Botswana National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report, 2025

Abstract

The Botswana National Ecosystem Assessment (BW-NEA) was undertaken by the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) as the Implementing Agency on behalf of the Government of Botswana through the Department of Environmental Protection in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. We acknowledge the Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors, Contributing Authors, and Fellows for their scientific rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and sustained commitment, which ensured the technical quality and policy relevance of the assessment. We extend deep appreciation to communities across Botswana, particularly traditional knowledge holders, for sharing insights on ecosystem dynamics, resource use and governance, cultural values, and historical change. These contributions were provided through consultations, community dialogues, and trialogue processes and were fundamental in grounding the assessment in local realities and livelihoods. They were undertaken in accordance with ethical principles and respect for knowledge sovereignty. The BW-NEA benefited from technical and capacity-building support provided through the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net). In this context, the United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), as host of the NEA Initiative, provided methodological guidance and technical support aligned with international best practice, while the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), supported the integration of Traditional Knowledge using multiple evidence-based approaches. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is acknowledged for facilitating the science–policy–practice trialogue underpinning stakeholder engagement for the assessment. We further acknowledge independent reviewers from academia and international organisations, as well as national governance and validation structures, including the Traditional Knowledge Task Force, the Technical Reference Group, and the National Biodiversity Platform, for oversight and guidance. The National Biological Diversity Authority (NBDA) is acknowledged for quality assurance and alignment with national biodiversity conservation priorities. The BW-NEA was made possible through financial support from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) of the Federal Republic of Germany, through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). These contributions ensured that the BW-NEA provides a credible, inclusive, and policy-relevant evidence base for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Botswana.