has surged since 2016: to at least 100 elephants being killed between April 2017 and April 2018, up from 42 in the same period between 2016 and 2017. The statistics also show an increase in the trafficking of elephant tusks, with 109 seized in 2017-2018, compared to 48 in the same period in 2016-2017.

KCS has therefore, in collaboration with our partners been working on ways to address this issue. Our approach is to lobby government and provide opportunities for dialogue to build upon lessons learned from community engagement on human wildlife conflict and from the nation-wide consultations in support of the development of the Botswana Elephant Management Plan. This involves discussion on a wide range of interventions, proven mitigation techniques and measures from around the region and world, which could be replicated and implemented in, and beyond, Botswana, to bring about sustainable solutions for HWC.

Environmental Education

Environmental Education is essential for mitigating environmental challenges in the medium to long term. However, most communities do not have access to environmental education. Schools lack resources and technical expertise to improve students' capacity to understand and implement activities that will solve environmental issues. Environmental Awareness and Capacity-Building amongst schools can improve sustainable practices in communities for the benefit of livelihoods and the environment. It is against this background that Botswana developed the National Environmental Education Strategy and Action Plan (NEESAP) in 2015.

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The premise is that if a resource is considered valuable and landholders have exclusive rights to use, benefit and manage the resource then they are likely to use it sustainably. CBNRM aims to strengthen rural economies and empower local communities to manage resources for their long-term social, economic and ecological benefits. CBNRM in Botswana acts as a supplement to other national development strategies within the country aimed at poverty reduction as well as efforts towards the conservation of nature.

KCS is presently working in collaboration with our partners to foster among students a better understanding of the environment as well as the challenges entailed in managing it. We instil in them a sense of mutual responsibility and commitment to the resolution of environmental problems. Environmental education capacitates students to make their own choices for the future.

Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM)

KCS recognises the importance of ensuring that communities living around protected areas do not only live in harmony with wildlife, but that they economically benefit from the protection of wildlife. CBNRM is based on the concept of a communal property regime under which a defined group of people collectively manages and uses the common property resources within a defined area, further necessitating the development of local institutions that ensure that local people have the power to decide over their natural resources with a minimum of state regulation, thus promoting sustainable development. Should be more emphasis on “Natural Resources and not wildlife”

Our Annual Gala DinnerEach year we hold an annual dinner dance for our members and corporates to promote greater awareness of conservation and environmental challenges facing Botswana. This year, we have high hopes and wish to increase our guest list while also raising awareness on environmental conservation!

We would be delighted if you could partner with us and support our work as a Conservation Ambassador for KCS. The visibility that your influence and stature will garner us as Guest Speaker at this event will also greatly improve our chances of sending our message out internationally and ensuring that our cause gets the attention that it deserves.

Physical Address: Plot 398, Extension 4Kgasa Close, Off Independence Avenue

Postal Address: P.O. Box 859Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +(267) 397 4557Fax: +(267) 391 4259

Email: admin@kcs.org.bwWeb: www.kcs.org.bwC

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KALAHARICONSERVATION SOCIETY

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