The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2036 provides Botswana’s strategic framework for conserving, sustainably using and equitably managing biodiversity over the next decade. It responds to national biodiversity priorities, emerging environmental pressures and Botswana’s obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Strategy further aligns national action with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), which calls for urgent and transformative action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Botswana’s biodiversity is a vital national asset and a foundation for sustainable development. It supports ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being, economic growth, climate resilience and national prosperity. The country’s ecosystems provide grazing resources, water regulation, carbon storage, wildlife habitat, tourism opportunities, food resources, cultural values and livelihoods for many communities. Biodiversity also contributes significantly to key sectors of the economy, including tourism, agriculture, livestock production, fisheries, forestry and natural resource-based enterprises.

Despite this importance, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation remain major national concerns. Key drivers include land degradation, habitat fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, climate change, pollution, invasive alien species, human-wildlife conflict, wildfires and increasing pressure from competing land uses. These challenges affect ecosystem health, species survival, community livelihoods and the long-term resilience of Botswana’s natural resource base. The NBSAP therefore provides a coordinated national response to strengthen conservation action, restore degraded ecosystems, promote sustainable use and ensure that biodiversity contributes meaningfully to national development.

The Strategy was developed through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, recognizing that biodiversity conservation is a shared responsibility across ministries, departments, local authorities, parastatals, civil society, communities, academia and the private sector. Stakeholder consultations were undertaken across Botswana, including Central, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Southern, South East, North West, North East and Chobe Districts, followed by validation workshops with representatives from Government institutions, NGOs, CBOs, farmers’ associations, Village Development Committees and Traditional Leaders. This participatory process ensured that the Strategy reflects national priorities, local realities and the needs of communities that directly depend on biodiversity and ecosystem services.