Theophilus amongst firefighters as wildlife battle rages
Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday June 21, 2023 11:20
Just before COVID-19 struck a devastating blow to virtually all sectors of the economy, President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced the lifting of the hunting ban which had been in place since 2014.
It was sweet music to the BWPA and compatible conservation groups.
However, the decision to lift the moratorium in 2019 particularly irked international conservation groups.
BWPA is an organisation that brings together game ranchers, professional hunters, and non-aligned individuals who share a common interest in wildlife conservation. Their approach emphasises the ethical and sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources.
This falls in line with President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s mantra that communities living side-by-side with animals should benefit from the wildlife resource.
Botswana, like other neighbouring countries, faces persistent human-wildlife conflict driven by rising populations from both spectrums and shrinking habitats.
In particular, Botswana has indicated it is saddled with a growing elephant population, believed to be more than 130,000 against a holding capacity of 55,000.
The pachyderms have often encroached into human settlements in search of food and water, and in the process trample on crops, injure, and in some instances kill people.
Conservationists blame growing human populations that have interfered with and disrupted traditional elephant ranges.
The decision to re-introduce hunting of certain species of wildlife, particularly elephants and leopards, was not well-received by some conservationists.
But Botswana argued its growing wildlife population allows for controlled hunting. However, enraged conservationists have taken the fight to every available international platform in an attempt to stop trophy hunting.
Only last November, a meeting of CITES in Panama had sought to uplist elephants back to Appendix I, which would have made their hunting illegal. The motion was sponsored by some African countries, mostly from the Central and West, as the continent went to Panama divided. Botswana had the support of Southern African countries.
Caught in the middle of the conservation fight is Theophilus, who is the chief executive at BWPA.
There is another raging wildlife battle whose origins are in Africa but is currently being amplified in Europe, where some Western countries are seeking a ban on the importation of legally hunted trophies. The majority of the animal trophies are from Africa and the ban would hurt some southern African countries, including Botswana.
Theophilus, who took up the challenge in November 2020, admits he came in at a difficult time.
“It is a difficult time in that we have just come out of two years where Covid was ravaging countries, and now we are fighting different countries, particularly in Europe that want to ban the importation of legally hunted trophies. If we go over that hill then it will be fine,” he tells Mmegi.
“Our role in this matter is to work with like-minded organisations in trying to oppose the proposed legislation. Earlier this year, there was a proposal from the US (and) something from Europe and we put in an opposing note,” he says.
“As we speak there is a Bill before the British Parliament and we have a group of like-minded people and these people, being the Community Liaison Network from Southern Africa, are making a presentation to the House of Lords in opposition to the legislation,” he adds.
Botswana and other Southern African countries have argued revenue from hunting benefits communities around wildlife areas.
“We are very much, as an association and as a country, opposed to anything that will hinder the sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources in Botswana,” Theophilus says.
With some countries in Europe and America increasingly becoming hostile, Theophilus says there should be a shift towards finding alternative markets like in the Middle East.
“We can utilise platforms such as fairs on conservation to find new markets.”
He feels Southern Africa is being unfairly punished for its prudent conservation programmes.
“Southern Africa has been successful in managing its wildlife resources, but the same cannot be said about West and Central African countries. What is happening is that those countries that do not have good management systems and practices are that they want to dictate to the rest of the continent,” he says.
“Unfortunately, we can say the same about what is happening in Europe where they are trying to pass legislation that will limit the importation of legally hunted trophies into their countries. That is sad for conservation,” he adds.
Some of the arguments from particularly Europe is that Botswana and its neighbours should consider other revenue-generating avenues away from hunting, as income from this venture has not always trickled down to households.
But Theophilus says although the income has not always made it to the individual level, it has led to improvements in livelihoods.
“We can look at different examples from all the communities that have been involved in community-based natural resources management from as far back as the 1980s. Yes, in some cases the benefits have not trickled down to the household level but they have done so to the ward level.”
“For instance go to Sankoyo Trust, they have electrified the village and provided water, those funds are from community-based conservation. Some of the trusts do not make much money that could trickle down to household levels,” he says.
Theophilus believes attempts by the government to pass legislation on community-based natural resources management, will see more benefits for rural communities.
“A Bill is being worked on and a draft was circulated and we made our comments.
That is how serious government is about community-based natural resources management programmes. A lot of things can be improved in it and that is what we are looking (for),” he says.
BWPA expects to see its membership grow, thanks to a move to include small-scale farmers who keep game in their holdings. This is in line with the government’s recent policy to grow the agro-tourism sector. At present, the association has around 150 members.
Theophilus says the initiative to keep game in masimo adds value to products that are geared at promoting the agro-tourism sector.
“We will also be working with government, we are not legislated currently. We want to ensure that when the legislation is reviewed, there is some aspect of inclusion, not necessarily the wildlife producers association but any entity that will be relevant at the time.”