Chobe Wildlife Trust

Mission Statement

The Chobe Wildlife Trust aims to assist with the conservation of natural resources of the Chobe National Park and the region as a whole. In co-operation with Government agencies, NGOs and Community Based Organisations, the Trust promotes research to support conservation management and conduct environmental awareness projects to foster the care of wildlife in Botswana.

Objectives

• To conduct and provide support for ecological and wildlife research projects, relevant to the conservation of Chobe National Park and the surrounding area, in co-operation with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
• To assist in the re-introduction of formally indigenous species, as specified by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
• To develop and run an environmental education project for the Chobe district, as well as facilitating schools and other organisations with environmental programmes.
• To establish and manage water points within Chobe National Park where research indicates this action will be beneficial to wildlife.
• To raise finance or any ecological projects as initiated and/or approved by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
• To participate in an NGO task force, which will initiate a Commission of Inquiry, to identify measures to reverse the dramatic decline in wildlife numbers over the last 15 years.
• To affiliate the Trust with International and Regional conservation bodies to further regional co-operation in wildlife conservation.

Staff and Expertise

Currently one member of staff (Environmental education, Ecological research)

Areas of Focus

• Environmental Education
• Wildlife and Conservation management
• Research

Priorities from plans

• Artificial water hole management
• Monitoring wildlife numbers - particularly rare species
• Environmental education
• Motivating Kasane/Kazungula litter action committee
• Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM)

Partners/links

Chobe Wildlife Trust has links to environmental NGOs in Botswana through the development of the NGO Strategic Plan on Wildlife. Close links to IUCN (member), Kalahari Conservation Society, Khama Rhino Sanctuary and the Elephant and Rhino Foundation.

Partners include the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, District Health Team, Tourism Department from Government; community based organisations including CECT and KALEPA; and the tourism industry.

Current Activities & Projects

• An independent assessment of tourism carrying capacities along the Chobe riverfront - this is a transboundary project involving Botswana and Namibia. The aims are to diversify tourism to protect the riverfront region of Chobe National Park and create opportunities for the local communities of Chobe.
• Seboba Conservation Area - this is a CBNRM project and targets the only known river rapids in Botswana. The area has been set aside as a conservation/recreation area for the local community of Kasane. Management will be based on community needs for recreation and eco-tourism initiatives.
• Chobe Wildlife Trust is chair of the local Litter Action Committee, which targets the communities of Kasane and Kazungula. The committee encourages recycling and sound waste management.
• Artificial water hole monitoring involving research on the ecological impacts of the 2 artificial water holes under Chobe Wildlife Trust management, in the Nogatsaa region of Chobe National Park.
• Environmental education with the schools of Chobe in partnership with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

For more information contact

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Last Updated: October 9, 2000