Fjölrit RALA - 05.12.1999, Page 73

MlTCHAEL B.K. DARKOH
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be taken to break the dependency syndrome to ensure the right attitude and environ-
mental sustainability.
COMBATING DESERTIFICATION IN BOTSWANA
Botswana has shown a clear appreciation of the problems of drought and desertifica-
tion and is making tremendous efforts to combat them. Research and open discussions
have been encouraged. The govemment has evolved and adopted new land use and
land tenure policies. There are large scale and long-term action programmes such as
the Second Livestock Development Programme, the Tribal Grazing Lands Policy
(TGLP), the Arable Lands Development Programme (ALDEP), and the Remote Area
Resettlement Scheme. These projects, many of which are on-going, are described in
this author’s compendium on Combating Desertification in the Southern African Re-
gion (Darkoh 1989, see also Kwerepe 1995, 1996). They are sectoral in nature and
deal with issues such as soil conservation, livestock production, rangelands and wild-
life management, water and land management. Their basic aim is to introduce ecol-
ogically sound and cost-effective land management practices which are socially ac-
ceptable. In addition to large scale projects, numerous small scale action projects have
been initiated which address, among other things, irrigation and water resources de-
velopment, energy needs, drought relief and institutional capacity building. To date,
govemment policies, programmes and institutional stmctures aimed at desertification
control focus on the growing pressure on water resources, rangeland degradation, de-
pletion of wood resources, over exploitation of veld products and pollution in mral
areas (Republic of Botswana 1992, Sefe and Acquah 1995).
In a major attempt to address environmental problems comprehensively, the gov-
emment introduced the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) in 1990. Under this
initiative, it is hoped to elicit local community participation in containing desertifica-
tion and other environmental problems through encouragement of economic diversifi-
cation, incentives and disincentives, enforcing legislation, introducing new legislation
where appropriate, improving the planning and administrative procedures, expanding
facilities directed at improving environmental education, training and research activi-
ties, and developing integrated multisectoral conservation projects. (Republic of Bot-
swana 1990a,b). An NCS Coordinating Agency now coordinates environmental mat-
ters in Botswana. It collaborates with the line ministries on environmental issues. It is
at present involved in the preparation of an NCS Action Plan based on the measures
outlined above.
Despite govemment enthusiasm and substantial investments in anti-desertification
programmes, the progress in combating desertification has not been spectacular. Con-
straints against combating desertification include climate, govemment policy on eco-
nomic growth, rapid population growth, poverty and lack of highly trained personnel.
However, given the strength of the economy, the political will, the democratic gov-
emance, and the environmental consciousness prevailing in the country at present,
there are good prospects for containing desertifícation in Botswana.
CONCLUSION
The arid and semi-arid lands of Botswana have undergone marked socio-economic
and environmental change. This paper has pointed out that as a result of the develop-