Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services
The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.
Botswana is made up of seven distinct eco-regions (Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea Woodlands, Southern African Bushveld, Zambezian Baikiaea Woodlands, Zambezian and Mopane Woodlands, Zambezian flooded grasslands, Zambezian Halophytics and Kalahari Xerix Savannah). Of these seven eco-regions, two form part of the Global 200 eco-regions, i.e. the central and eastern Miombo woodlands and the Zambezian flooded savanna (Okavango system) which are eco-regions of global conservation priority. Both of these regions have recently had their conservation status classified as Vulnerable.
Within Botswana, land use is divided up into Protected Areas, Wildlife Management Areas, Pastoral Residential Areas, Farms and Mining Concessions. As Botswana is a large country with a low population, it has been possible to establish expansive protected areas with over 45% of the country under some form of environmental management.
Botswana has a high biodiversity, especially in and around the Okavango Delta with a species richness index between 9.3 and 15. Plant species are estimated at between 2,150 and 3,000, of which 15 are endemic and 43 on the IUCN Red List. There is a rich and diverse number of fauna with 150 identified species of mammals, of which three are endemic and 112 are red-listed, 570 species of birds with 1 near endemic species and 15 red-listed, 131 species of reptile with 2 red-listed, 34 species of amphibian and 99 species of freshwater fish. There is still much missing in terms of available data, distribution of species, breeds and varieties. This lack of knowledge on diversity, status of some species and critical habitats seriously complicates conservation efforts.
Cattle ranching in Botswana is extremely important as a source of livelihood and subsistence agriculture employs about half of the workforce. Data on agro-biodiversity in Botswana is limited but still thought to be relatively rich. Botswana is thought to be the center for
Vigna (Cowpea) species and a secondary centre of diversity for
Citrullus species (wild melon).
The seasonal flood plains around the Okavango and Zambezi and extensive wilderness areas support high densities of large mammals and some of the major wildlife migration routes in Southern Africa, making Botswana one of the last refuges for species requiring open range. It is also home to 12 Important Bird Areas (IBAs), with the Okavango delta supporting 463 species. This has resulted in excellent opportunities for Wildlife Tourism, of which Botswana has taken full advantage. High-end safari and birding tourism have allowed Botswana to diversify its economy from what was traditionally diamond-dependent with tourism now accounting for 12% of the GDP. Unfortunately, some of the main threats to biodiversity in Botswana are tourism-related with unregulated motorbike tours threatening fauna in the Magadikadi Pans, and sightseeing parties and vehicles disturbing water bird breeding sites.
Other ecosystem services are also related to the Okavango and Zambezi which provide drinking water, fish and lilies (as a source of food) for indigenous people and rural communities. As a transboundary system, these services are also important to Namibia and Angola.
Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)
The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.
The main threat to biodiversity in Botswana is habitat reduction/destruction and barriers to species movement, although the scale of these threats is dependent on location. Threats from invasive species are still relatively low although, in the southwest of the country,
Prosopis glandulosa is starting to become a problem while, in the Okavango Delta,
Salvinia molesta poses a threat to the aquatic environment. An invasive bird species, the Indian Myna (
Acridotheres tristis), has established itself in Gaborone however little is known about its impacts within Botswana.
Of the seven main eco-regions in Botswana, four are vulnerable. The South African Bushveld is threatened by deforestation, overgrazing through unregulated cattle grazing, range degradation and veldt fires. The Zambezian Baikiaea Woodlands are faced with increased encroachment from unregulated cattle grazing resulting in changing vegetation communities. Zambezian Halophytics are threatened by mining, rangeland degradation, bushfires, wind erosion, increased water extraction for irrigation resulting in increased salinity, disruption of migration routes through fencing, overgrazing, lack of protection for avian breeding sites and uncontrolled tourism.
Climate change is emerging as a major threat to biodiversity in the Okavango Delta. An integrated hydrological model, developed to assess the Okavango Delta hydrological response to various natural and anthropogenic scenarios, projected that climate change will potentially have the greatest impact on the Kalahari basin and the delta.
Other specific threats to species are related to poaching, particularly to flagship species such as Rhinos and Elephants; there are however extensive anti-poaching measures in place.
