Wilderness' Safari Conservationist appointed National Rhino Coordinator
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday May 5, 2014 12:54
Khama appointed Wilderness Safari’s conservationist, Map Ives as Botswana’s National Rhino Coordinator, a position that has traditionally been given to officials in the ministry.
According to a statement posted on Wilderness Safaris website, Khama made the appointment on April 25.
The press release says that traditionally the National Rhino Coordinator has been appointed from within the ranks of DWNP. “So this unusual step of chosing a private sector employee is all the more meaningful in recognising Ives’ enormous depth of experience and levels of commitment to Botswana’s rhino populations.”
Ives will be working with the research unit of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and the Botswana Rhino Management Committee (BRMC). In addition he will be acting in a secretariat role, maintaining the national database and representing Botswana on the Southern African Development Community Rhino Management Group (SADC RMG) and the IUCN’s African Rhino Specialist Group.
Ives is a respected conservationists in Botswana. He is founder and former chair of BRMC and active in the development of the Okavango Delta Management Plan. He is also the chairperson of the Moremi Game Reserve Management Committee.
Ives is quoted in the release praising Botswana’s conservation community saying it is, “leading the way in public/private partnerships for conservation with this integration being vital to any efforts that wish to succeed in Africa.”
“Moreover, there is a national political leadership that not only recognises the importance of the private sector in conservation but is also passionate about it themselves.
As a result, the various components for local and international conservation follow; for example, security on the ground (Botswana Defence Force; Anti-Poaching Unit; Central Intelligence) and high-level commitments at international forums like the recent London Conference. Combine this with the commitment of the private sector and you have really rich conditions for rhino and other wildlife conservation,” said Ives.
Wilderness Safaris CEO Keith Vincent expressed happiness at Ives’ appointment wishing him “every success in his continuing efforts to secure a thriving future for Botswana’s black and white rhino.”