Botash saves flamingoes

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday March 4, 2013 00:00

Botash has joined hands with Birdlife Botswana in a relationship that will span three years, entailing the development of the flamingo rich areas of the Makgadikgadi salt pans into viable tourists attractions.

The salt mine is located roughly 30 km away from a breeding place for the flamingoes. It is one of the large systems in Botswana where flamigoes breed. Others are Mosu, Mokubilo, Mmea, Mmatshumu, all in the vast Makgadikgadi.

Botash has become the first corporate entity to support Birdlife Botswana in their aspirations to develop the first flamingo park which will also be co-owned by the communities and the government.

Birdlife Botswana has already influenced a new conservation policy that recognises co-ownership of game parks by the communities and government, and now the NGO has started the process of acquiring  these flamingo breeding places for communities so that they own the land-rights and operate tourism facilities.

Botash has also committed to release its staff to help educate the communities on basic entrepreneurship skills, book keeping, marketing, customer service, desk office, to prepare them for the envisaged opportunities.

According Birdlife Botswana  director Dr kabelo Senyatso they will also teach the communities tour guides, and other tour operating skills.

The Birdlife Botswana director says the Makgadikgaid Salt Pans is home to some of the world's most wonderful features that would make the areas a hit with international tourists. Besides the beauty of flamingoes, there is also the Old Khama Ruins, the Fossil Tree, Kokonje Island and Lekhubu Island, which are currently open access areas.

Dr Senyatso says they have already drawn up a management plan for the areas and their next step will be the development of a business plan, as well as training communities to operate the  facilities.

While they have benefitted from UNDP and the likes of Botash in their endeavour to use tourism to transform some of the poorest communities in Botswana, Dr Senyatso  says they need more of these long term relationships to conserve the environment and develop the people.

He would like to see more local companies coming on board to support this effort.