GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF MOST HUNTING.
Botswana is one of Africa„s finest wildlife countries and unquestionably the top place to hunt elephants, but it appears hunting will no longer be a part of its wildlife conservation strategy as of next year. Botswana„s president, Ian Khama, announced that as of January 1, 2014, the government is indefinitely suspending commercial hunting of wildlife in public or controlled hunting areas. This has been read by most observers as a de facto closing of hunting in the country, although the announcement seems to leave the door open to allow hunting on privately held lands.
It's important to note that there will be plenty of ele-phant hunting in Botswana this year, as the outfitters op-erating there still have a generous quota for 2013. Beyond that, however, this news looks bad for the future of wildlife conservation in Botswana.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Environment stated: The decision to impose this moratorium on hunting was made in the context of a growing concern about the sharp decline in the populations of most of the wildlife species that have been subject to licensed hunting. If left unchecked this decline poses a genuine threat to both the conservation of our natural heritage and the long-term health of the local tourist industry, which currently ranks second to diamonds in terms of its revenue earnings.
Besides contributing to the conservation of wildlife it is anticipated that, in keeping with international trends, the moratorium on hunting will further facilitate the sustainable growth of the tourism sector, as hunting zones are converted into photographic areas.
The government further indicated that huntings contribution to the tourism sector and hence national revenue has been seasonal and minimal.
Pro-sportsmen groups like Safari Club International (SCI) dispute the ministry's assertions.
The notion that hunting has only contributed a minimal amount to the tourism sector is categorically untrue, says SCI Director of Hunter Advocacy and Science Based Conservation Melissa Simpson. Sport hunting in Botswana generates $20 million annually, and creates approximately 1,0 local jobs. In 2005, $6.7 million was generated from sport-license fees alone in Botswana.
Simpson drew a comparison between the actual money that stays in Botswana through tourism-related spending and that which stays via hunting.
Sport hunting revenues are far more successful at directly helping the local rural economy, she continued. Where 27 percent of general tourism revenues remain within Botswana's borders, over 75 percent of sport hunting revenues remain in the country to help the local economy. Almost 50 percent accrue directly to local rural economies. Safari Club International Foundation recently held our African Wildlife Consultative Forum in Kasane, Botswana. During the four-day meeting representatives of every southern and eastern African nation met to collaborate on sustainable use conservation practices to increase game populations, while simultaneously driving greatly needed financial resources to rural communities. Without the influx of international hunters, the stable, wildlife-driven economy of much of Botswana will be decimated.
One of the largest elephant outfitters in Botswana, Johan Calitz Safaris, stressed that their 2013 season is still open for business: The Okavango Delta concession (NG32) is open for hunting one more year (2013) and we got a quota of twenty-three elephants in total for this prime area. We received confirmation earlier as well that NG42 (Masame) and CT2 (Kukama) leases are also extended for one more year. Eighty-eight elephants will be hunted next year in Johan Calitz Safaris concessions alone, said Tharia Unwin, spokesperson for Johan Calitz Safaris.
We are also happy to announce a cooperation agreement between ourselves and Kilombero North Safaris and will in the future be able to offer clients special hunting packages to prime destinations in Tanzania, over and above our Botswana and Mozambique hunting destinations.
Botswana is one of Africa„s finest wildlife countries and unquestionably the top place to hunt elephants, but it appears hunting will no longer be a part of its wildlife conservation strategy as of next year. Botswana„s president, Ian Khama, announced that as of January 1, 2014, the government is indefinitely suspending commercial hunting of wildlife in public or controlled hunting areas. This has been read by most observers as a de facto closing of hunting in the country, although the announcement seems to leave the door open to allow hunting on privately held lands.
It's important to note that there will be plenty of ele-phant hunting in Botswana this year, as the outfitters op-erating there still have a generous quota for 2013. Beyond that, however, this news looks bad for the future of wildlife conservation in Botswana.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Environment stated: The decision to impose this moratorium on hunting was made in the context of a growing concern about the sharp decline in the populations of most of the wildlife species that have been subject to licensed hunting. If left unchecked this decline poses a genuine threat to both the conservation of our natural heritage and the long-term health of the local tourist industry, which currently ranks second to diamonds in terms of its revenue earnings.
Besides contributing to the conservation of wildlife it is anticipated that, in keeping with international trends, the moratorium on hunting will further facilitate the sustainable growth of the tourism sector, as hunting zones are converted into photographic areas.
The government further indicated that huntings contribution to the tourism sector and hence national revenue has been seasonal and minimal.
Pro-sportsmen groups like Safari Club International (SCI) dispute the ministry's assertions.
The notion that hunting has only contributed a minimal amount to the tourism sector is categorically untrue, says SCI Director of Hunter Advocacy and Science Based Conservation Melissa Simpson. Sport hunting in Botswana generates $20 million annually, and creates approximately 1,0 local jobs. In 2005, $6.7 million was generated from sport-license fees alone in Botswana.
Simpson drew a comparison between the actual money that stays in Botswana through tourism-related spending and that which stays via hunting.
Sport hunting revenues are far more successful at directly helping the local rural economy, she continued. Where 27 percent of general tourism revenues remain within Botswana's borders, over 75 percent of sport hunting revenues remain in the country to help the local economy. Almost 50 percent accrue directly to local rural economies. Safari Club International Foundation recently held our African Wildlife Consultative Forum in Kasane, Botswana. During the four-day meeting representatives of every southern and eastern African nation met to collaborate on sustainable use conservation practices to increase game populations, while simultaneously driving greatly needed financial resources to rural communities. Without the influx of international hunters, the stable, wildlife-driven economy of much of Botswana will be decimated.
One of the largest elephant outfitters in Botswana, Johan Calitz Safaris, stressed that their 2013 season is still open for business: The Okavango Delta concession (NG32) is open for hunting one more year (2013) and we got a quota of twenty-three elephants in total for this prime area. We received confirmation earlier as well that NG42 (Masame) and CT2 (Kukama) leases are also extended for one more year. Eighty-eight elephants will be hunted next year in Johan Calitz Safaris concessions alone, said Tharia Unwin, spokesperson for Johan Calitz Safaris.
We are also happy to announce a cooperation agreement between ourselves and Kilombero North Safaris and will in the future be able to offer clients special hunting packages to prime destinations in Tanzania, over and above our Botswana and Mozambique hunting destinations.